The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Shelby, MT: Crime Maps and Statistics

D-

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	D-
Property Crime Grade	D-
Other Crime Grade	D-

Which crimes are included?

$2.08 million

Cost of Crime™ for Shelby, MT

In 2025, crime will cost $1,318 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Shelby in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Shelby, MT Safe?

The D- grade indicates that the rate of crime is much higher than that of the average US city. Shelby ranks in the 8th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 8% of cities but less safe than 92%. This analysis applies only to Shelby's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Shelby is 53.26 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Shelby Residents generally consider the south part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Shelby varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 12 in the east neighborhoods to 1 in 24 in the south.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the west parts of Shelby, MT see the most incidents - about 56 per year. In contrast, the southwest part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 4 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Shelby, MT

The total projected cost of crime in Shelby for 2025 is $2,081,034. This translates to approximately $602 per resident and $1,318 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 2.0% of the median household income in Shelby. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 62.8%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 25.5%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.6%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Shelby Compared to Other Cities?

Shelby, MT:	$602
Wolf Point, MT:	$1168
Columbia Falls, MT:	$251
Montana:	$495
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Shelby is $602 per year, which is $138 more than the national average and $107 more than Montana's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Shelby:

In Wolf Point, MT, crime costs $1,168 per person, which is $565 more than in Shelby.
In Columbia Falls, MT, crime costs $251 per person, which is $351 less than in Shelby

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Shelby for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to Shelby	Cost per Shelby Resident
Murder	$186,075	$54
Rape/Sexual Assault	$240,817	$70
Robbery	$40,413	$12
Assault	$500,290	$145
Kidnapping	$40,341	$12
Vehicle Theft	$108,652	$31
Burglary	$108,131	$31
Theft	$444,878	$129
Arson	$11,543	$3
Vandalism	$272,475	$79
Animal Cruelty	$4,767	$1
Drug Crimes	$114,329	$33
Identity Theft	$8,324	$2
Total Cost of Crime	$2,081,034	$602

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Shelby, MT

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Shelby totals $2,538,784 ($735 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $4,619,818 ($1,337 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Shelby crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the central part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Shelby has 1, have the same problem. Of Shelby’s 3,456 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Shelby, MT at ISP Reports.

Shelby Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Shelby residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	5.041
Robbery	0.3718
Rape	1.149
Murder	0.0286
Total Violent Crime	6.590 (D-)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	24.86
Vehicle Theft	2.030
Burglary	3.450
Arson	0.1383
Total Property Crime	30.47 (D-)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.1925
Drug Crimes	4.472
Vandalism	11.04
Identity Theft	0.3112
Animal Cruelty	0.1865
Total "Other" Rate	16.20 (D-)

Individual Shelby Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in Shelby is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Shelby.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Ethridge, MT	F	D-	F
Dunkirk, MT	D-	F	D
Oilmont, MT	F	F	F
Kevin, MT	D+	B+	D+
Conrad, MT	D	D+	D
Little Browning, MT	F	F	F
Valier, MT	D+	F	C+
Cut Bank, MT	F	F	F
Galata, MT	F	F	F
Santa Rita, MT	F	F	F

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Shelby is higher versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.

Similar City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Choudrant, LA	C+	C-	C-
Fife Lake, MI	A-	C	C
Knoxville, MD	B-	C	C
Christmas, FL	A	B-	B-
Battle Ground, IN	A+	A	A
Carthage, IL	C	B-	B-
California, KY	D+	A	A
Blooming Prairie, MN	A-	B	B
Black Creek, WI	A-	B	B
Bellwood, PA	A-	A-	A-

Considering only the crime rate, Shelby is less safe than the Montana state average and less safe than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Shelby, MT average SchoolGrade of C+, with 40% actual proficiency versus 39% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Shelby schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.