Violent Crime
Montana has 24% less violent crime
Montana records 401.3 violent incidents per 100k residents versus 499.5 in California (FBI UCR 2022).
Violent Crime Rate Comparison
Safety
California vs Montana: Violent Crime Rate
Montana has a lower violent crime rate than California.
National Rankings
Where They Rank Nationally
See where both states fall among all 50 states for violent crime rate.
California
#44 · 499.5
Montana
#33 · 401.3
Best
Worst
10 Best States — Violent Crime Rate
Lower is better
#1
Maine
109.8
Maine
#2
New Hampshire
164.4
New Hampshire
#3
Connecticut
178.0
Connecticut
#4
Vermont
187.6
Vermont
#5
New Jersey
188.9
New Jersey
#6
Virginia
195.2
Virginia
#7
Rhode Island
215.5
Rhode Island
#8
Wyoming
216.5
Wyoming
#9
Kentucky
218.6
Kentucky
#10
Idaho
224.7
Idaho
Selected states
#44
California
499.5
California
#33
Montana
401.3
Montana
California ranks 44th and Montana ranks 33rd nationally for violent crime rate.
Safety Context
Economic and demographic factors behind the violent crime rate difference.
Safety
Poverty
Montana has a lower poverty rate
Economic stress and crime are closely tied. Montana's poverty rate is 11.7%, compared with 12.0% in California.
View detailed comparisonIncome
California has higher household income
States with stronger median incomes tend to have lower crime rates. California leads at $84,097 vs $63,249 in Montana.
View detailed comparisonPopulation Density
California is more densely populated
Urban density often correlates with higher crime rates. California is more densely populated at 241.5 per sq mi vs 7.4 in Montana.
View detailed comparisonSafety Snapshot
California
Safety
Violent crime rate / 100k
499.5
Contributing factors
Poverty rate
12.0%
Median household income
$84,097
Population density
241.5 / sq mi
Unemployment rate
5.5%
Montana
Safety
Violent crime rate / 100k
401.3
Contributing factors
Poverty rate
11.7%
Median household income
$63,249
Population density
7.4 / sq mi
Unemployment rate
3.4%
What Stands Out
- Montana has the lower violent crime rate at 401.3 per 100k.
- Montana has the lower poverty rate.
- California has the higher median household income.
Related Pages
What This Means
California vs Montana: Violent Crime Rate in context
Montana has a violent crime rate of 401.3, compared with 499.5 in California. Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).
California
499.5
Montana
401.3
Difference
98.2 per 100k
People Also Ask
California vs Montana Violent Crime Rate — Common Questions
Q What is California's violent crime rate?
California's violent crime rate is 499.5.
Q What is Montana's violent crime rate?
Montana's violent crime rate is 401.3.
Q Which state has a lower violent crime rate — California or Montana?
Montana has a lower violent crime rate than California.
More Comparisons: California vs Montana
Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.
Explore Each State
Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.