United States · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Portland scores 72/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Portland is generally safe for visitors with standard urban awareness; violent crime has declined sharply, but property crime remains the main concern. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
United States · Assessed 29 July 2026
72
/ 100
Safer than ~75% of countries
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
No advisory against travel
“This travel advice also covers American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands. Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe.”
Updated 2026-07-23T16:13:06Z
Full advisory →Exercise normal security precautions
“Canada's official risk level for United States: exercise normal security precautions.”
Updated 2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMugging/armed robbery is not rampant (44/100 community concern). Street crime clusters in specific areas late at night; tourists in main neighborhoods face low risk.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in downtown, transit zones, and popular attractions. Crowds provide cover; stay aware and secure valuables.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Cautiously positive with caveats
65/100
Travelers report mixed feelings: locals and guided-tour users consistently rate it safe and pleasant; independent explorers express discomfort about visible homelessness and drug activity. Recent guides (May–Jul 2026) emphasize the rebound and manageable precautions. Most who apply common sense report good experiences.
Yes — Portland is generally safe for visitors with standard urban awareness; violent crime has declined sharply, but property crime remains the main concern.
Portland ranks SAFE (69/100) with homicides down 51% in 2025 and most tourist neighborhoods secure and walkable. The primary risk is property crime—vehicle break-ins and bike theft—not street violence. Day exploration is comfortable (65/100 confidence); evening/night requires standard big-city caution, especially in Old Town/Chinatown.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Bottom line: Portland is safe for visitors. The UK FCDO imposes no travel restrictions, and Canada advises only "normal security precautions"—the global baseline. The composite safety database ranks the city 69/100 (SAFE). Violent crime has collapsed: homicides dropped 51% in 2025, marking a sharp turnaround after the city's troubled 2020–2022 period. This recovery is reflected in recent traveler guides and local endorsements published through July 2026.
What the data means on the ground: The hazard profile is clear—property crime, not street violence, is the real concern. Numbeo's crowdsourced surveys show 74/100 residents worried about property crime versus 54/100 about violent crime. The practical translation: *never leave anything visible in parked cars* (this single precaution eliminates the #1 issue), and bikes are theft targets. Pickpocketing and distraction scams occur in downtown and crowded tourist zones, but they're low-impact if you stay aware. Mugging risk is moderate (44/100 community worry); it's not a primary threat if you stick to well-lit neighborhoods and avoid isolated areas late at night.
The current situation (July 2026): Downtown and the Pearl District are "bouncing back" according to local guides; the neighborhoods tourists actually visit—Pearl, NW 23rd, Hawthorne, Division, Alberta, Mississippi, Sellwood—are consistently described as safe, walkable, and lively day and night. Recent headlines reflect Portland's activist character (ICE protests in July were "predominantly peaceful" and isolated to a small area), but these do not measurably affect visitor safety. Daytime walking garners 65/100 confidence from residents; nighttime dips to 37/100, but that reflects caution, not acute danger in tourist areas. Visible homelessness and drug activity are real and may make some travelers uncomfortable, but neither translates directly to mugging or assault risk in the neighborhoods where visitors concentrate.
How to stay safe: Stick to the walkable, well-serviced neighborhoods (Pearl, NW 23rd, Hawthorne, Division, Alberta, Sellwood) during the day and evening—they have active street life, good lighting, and foot traffic. Downtown and Old Town/Chinatown warrant extra evening caution. Use MAX light rail for transport (safe, avoids car break-ins). Secure all belongings in cars or keep them with you. Stay alert to unsolicited offers and card-skimming at ATMs in busy areas. Wildfire alerts in the region are all green-level (low risk) and 100+ km away; air quality is good (AQI 34). July heat (~36°C / 97°F) is typical Pacific Northwest weather. Overall: Portland rewards visitors who apply basic urban common sense.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 8 Portland districts for visitors: 6 safer, 2 needing caution. See them plotted on the Portland safety map.
DowntowncautionTourist hub improving rapidly; generally safe during day but use extra awareness after dark
Old Town/ChinatowncautionHistoric neighborhood, safe during daytime; exercise caution after dark and with belongings
Pearl DistrictsaferUpscale neighborhood with security patrols, excellent walkability, restaurants and shopping
HawthornesaferVibrant, gentrified area with galleries and active street life day and evening
NW 23rd AvenuesaferTrendy neighborhood with cafes, shops, and good pedestrian traffic throughout day and evening
SellwoodsaferSafe and walkable residential neighborhood with good local amenities
Washington ParksaferSafe and walkable area popular with tourists, good for daytime and evening visits
Division StreetsaferTrendy area with restaurants and shops, active during day and evening
07 · After Dark
60% of people in United States say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Mugging/armed robbery is not rampant (44/100 community concern). Street crime clusters in specific areas late at night; tourists in main neighborhoods face low risk.
After dark, be most careful around Downtown, Old Town/Chinatown. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Portland's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
09 · Questions
Yes — Portland is generally safe for visitors with standard urban awareness; violent crime has declined sharply, but property crime remains the main concern. Portland ranks SAFE (69/100) with homicides down 51% in 2025 and most tourist neighborhoods secure and walkable. The primary risk is property crime—vehicle break-ins and bike theft—not street violence. Day exploration is comfortable (65/100 confidence); evening/night requires standard big-city caution, especially in Old Town/Chinatown. (Assessed 29 July 2026.)
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
Portland ranks #9 of 9 United States destinations we've assessed, scoring 72/100. See the United States safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 11+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
Browse the United States safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: portland.json (CC BY 4.0).
