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Is Portland safe? 🇺🇸
United States · Safety report last updated
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Portland 🇺🇸
United States · Assessed 28 October 2026
70
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime61/100FairCrime index 58.0 / 100 · city-level
Sentiment63/100FairMixed
Advisories85Good
Stability72Good
Health80Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
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 2026-10-07T10:48:24Z
Full advisory →Exercise normal security precautions
“Canada's official risk level for United States: exercise normal security precautions.”
Updated 2026-10-15T08:53:58.290000-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Fair
Mugging & robbery risk
Moderate risk
62
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
Moderate risk
78
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
55 / 100 (Mixed)
55
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
653k residents
73
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
5.8 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
62
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMuggings are uncommon but occur sporadically in downtown Portland, particularly near transit stops and poorly lit streets after dark.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded areas like Powell's Books, Saturday Market, and on public transport.
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Good
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Moderate
Traveller sentiment score
Mixed
63/100
Reported feel55Mixed
Robbery risk62Moderate risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
While many visitors report positive experiences, some travelers express concerns about street conditions and safety, particularly in downtown areas at night.
Portland is generally safe for visitors, but requires awareness of property crime and specific downtown areas.
While violent crime has decreased, property crime, particularly car break-ins, remains a significant concern. Visitors should exercise caution in certain downtown areas, especially after dark, and be vigilant against common scams.
Recent developments
- Jul 2026Four Seattle teens were arrested in NE Portland in connection with a gas station shooting and a violent crime spree.— KATU
- Oct 2025The City of Portland issued a travel advisory, warning of increased safety risks due to Halloween trick-or-treaters and rainy weather.— City of Portland, Oregon (.gov)
- Sep 2025A troop deployment in Portland sparked mixed reactions across Oregon.— Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB
- Aug 2026Protests occurred in Portland following the ICE detention of a nurse.— WMTW / National Nurses United
Common scams
- Fraudulent short-term rental listings that collect deposits via wire transfer or Zelle.
- Vacation-rental fraud involving copied listings to collect payments.
- QR code scams for parking payments.
Full briefing
Portland's violent crime has seen a notable decrease, with homicides falling significantly from previous years. However, property crime, especially vehicle break-ins, remains a persistent issue that visitors should be aware of. The city's overall safety score is moderate, reflecting a need for standard urban precautions.
Recent reports indicate that while downtown areas are improving, they can still be unpredictable after dark. Neighborhoods like the Pearl District, NW 23rd, Hawthorne, and Alberta are generally considered safe and walkable. Conversely, Old Town/Chinatown and parts of the downtown core warrant extra awareness, particularly at night. Travelers should be vigilant against common scams, such as fraudulent short-term rental listings that request wire transfers or Zelle payments.
To ensure a safe visit, avoid leaving any valuables visible in your car, as break-ins are frequent and largely preventable. When booking accommodations, use reputable platforms with buyer protection and be wary of deals that seem significantly below market value. Staying aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded tourist spots and public transportation, will help mitigate risks of pickpocketing and bag-snatching.
Was this Portland, United States report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Portland districts for visitors: 6 safer, 2 needing caution. See them plotted on the Portland safety map.
Downtown CorecautionCan be unpredictable after dark, with moderate risks of pickpocketing and robbery.
Old Town/ChinatowncautionRequires extra awareness, especially after dark, due to potential for crime and disruptions.
Pearl DistrictsaferUpscale area with good lighting, security, and walkability.
NW 23rd AvenuesaferTrendy and well-populated, offering good pedestrian traffic and natural surveillance.
Hawthorne DistrictsaferVibrant cultural area, generally safe during the day and early evening.
Alberta Arts DistrictsaferGenerally safe during daytime and early evening with good foot traffic.
Mississippi AvenuesaferLively and walkable, considered safe for visitors.
SellwoodsaferCharming neighborhood, safe and walkable.
07 · After Dark
Is Portland safe at night?
60% of people in United States say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2023).
Muggings are uncommon but occur sporadically in downtown Portland, particularly near transit stops and poorly lit streets after dark.
After dark, be most careful around Downtown Core, Old Town/Chinatown. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Portland safety FAQ (2026)
Is Portland safe right now (2026)?
Portland is generally safe for visitors, but requires awareness of property crime and specific downtown areas. While violent crime has decreased, property crime, particularly car break-ins, remains a significant concern. Visitors should exercise caution in certain downtown areas, especially after dark, and be vigilant against common scams. (Assessed 28 October 2026.)
Is Portland safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Portland report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Portland should tourists avoid?
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
What are the most common scams in Portland (2026)?
- Fraudulent short-term rental listings that collect deposits via wire transfer or Zelle.
- Vacation-rental fraud involving copied listings to collect payments.
- QR code scams for parking payments.
How does Portland compare with other places in United States (2026)?
Portland ranks #9 of 9 United States destinations we've assessed, scoring 70/100. See the United States safety overview for the full list.
How is this portland safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 14+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight (and U.S. reports lean more on the latest field research); the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: portland.json (CC BY 4.0).