Is Concord NH Safe? What The Latest Crime Data Shows
- 01. Is Concord, NH safe?
- 02. Latest Concord crime statistics
- 03. How Concord compares to New Hampshire and the U.S.
- 04. Spot-check: crime by neighborhood
- 05. Violent crime trends and law enforcement presence
- 06. Property crime and everyday safety tips
- 07. Key Concord crime metrics table
- 08. Historical context and recent shifts
- 09. How does Concord NH safety compare to Manchester NH?
Is Concord, NH safe?
Yes, Concord NH is generally considered safe, especially when compared with larger U.S. cities, but it carries a mix of moderate urban crime and relatively low violent-crime exposure. Recent FBI-derived data for 2024 show an overall crime rate of about 1,400 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is roughly one-third below the national average; violent-crime risk sits around 1 in 500 residents per year, while property-crime risk is closer to 1 in 60, making it safer than many comparable midsize American cities but not immune to theft and burglary.
Latest Concord crime statistics
The most recent FBI-reported year for Concord crime data pegs the city's total crime rate at slightly above 1,400 per 100,000 residents, with violent-crime incidents accounting for roughly 140 per 100,000 and property crimes for just over 1,200 per 100,000. Over the 2019-2024 period, researchers compiling state-wide patterns observed that Concord's violent-crime rate averages about 139 per 100,000, which is modestly above the national violent-crime average but still far below the rates seen in many high-crime metropolitan areas. Property-crime rates in Concord, meanwhile, run about 120 per 100,000 residents, which is roughly 25-30 percent under the national property-crime benchmark, indicating that while theft-related offenses surface regularly, they are not unusually frequent.
A different dataset released in 2025 calculates that Concord's overall crime rate is about 21 percent lower than the national average, with violent crime running around 50 percent under the national violent-crime rate and property crime about 15 percent below the national property-crime rate. This cluster of statistics suggests that, on most major metrics, the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime in Concord is relatively low; analyses estimate that an individual's annual chance of experiencing violent crime there is roughly 1 in 500, while property-crime exposure is closer to 1 in 60. Taken together, these crime data points position Concord as safer than the U.S. average overall, but with property-crime risk that residents should still actively manage through home security, vehicle locks, and neighborhood vigilance.
How Concord compares to New Hampshire and the U.S.
When benchmarked against the broader New Hampshire crime landscape, Concord's profile is mixed. The state as a whole ranks among the safest in the country, with one of the lowest violent-crime rates and the lowest property-crime rate in the U.S., so almost any city in New Hampshire will look "safer" than the national baseline. Within that context, Concord's crime metrics are typically higher than smaller towns but still below many larger cities, and one detailed analysis notes that Concord's rate is higher than about 88 percent of the state's municipalities, which reflects its status as a midsize urban center rather than a low-crime suburb. Nevertheless, the city's violent-crime rate remains well under the national average, and its property-crime rate is roughly one-fifth lower than the U.S. mean, which supports the view that Concord is a relatively safe place to live by national standards.
To illustrate the contrast, consider that the national violent-crime rate often hovers near 370 per 100,000 residents, while Concord's latest reported figures fall just above 140 per 100,000, a gap of more than half. Motor-vehicle theft, a common property-crime concern, is also notably subdued in Concord relative to the U.S., with some recent estimates placing the annual motor-vehicle-theft rate at about 2 per 100,000 residents, far below typical national levels. At the same time, local crime-reporting platforms note that Concord records more robbery and simple-assault incidents than many smaller New Hampshire towns, which underscores that residents should still treat downtown and certain commercial corridors with typical urban caution even if the city's overall risk profile remains favorable.
Spot-check: crime by neighborhood
Within Concord NH, safety is not uniform; some neighborhoods post crime-safety grades that are stronger than the city's average, while others sit closer to or slightly above the national bar. For instance, Concord Heights, a defined residential area, carries an overall crime index of about 147 on a scale where 100 equals the national average, yet it is still rated "A-" for safety due to low violent-crime and relatively controlled property crime trends. In that zone, common offenses such as larceny and vehicle theft run above the national index but are still counted in the "low-risk" band when mapped against broader American neighborhoods, suggesting that well-managed HOME SECURITY and neighborhood watch efforts can offset the elevated index.
By contrast, core downtown Concord and main commercial corridors can see higher counts of petty theft, shoplifting, and occasional assaults, simply because foot traffic and transient activity are higher. Community surveys and local crime-projection models often rate downtown as "moderately safe" rather than "very low-risk," stressing that visitors and residents should remain aware of their surroundings, especially at night. On the residential side, multiple assessment platforms give Concord an overall safety rating of about 4 out of 5, which they describe as "family friendly" despite the presence of a few problem pockets. This patchwork of neighborhood-level risk means that someone considering a move to Concord should examine specific neighborhood safety grades and cross-check with local police Crime-Map tools rather than relying on a single city-wide statistic.
Violent crime trends and law enforcement presence
Violent-crime trends in Concord NH have held relatively steady over the past decade, with annual totals fluctuating within a narrow band rather than spiking dramatically. Historical Concord Police Department reports for 2016-2019 show that murders remained rare, with only a handful of cases recorded across the four-year span, and sexual-offense and aggravated-assault counts drifting up and down without a clear upward trajectory. More recent five-year analyses (2019-2024) aggregate about 4,000 violent crimes and 3,500 property crimes for the city, which implies an average of roughly 800 violent-crime incidents per year in a population of roughly 45,000 residents. That distribution translates into a violent-crime rate of about 139 per 100,000 residents, which is modestly above the national average but still far below many large urban centers.
The Concord Police Department has maintained roughly 85-90 full-time sworn officers over the past several years, handling tens of thousands of calls for service annually, which provides a relatively dense local enforcement footprint for a midsize New Hampshire city. In addition to routine patrols, the department emphasizes targeted initiatives such as domestic-violence enforcement, traffic-safety programs, and DWI crackdowns, all of which contribute to lower rates of certain violent incidents. These efforts coincide with broader statewide trends that have kept violent-crime rates in New Hampshire among the lowest in the country, further reinforcing the perception that Concord remains a relatively secure place to live despite its modest uptick in assaults compared with smaller towns.
Property crime and everyday safety tips
While violent crime in Concord is relatively low, property-crime exposure is more pronounced and should shape residents' daily habits. Contemporary datasets indicate that property-crime rates in Concord fall roughly 25-30 percent below the national average, yet they still translate into an annual risk of about 1 in 60 residents experiencing some form of burglary, larceny, or vehicle theft. Recent five-year compilations tally roughly 3,500 property-crime incidents across the city, most of them involving theft-related offenses such as shoplifting, residential burglary, and motor-vehicle break-ins rather than violent confrontations. This pattern is consistent with national trends where midsize cities often see more property-related incidents than violent ones, and it underscores why deterrence strategies such as home and vehicle security play a critical role in personal safety.
Effective property-crime prevention in Concord typically involves a blend of simple mechanical measures and situational awareness. Locking doors and windows, installing exterior lighting, using motion-activated cameras, and avoiding leaving valuables visible in parked cars can significantly reduce the likelihood of becoming a target. Neighborhood-watch programs and participation in local community-policing initiatives also help lower property-crime rates, as concentrated monitoring often discourages opportunistic thieves. Visitors to the city should similarly keep wallets and phones out of plain sight in crowded areas and avoid leaving rental cars or vehicles unattended with items on display, especially in multi-use parking lots near downtown or shopping centers.
Key Concord crime metrics table
| Metric | Concord, NH | New Hampshire average | National average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total crime rate (per 100,000) | ≈1,400 | ≈1,245 | ≈2,180 |
| Violent crime rate (per 100,000) | ≈140 | ≈146 | ≈360 |
| Property crime rate (per 100,000) | ≈1,220 | ≈1,100 | ≈1,800 |
| Motor-vehicle theft rate (per 100,000) | ≈2-3 | ≈6 | ≈19 |
| Annual chance of violent-crime victimization | 1 in 500 | 1 in 700 | 1 in 270 |
| Annual chance of property-crime victimization | 1 in 60 | 1 in 100 | 1 in 35 |
This crime metrics table distills several recent data sources into a comparable format, showing that Concord's total and property-crime rates are below the national average but sit somewhat above the statewide norm, while violent-crime exposure remains modest.
Historical context and recent shifts
To understand whether Concord NH is safe today, it helps to look at how crime trends have evolved since the early 2010s. Historical police-department reports reveal that violent-crime totals in Concord fluctuated modestly between 2016 and 2019, with murders and aggravated assaults remaining low but assaults and robberies varying by a few dozen incidents year-to-year. During that period, the city recorded roughly 80 rape-related offenses, over 300 robberies, and several thousand theft and burglary cases, which together formed a baseline that recent five-year analyses then extend into the 2019-2024 window.
In the early 2020s, local enforcement and state-level initiatives such as expanded drug-treatment programs, mental-health crisis teams, and community-outreach efforts helped hold violent-crime rates relatively flat even as property-crime counts ticked up slightly in line with national patterns. By 2025, several independent crime-monitoring platforms estimated that Concord's overall crime rate was about 20-25 percent lower than the national average, with violent-crime risk running roughly half the national level, and property-crime risk perhaps 10-15 percent below the U.S. mean. These relatively stable trajectories suggest that while no place can claim to be completely crime-free, Concord's crime environment has not deteriorated in recent years and remains broadly in line with the safety norms of midsize American cities.
How does Concord NH safety compare to Manchester NH?
When compared with Manchester NH, Concord usually looks safer on a per-capita crime basis, especially for
What are the most common questions about Is Concord Nh Safe What The Latest Crime Data Shows?
Is Concord NH safe for families?
Yes, Concord NH is generally safe for families, especially when compared with larger U.S. cities, but thoughtful neighborhood selection and basic precautions are still important. Public-safety assessments often rate Concord around 4 out of 5 for family-friendliness, highlighting its relatively low violent-crime exposure and strong school systems. Suburban-style neighborhoods on the city's periphery typically record lower property-crime and violent-crime rates than downtown or mixed-use corridors, which makes them attractive for households with children. However, because property-crime risk remains notable, families should prioritize home-security measures, supervise children's outdoor activities, and choose parks and playgrounds in well-lit, heavily used areas.
Is downtown Concord safe at night?
Downtown Concord NH is generally safe at night for short visits, but it benefits from typical urban vigilance rather than the total-security feel of a small town. Foot traffic around government buildings, restaurants, and entertainment venues tends to remain moderate, which deters serious crime but still allows for petty theft and occasional bar-related incidents. Law enforcement maintains routine patrols in the central business district, and many visitors report that well-lit, busy streets feel secure, especially during evening hours. For maximum safety, it is advisable to stay on main streets, avoid isolated alleys, and keep personal belongings secure when walking after dark.
Is Concord NH safe for tourists?
Tourists visiting Concord NH rarely encounter serious crime, and most of their safety concerns involve common property-crime issues rather than violent incidents. Popular attractions such as the State House, downtown shops, and riverfront paths are routinely described as "pedestrian-oriented and safe," with low reports of robberies or assaults. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing in crowded areas, unattended bags in public spaces, and leaving valuables in parked cars, particularly in multi-use lots. By following basic travel-safety practices-keeping a close eye on wallets and phones, using well-lit routes at night, and storing luggage securely-most tourists find Concord to be a comfortable and low-risk destination.
Are there any high-crime areas in Concord NH?
Yes, Concord NH does have a few pockets where crime exposure is higher than the city's average, although none approach the intensity seen in high-crime U.S. urban cores. Local crime-mapping platforms and neighborhood-level analyses single out certain mixed-use corridors and dense residential blocks near major thoroughfares as having elevated property-crime and minor-assault counts. These areas still tend to carry safety grades in the "moderate" or "somewhat safe" range, but families or risk-averse residents may choose to avoid them when scouting homes or short-term rentals. Checking interactive Concord crime maps and consulting recent crime-index reports can help pinpoint specific neighborhoods where incident density rises above the city norm.