In this article we take a look at the 30 most dangerous cities in the US. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 10 most dangerous cities in the US.
Whether you are planning to travel around the United States or just moving from one city to another, the safety level of cities is probably one of the first criteria to consider. U.S might be one of the safest countries but some cities are just more dangerous than others. If you are living alone or raising a family in the city, the one thing we look for in a potential city of residence is safety and freedom from such dangers.
Potential dangers can be of all sorts. For cities, it could mean theft cases, vandalization of property to something gravely serious like murder.
Also, there are hate crimes that can be inflicted against a certain section of communities.
Generally speaking, violent crimes are the gravest potential threat that makes a city dangerous.
We might enjoy crime shows on TV, but it is not something we can get thrilled about in real life.
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Overall 2020 has been a much more peaceful year in terms of crimes than others. The FBI’s Preliminary Uniform Crime Report has clearly indicated a downward trend in the amount of violent crimes. It was observed that three out of four regions experienced lower crime rates. It’s just the south that showed an increase of 2.5%. The number of rape offences have fallen by 17.8% in comparison to the first half of 2019.
It is however clear that some regions or cities are more prone to criminal activities than their counterparts. If we go by statistics, the rate of instances of crime were much lesser in smaller cities (population under 10,000) than bigger cities.
All these dynamics have been covered in our ranking methodology. We have already elaborated the crime scenario for 2020 in our previous article Top 15 U.S. Cities With Highest Number of Murders in 2020, where we have discussed the number of murders per day per 100,000 people. Since, some cities (like Detroit) do not report crime data in real time, but only in a few months' gap, we have based our rankings of the 30 most dangerous cities in the US on the FBI Uniform Crime Report data for 2019. This gives us a more holistic result without excluding any of the major cities. In this article we ranked cities based on the rate of violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants. Only cities that have a population of 250,000 or more is included in this article. Violent crimes would include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.
However, crimes rates have shown a positive turn in 2020. I historic figures are to be considered, the rate of violent crimes have actually increased by 0.3% in the last five years. This might seem like a small figure but might be a significant compromise in the city’s safety levels. It makes it even more important to shift focus on the most dangerous cities in the US. Here’s the full list -
30. Tallahassee
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 527.5
Tallahassee area including Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, and Wakulla Counties has quite the reputation when it comes to criminal activities. Leon County alone reported 3,845 incidents per 100,000 people in 2019.
Leah-Anne Thompson/Shutterstock.com
29. Modesto
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 529.1
Crime rates in the area are double of the national average. The extremely high crime rate makes it a fairly dangerous city to be in.
28. Tulsa
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 529.6
Falling in the mid-size city category, which has a higher crime rate overall - Tulsa is quite notorious for automobile thefts, burglaries and even rapes especially on the southern side of the city.
Torin55/Shutterstock.com
27. Greensboro-High Point
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 530.2
While Greensboro as murder rates as high as 12.6% per 100,000, High Point takes it a notch higher at 16.09%. The region is unarguably quite unsafe.
Rachaphak/Shutterstock.com
26. Beaumont-Port Arthur
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 541.2
Beaumont reported over 1,241 instances of violent crime in 2019 while Port Arthur remained at 344. Rates have been significantly higher than national average.
ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock.com
25. New Orleans-Metairie
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 551.5
The city’s tourist areas are especially notorious for petty crimes. The city also reported 4,516 serious violent crimes. If you are traveling in the city, best exercise caution.
Yupa Watchanakit/Shutterstock.com
24. Merced
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 553.2
Burglaries are quite frequent especially in tourist places. Shady neighborhoods are best avoided in the city.
Artem Furman/Shutterstock.com
23. Baton Rouge
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 554.0
Baton Rouge sees 35.1 homicide cases for every 100,000 of the population. This is dangerously high.
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22. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 560.9
As vibrant the city is, it has its sketchy pockets that are best avoided or visited with caution. Violent crimes and property crimes are considerably high.
21. Shreveport-Bossier City
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 563.2
1,462 instances of violent crimes were recorded in Shreveport in 2019, and 546 were reported in Bossier City.
Pixabay/Public Domain
20. Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 570.5
Apart from the crazy traffic, Nashville is also quite crazy in terms of crime rates. A significant 7,376 violent crimes were committed in the city itself.
Pixabay/Public Domain
19. Kalamazoo-Portage
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 572.5
One of the most dangerous cities in Michigan, Kalamazoo-Portage significant numbers of violent crimes, majorly aggravated assaults. Certain areas in the city are best avoided.
Pixabay/Public Domain
18. Milwaukee-Waukesha
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 577.9
Milwaukee area has high poverty and crime rates. 7,874 violent crimes were recorded in the city alone, out of which majority have been assault cases.
LukaTDB/Shutterstock.com
17. Flint
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 579.7
The city struggles with significant poverty levels and crime rates. Along with violent crimes the city also has high property crime rates.
GongTo/Shutterstock.com
16. Columbia
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 583.4
Property crimes like burglary and larceny are extremely high in Columbia. The city crime rate that is higher than 82% of other cities.
Mark Agnor/Shutterstock.com
15. Amarillo
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 595.4
The steak challenges might be a party but the crime rates are certainly not! The significantly high violent crime rate and even higher property crime rates, qualifies the city as one of the most dangerous cities in U.S.
Warren Goldswain/Shutterstock.com
14. Bakersfield
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 621.1
A lot of neighborhoods in the city are quite unsafe. The city has reported as high as 16,000 cases of property crimes also.
igorstevanovic/Shutterstock.com
13. Springfield
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 632.7
The city had 9 cases of homicide last year. The city’s gun violence has increased two folds since 2014.
LoloStock/Shutterstock.com
12. Rockford
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 634.5
There were 23 cases of murder in 2018 in the city. The city’s violent crime has been on an increasing trend in the last five years.
11. Gainesville
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000 - 692.1
92% of US cities are safer than Gainesville. The rate of violent crimes is twice that of the national average.
Click to continue reading and see the 10 most dangerous cities in the US.
Disclosure: 30 Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S. is originally published at Insider Monkey.
FAQs
30 Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S.? ›
Memphis, Tennessee
The most dangerous city in America is Memphis, Tennessee. With a population of 628,127, Memphis has a crime rate that is 237% higher than the national average. Memphis has 7,913 crimes per 100,000 people, with an exceptionally high violent crime rate.
- St. Louis, Missouri.
- Detroit, Michigan.
- Baltimore, Maryland.
- Memphis, Tennessee.
- Little Rock, Arkansas.
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- Cleveland, Ohio.
- Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Memphis, Tennessee
The most dangerous city in America is Memphis, Tennessee. With a population of 628,127, Memphis has a crime rate that is 237% higher than the national average. Memphis has 7,913 crimes per 100,000 people, with an exceptionally high violent crime rate.
Frisco, Texas
Frisco, Texas, part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex has been ranked the number 1 safest city to live in the U.S. It boasts the fourth-lowest violent crime rate and the sixth-lowest property crime rate.
The burden of Crime by State
According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, the 5 most hazardous states in the U.S. in 2023 are: Louisiana: Overall Crime Rate of 537.5/100,000 people, making it the most dangerous. Mississippi: Overall Crime Rate of 413.2/100,000 people.
(The Center Square) – Chicago recorded 697 total homicides in 2022, far more than any other city in the United States, but New Orleans had the highest murder rate per capita, according to a new report from a nonprofit research group.
What city kills the most? ›Rank | City | Homicides per 100,000 |
---|---|---|
1 | Colima | 181.94 |
2 | Zamora | 177.73 |
3 | Ciudad Obregón | 138.23 |
4 | Zacatecas | 134.62 |
Rank | City | State |
---|---|---|
1 | Memphis | Tennessee |
2 | Detroit | Michigan |
3 | Little Rock | Arkansas |
4 | Pueblo | Colorado |
MoneyGeek's report also ranked the safest cities in America with populations over 100,000. The safest city on this list was Naperville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. This city has an overall crime cost per capita of $156. Next on the list was Sunnyvale, California, followed by West Covina, California.
What is the most non violent city in America? ›What are the top 5 safest states in the US? ›
State/rank | Violent crime rate | Property crime rate |
---|---|---|
1. Maine | 109 per 100K residents | 1,156 per 100K residents |
2. New Hampshire | 146 per 100K residents | 1,099 per 100K residents |
3. New Jersey | 195 per 100K residents | 1,158 per 100K residents |
4. Vermont | 173 per 100K residents | 1,217 per 100K residents |
- Mississippi. Coming in as the cheapest state to live in in the United States is Mississippi with a cost of living index score of 83.3. ...
- Kansas. ...
- Alabama. ...
- Oklahoma. ...
- Georgia. ...
- Tennessee. ...
- Missouri. ...
- Iowa.
Characterized by high homicide rates, gang violence, and organized crime activities, some of the most perilous cities in the world are Caracas in Venezuela, Acapulco in Mexico, and Cape Town in South Africa.
What states are ranked by violent crime? ›# | State | Violent Crime Rate |
---|---|---|
14 | Oklahoma | 458.6 per 100k |
15 | Alabama | 453.6 per 100k |
16 | Texas | 446.5 per 100k |
17 | California | 442 per 100k |
Florida ranks high on the list of the safest states in the US. According to Real Estate US News, many cities in the state are listed in the top 25 safest places to live in 2021-2022. So if you're looking for a safe place to live, Florida is a great option!
Is Texas a safe place to live? ›While popular restaurants and shops can be convenient in a neighborhood, safety remains a primary concern. In fact, four out of the top five safest cities in the U.S. are in Texas. According to SmartAsset, “All four have violent crime rates lower than 90% of the cities across the study.”
What kills the most humans list? ›Source: CNET | ||
---|---|---|
Animal | Humans killed per year | |
1 | Mosquitos | 1,000,000 |
2 | Humans | 475,000 |
3 | Snakes | 50,000 |
China Has 14 Neighboring Countries
This location (next to many small countries) and the 13,954 miles (22,457 kilometers) of border brings it to the top of our list as having the most neighbors in the world.
# | Country | Murder Rate |
---|---|---|
1 | Jamaica | 44.95 per 100k |
2 | Honduras | 36.33 per 100k |
3 | South Africa | 33.46 per 100k |
4 | Mexico | 28.37 per 100k |
- Memphis, TN.
- Albuquerque, NM.
- Anchorage, AK.
- Bakersfield, CA.
- Little Rock, AR.
- Chattanooga, TN.
- Corpus Christi, TX.
What city in the US has the most crime? ›
- Detroit, MI.
- Memphis, TN.
- Birmingham, AL.
- Baltimore, MD.
- St. Louis, MO.
- Kansas City, MO.
- Cleveland, OH.
- Little Rock, AR.
12 Safest Countries in The World: 2023 Edition
Iceland takes the GPI crown for the safest country in the world, followed by New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, and Austria in the top five.
Qatar. Qatar has a safety index of 85.2, according to NUMBEO. It has the lowest crime rate in the world. It hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Which region of the US experiences the highest crime rate? ›Northeastern states have the lowest crime rates, while Southern and Western states have the highest. The crime rate in the US has trended downward for decades, and the latest data is no different. In 2021, the violent crime rate for the nation was 1.7% lower than in 2020, and the property crime rate was down 4.5%.
What is the safest city in the US 2023? ›Rank | City | State |
---|---|---|
1 | Hopkinton | Massachusetts |
2 | Ridgefield | Connecticut |
3 | Madison | Connecticut |
4 | Harrison Town | New York |
What is the safest place to live in the world? The safest place in the world is Iceland, which ranks number one on the 2022 Global Peace Index. Iceland, with a score of 1.107, has held this position on the GPI for over a decade.
What are the most common non violent crimes in the US? ›- Majority of Property Crimes (such as larceny, theft, embezzlement)
- White Collar Crimes (including fraud & tax crimes)
- Drug Crimes.
- Alcohol-Related Crimes.
- Gambling.
- Bribery.
- Various Traffic Offenses (such as speeding)
– Maine is the most peaceful state in the U.S. for the 11th year in a row, Louisiana is the least peaceful. The Northeast continues to be the most peaceful region with three of the five most peaceful states. The South is once again the least peaceful region in America, with four of the five least peaceful states.
What state drives the safest? ›- Maine. Violent crime rate - 109 per 100K residents. ...
- New Hampshire. Violent crime rate - 146 per 100K residents. ...
- New Jersey. Violent crime rate - 195 per 100K residents. ...
- Vermont. Violent crime rate - 173 per 100K residents. ...
- Idaho. ...
- Rhode Island. ...
- Massachusetts. ...
- Virginia.
What state has the worst cost of living? ›
Hawaii is the state with the highest cost of living in the US, with a cost of living index of 184. The state's high cost of living is mainly due to the high cost of housing, which is among the highest in the nation.
What U.S. city has lowest cost of living? ›In its report, Niche also ranked the cheapest places to live in the U.S. At the top of the list this year is Brownsville, Texas. Brownsville has been steadily rising in Niche's Lowest Cost of Living ranking over the past few years, placing number six in 2021, number three in 2022 and finally, number one in 2023.
What is the 1 cheapest state to live in? ›Introduction. Among advanced developed countries, the United States has the highest homicide rate: 7.8 per 100,000 population in 2020. Most others, including Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom, have homicide rates that are a fraction of this level (Figure 1).
What is the most violent city in Europe? ›One: Bradford, United Kingdom
The most dangerous city in Europe is Bradford, United Kingdom, which has the highest crime index amongst all European cities, with a total crime index of 64.33! The most common crimes in Bradford are theft, harassment, and violent outbursts by citizens.
Alaska's rate of violent crimes has increased, a contrast to the national trends, and the increase is driven by extremely high rates of rape and aggravated assault, according to statistics presented Monday to the state Senate Judiciary Committee.
What is the crime rate per 100 000 in the US? ›In 2021, the violent crime rate in the United States was 395.7 cases per 100,000 of the population.
What is the crime rate in America compared to other countries? ›The U.S. homicide rate was 10.5-7.9 per 100,000 population compared to Europe's less than 2 per 100,000. The U.S. rate for rape was approximately seven times higher than the average for Europe. United States robbery rates were approximately four times higher than those in Europe.
What is the violent crime rate in the United States? ›In 2021, the most recent year with available data, there were 16.5 violent crimes for every 1,000 Americans ages 12 and older.
Is California or Florida safer? ›Most Dangerous States In America
The most dangerous state in America is California with 3,498 homicides. Coming in the second position is Texas with 2,993 homicides. The third most dangerous state in the US. is Florida with 2,087 homicides. Ranking fourth in the country is North Carolina with 1,192 homicides.
Which side of Florida is safest? ›
The Villages has the lowest county violent crime and property crime rate in Florida. What is the safest area to live in Florida? According to our research, the three safest cities in Florida are The Villages, Palm Coast, and Riverview.
Why houses are cheap in Florida? ›Insurance and Property Taxes
One of the first reasons that the median property prices for Florida houses are cheaper than in other states is because, in some areas, the insurance and property taxes are very high. Florida is known to experience unstable weather conditions throughout the year.
City | Population | UpHomes Safety Rank |
---|---|---|
Prosper | 28,825 | 1 |
Flower Mound | 75,050 | 2 |
Leander | 57,696 | 3 |
Wylie | 55,426 | 4 |
Across all 50 states, South Carolina reportedly had the sixth-highest rate of violent crimes and the fifth-highest rate of property crimes on a nationwide level. Safewise.com reported that overall, the state's safest cities collectively boast crime rates well below national averages.
Is it safe to live in Tennessee? ›2023 Tennessee crime rates
In the East South Central Region, Tennessee has the highest rate of violent crime, ahead of Alabama (6.0). As for the property crime rate, Tennessee ranked second behind Alabama (25.9).
- St. Louis, Missouri.
- Birmingham, Alabama.
- Baltimore, Maryland.
- Memphis, Tennessee.
- Detroit, Michigan.
- Cleveland, Ohio.
- New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Shreveport, Louisiana.
Characterized by high homicide rates, gang violence, and organized crime activities, some of the most perilous cities in the world are Caracas in Venezuela, Acapulco in Mexico, and Cape Town in South Africa.
Is Chicago the most violent city? ›Chicago's murder rate is four times higher than the national average. Rape, robbery, and assault are all more common than average, ensuring that Chicago is seen as a dangerous city. The property crime rate in Chicago is 3,248 property crimes per 100,000 people.
What state is number 1 in crime? ›The most dangerous state in the USA is Alaska, as it has the highest combined violent and property crime rate out of any state. Out of a population of 736,081, Alaska's crime rate was 32.14 per 1,000 people in 2022, making it the state with the highest crime rate.
What are the 4 most common violent crimes in the US? ›
Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, or aggravated assault.
What country has the most murders? ›El Salvador has the unfortunate title of being the country with the highest murder rate in the world, with a rate of 61.7 murders per 100,000 people. Factors contributing to this high rate include gang violence, drug trafficking, political instability, and a lack of effective law enforcement.
What country has the biggest crime? ›- Apr 29, 2023. Top 9 Countries With the Highest Crime Rates in the World. ...
- Venezuela. The World Population Review, which tracks crime in various forms ranked Venezuela on top. ...
- Papua New Guinea Ranked second, and its crime index was 80.79. ...
- South Africa ...
- Afghanistan ...
- Honduras ...
- Trinidad and Tobago ...
- Guyana.
New York is safer than Chicago, and the crime rates differ by a large margin. The crime rates in US cities are measured on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the most insecure and 1 being the most secure. Property crime in New York is rated at 24.9, and a violent crime rating of 28.2.
Where does Chicago rank in murders? ›(WTVO) — Chicago had the highest number of homicides in the United States in 2022, according to a new report. Chicago had 697 total homicides in 2022, higher than Philadelphia (516), New York City (438), Houston (435), and Los Angeles (382). Chicago has led the nation for the 11th straight year, the report concluded.
What is the most safest city in Chicago? ›The safest neighborhood in Chicago is Edison Park, thanks to its low crime rate, which is 77% lower than the rest of the city. Located in the Northwestern region of Chicago, Edison Park is somewhat distant from the city center. However, that means it doesn't deal with much crime spillover from other parts of the city.