Are you planning to move to a new city and concerned about finding a safe neighborhood? If you follow the news, you’ve likely heard about increasing crime rates and dangerous cities. Regardless of where you live or your political views, there’s always talk about places to avoid. Let’s look at the 20 most dangerous towns in America.
Rockford, Illinois
According to the 2023 Crime Rates in U.S. Cities Report, Rockford has one of the highest violent crime rates in the nation. It ranks eighth in aggravated assaults among all cities and third among small cities. Once a major industrial hub and the second-largest furniture producer in the country, Rockford saw many companies leave, leading to high unemployment. This economic downturn resulted in increased poverty and crime rates.
Spartanburg, South Carolina
In 2022, Spartanburg’s violent crime rate was higher than the national average, and its property crime rate was also above most towns. Spartanburg was once a major hub in South Carolina, with over 40 textile mills operating in the city. However, in the 1950s, these companies moved their operations overseas, leading to a sharp rise in unemployment.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S., with a very high murder rate. This is mainly due to the well-publicized crime rates and murders within the less populated city itself rather than the more densely populated county or the combined city and county areas. According to a WalletHub report comparing safety levels in about 182 U.S. cities—St. Louis ranked last.
Birmingham, Alabama
A recent report has ranked Birmingham as one of the most dangerous cities in the nation. In 2022, the cost of crime per capita in Birmingham was $11,392. This has greatly affected residents and communities in the Southeastern region. The violent crime rate—which includes murder, manslaughter, robbery, rape, and assault—was 1,682 per 100,000 residents.
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore reached the sixth spot on MoneyGeek’s list of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. out of 302 cities with over 100,000 people. It’s worth mentioning that much of Baltimore’s crime happens in certain poor areas that struggle with drugs and gangs rather than being spread all over the city. So, if you avoid those high-risk areas—you can reduce your exposure to violence.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is another city known for being dangerous in the United States. It has a high rate of crime—with 9,764 crimes per 100,000 people, especially violent ones. Just in 2023, there were 15,318 violent incidents. Memphis also struggles with education and reading levels, which can limit what people can do and make crime more likely.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas, might seem like a shining spot in the Diamond State, with a lovely river flowing through its downtown. But surprisingly, it’s one of the most violent areas in the country. Recent stats show a violent crime rate of 18.25 per 1,000 residents in the city. While violent acts aren’t super common—more minor crimes like breaking into homes and cars happen pretty much every day.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis has been dealing with a lot of violent crime for a while now. In 2021, there were a shocking 97 homicides in the city, but that number dropped to 72 in 2023. Lately, there have been more incidents, which have prompted city leaders to think about better ways to reduce crime. But don’t worry too much—most parts of Minneapolis are still pretty safe to live in.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit has higher crime rates compared to many other cities in the Midwest, and it consistently ranks among the top in the country, mostly because it’s such a big city. What’s surprising is that it’s the only midsize or large city in the United States with more than 2,000 violent crime incidents. Detroit had a population of two million people at its peak. But now, in 2024—it’s down to just over 603,400 residents.
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City deals with a lot of violent crimes. One big reason for this is poverty and unemployment. In many areas of K.C., people can’t find work. Another reason it’s seen as dangerous is because there are gangs and drugs around. These gangs fight each other for control of where they sell drugs—which leads to shootings and other violent acts.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is another city known for having a super high crime rate. It’s ranked 13th in violent crimes, 4th in murder, and 2nd in rape among all cities. In 2023, an NBC News report even called it the “Murder Capital” of the country. Although things have improved a bit—the number of murders and other incidents there is still much higher than in most other places across the nation.
Cleveland, Ohio
Even though Cleveland doesn’t have as many violent crimes every year as Baltimore, the rate of crimes and the chance of getting hurt are higher. The total crime rate in Cleveland is 55.68—which means it’s super risky to live there compared to a lot of other cities in Ohio. The violent crime rate for every 1,000 people is 17.16, and the odds of getting hurt by criminals are 1 in 58.
Houston, Texas
Houston deals with a big problem of violent crimes—especially aggravated assault. The latest crime stats show that Houston has a violent crime rate of 11.35 for every 1,000 people living there. This means the chances of getting caught up in a violent crime in Houston are about 1 in 78. The riskiest neighborhoods in Houston are Sunnyside, MacGregor, and Sharpstown.
Shreveport, Louisiana
In 2022, Shreveport had more violent crimes than the national average, and its property crime rate was also higher than usual. In 2023, there were seventy-four killings investigated as homicides in the town. Gun violence has been a problem all over Shreveport in 2023, as every one of the city’s thirteen police districts had at least one homicide by the end of November.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Did you know? Baton Rouge has a crime rate that’s 196% higher than the national average—with 6,880 incidents happening per 100,000 residents. The rate of violent crime is 1,028 crimes for every 100,000 citizens, making it 178% more dangerous than the typical city in the U.S. According to CBS, it’s ranked as the 6th deadliest city in the country.
Oakland, California
In the past five years, crime rates have gone up in all parts of Oakland. However, in the area that includes North Oakland and Uptown, within Police Area 2, there was a big jump in reported crimes in 2023 compared to 2022—up by 28%. Robberies in Oakland went up by 38% last year, according to police data. Burglaries increased by 23%, and motor vehicle theft grew by 44%.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee has more crime than other towns, especially when it comes to property and violent crime like robbery and assault. According to a study, it reported 1,597 violent crimes for every 100,000 people, while the national average is only 399 incidents per 100,000. By this measure—Milwaukee’s rate is 300% higher than the national average.
Orlando, Florida
Despite being known as a tourist hotspot, Orlando actually has a super high crime rate—especially when it comes to property crimes like motor vehicle theft, burglary, and larceny. The city also has a higher-than-average rate of violent crime, with 8.30 incidents for every 1,000 residents. These statistics are very much influenced by Orlando’s lively nightlife and the large number of tourists visiting the city.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia has a crime rate that’s higher than the national average, which puts it among the most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania. The most difficult year in the town was 2021—with 562 murders. However, compared to other big cities in America, Philadelphia’s safety record is not too bad. By avoiding the areas with the most crime, you can still feel pretty safe while you’re in Philly.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is dealing with high crime rates, especially when it comes to violent offenses like aggravated assault—which is the most common crime reported. The rate of violence in Atlanta is 8.64 for every 1,000 people. Even though Atlanta is a busy city with lots of economic activity and cultural events, its crime rate is still a worry for both locals and authorities.
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