Safety is a major priority for countries throughout the world, whether it’s in terms of protecting individuals and their property on the streets, protecting them from crime, or even protecting them from cyber-harassment.
Violent crime is divided into four categories by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and severe assault. The UCR Program defines violent crimes as those that include the use or threat of force.
Global comparisons indicate a considerably higher crime rate in United States. According to the UNODC’s branch of Research and Analysis, the United States’ crime rate in 2019 was 383.4 cases per 100,000 people. It is interesting however, that the murder rate in the United States, has dropped to a 50-year low, but it is still over three times that of other developed countries like Canada and more than four times that of the United Kingdom.
USA is generally considered a very safe country with a booming economy. It is one of the most sought-after countries for immigration and travel. According to data reports by FBI, since 2016, crime in the United States has decreased, from just under 400 occurrences per 100,000 people in 2016 to around 380 incidents per 100,000 people in 2019. In 2019, an estimated 1,203,808 violent crimes were reported across the country, down 0.5 percent from the previous year’s estimate.
Advances in lifestyles, technology and a general increase in accumulated wealth has created a space for increased investment in the home security and cybersecurity industry. Security software and cybersecurity equities saw a significant surge in 2020, according to The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE, GS). The cyber security stocks like CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD), Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NYSE: PANW) are rising since 2020. Investments in home security systems are also rising rapidly. Stocks of companies like Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON) and Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE) are surging.
Effect of Crime Rate on Economy
Crime has a substantial detrimental influence on society’s welfare, which may create serious roadblocks to the development and maintenance of a developed and well-functioning economy. Recent events in the cyber world have led to an increased interest in cyber security. A hack on SolarWinds Corporation (NYSE: SWI), a large US information technology corporation, spread to its clients and was unnoticed for months. This event prompted numerous reforms in cyber laws and a particular interest in cyber security. However increased investment in cybersecurity has shown to decrease crime rate.
Lower crime rate in the last decade can be directly linked to increased economic growth. In the second quarter of 2021 where crime rate had reduced by 0.5% from the previous year, the US economy grew at an annualized rate of 6.5%. In 2019, municipal budget savings from a 25% drop in violent crime range from $6 million per year in Seattle to $12 million in Boston and Milwaukee, $42 million in Philadelphia, and $59 million in Chicago.
Trends in Crime Statistics during 2008 recession and COVID-19
Contrary to what common sense would indicate, during the 2008 recession, crime rate reduced. The US homicide rate actually decreased and then continued to decline. Property crimes fell for the sixth year in a row in 2008, with overall estimates falling below the previous year’s total for the first time. According to data, the amount of violent offences decreased by 1.9%. Amidst the recession big banks like JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC), and Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) were all dubbed “too big to fail” by the media. They took the bailout money, repaid the government, and emerged from the recession stronger than ever.
After the economy had mostly recovered in 2015, it began to witness steady growth. This raises the question of whether a COVID-19-induced recession will resemble the 2008 financial crisis or other recessions in terms of criminal behavior.
COVID-19 pandemic caused crime rates to reduce slightly largely owing to social distancing which reduced crime by making it more difficult for criminals to break into houses, join gangs, or commit petty theft. However, there was an increase in the prevalence of domestic violence and online black-market activities. The overall number of crimes in Chicago decreased by 31.5%. Burglary (22.9%), criminal trespass (50.1%), robbery (25.8%), and theft were the property crimes that saw substantial decreases (41.0%). The pandemic however created new challenges for businesses. A large number of businesses saw a digital transition due to the new work from home mode. Cyber security companies played a huge role in maintaining security for these companies that saw a massive digital transition. According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, the shares of endpoint security software pioneer CrowdStrike Holdings (NASDAQ: CRWD) increased 19% in the first half of 2021. According to the Q1 report in 2021, Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET) generated a total revenue of $138.1 million. Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON) stalk saw a 54% increase from previous year 2020.
Our Methodology
While the overall crime rate in the USA has decreased in the last decade, individual cities show a different trend. We have compiled a list of 25 most dangerous cities in US. These cities are considered dangerous as compared to all cities in the US only. We carried out an in-depth search of crime rates reported by various law enforcing agencies like FBI and police departments to filter out 25 most dangerous cities in the US. We also researched forums like Reddit and Quora to analyze reviews posted by people about cities. The metric that we focused on while ranking the 25 most dangerous cities was rate of violent crimes per 100,000 residents. The number of offenses reported to law enforcement authorities per 100,000 of the total population is referred to as a crime rate. The number of recorded offenses is divided by the total population, and the result is multiplied by 100,000 to get a crime rate. As mentioned earlier, along with the rate of violent crimes, reviews on forums like Reddit and Quora were also considered while ranking the cities in formulating our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US.
With this context in mind, let’s now discuss our list of the 25 most dangerous cities in the US.
25 Most Dangerous Cities in the US
25. New Orleans, Metairie
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 551.5
New Orleans, the birthplace of Creole food and Mardi Gras, is one of America’s most distinctive cities. New Orleans has a particularly high property crime (3149.1 per 100,000 residents) and larceny-theft cases (2459.9 per 100,000 residents). There were 4,516 significant violent offences registered in the city. Cyber crime has been of particular concern in the last decade. Cyber security and home security stocks like CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD), Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NYSE: PANW), Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON) and Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE) are rising since 2020.
According to New Orleans City Council figures, violent crime remained stubbornly high in the first four months of this year, even as coronavirus cases decreased and the economy returned to normal. New Orleans is ranked 25th on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US.
24. Merced, California
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 553.2
Merced police are dealing with a significant increase in gunshots in the city. The increase in crime scenes is putting a strain on resources. Merced has a particularly high property crime (2510.5 per 100,000 residents) and larceny-theft cases (14481.1 per 100,000 residents). In the metropolis, shady areas should be avoided at all costs.
Merced is ranked 24th on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US.
23. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 554.0
Baton Rouge is ranked 23rd on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US. Baton Rouge is the deadliest city in Louisiana, with one of the country’s highest murder rates. There is a 1 in 17 probability of becoming a victim of any crime while in Baton. While patrolling the city, Baton Rouge police face gang fights, drug misuse, and other difficulties.
Merced reports particularly high property crime, burglary cases and rape crimes. When looking at the numbers, Baton Rouge, like most large cities, isn’t safe.
22. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, California
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 560.9
Glendale is largely regarded as the epicenter of Armenian American life. Residents of Glendale often believe the city’s north side to be the safest. In Glendale, your chances of becoming a victim of crime might range from 1 in 19 in the south to 1 in 48 in the north.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale reports high property crime, burglary cases, and larceny-theft cases. Glendale is ranked 22nd on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US.
21. Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 563.2
Shreveport-Bossier City is ranked 21st on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US. Shreveport–Bossier City is North Louisiana’s major economic and cultural center. Shreveport- City and Bossier recorded 1462 and 546 violent criminal cases respectively according to The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program 2019. Shreveport-Bossier City has particularly high rape, robbery and aggravated assault cases.
20. Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, Tennessee
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 570.5
20th on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US is Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin. In the city alone, there were a total of 7,376 violent crimes committed in 2019. Nashville has a violent crime rate three times the national average, and a property crime rate 1.6 times the national average, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting database.
19. Kalamazoo-Portage, Michigan
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 572.5
Kalamazoo-Portage is one of Michigan’s most hazardous cities, with a high rate of violent crimes, particularly aggravated assaults. Certain parts of the city should be avoided at all costs. It is 19th on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US.
949 violent criminal cases were reported in Kalamazoo, whereas 136 were reported in Portage in 2019. Cyber security concerns are at a rise in US. Cyber security and home security stocks like CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD), Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NYSE: PANW), Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON) and Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE) are rising since 2020.
18. Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wisconsin
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 577.9
In 2019 Milwaukee – City, and Waukesha recorded 7874 and 67 violent criminal cases respectively. Milwaukee-Waukesha reported high cases of murder (7.0 per 100,000 residents), rape (40.0 per 100,000 residents), robbery (136.4 per 100,000 residents) and aggravated assault (394.4 per 100,000 residents).
Assault cases were particularly high which makes Milwaukee-Waukesha at number 18th on our list of 25 most dangerous countries in the US. The major causes of crime in Milwaukee-Waukesha are unemployment, poverty, and a lack of education. Cyber crimes are rising. Cyber security stocks like CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD), Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NYSE: PANW), Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON) and Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE) are rising since 2020.
17. Flint, Michigan
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 579.7
This year, Flint, like other Michigan cities, has seen a significant increase in violent crime. It ranks 17th on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US. The city reported a significant high number of and larceny-theft cases (1145.5 per 100,000 residents), aggravated assault (464.2 per 100,000 residents) and rape cases (64.2 5 per 100,000 residents) in 2019. A total of 1248 violent crimes were reported.
Flint had already been named as one of the most unsafe cities for women by Forbes. Cyber crimes were a major concern in the city in the year 2020. Cyber security and home security stocks like CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD), Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NYSE: PANW), Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON) and Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE) are rising since 2020
16. Columbia, South Carolina
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 583.4
Columbia is ranked 16th on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US. When compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the largest cities – Columbia has one of the highest crime rates in the United States. There is a one in 16 probability of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in this city.
The city reported a significantly high number of and larceny-theft cases (2430.1 per 100,000 residents), property crime (3372.3 per 100,000 residents) and burglary cases (532.4 per 100,000 residents) in 2019.
15. Amarillo, Texas
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 595.4
Violent crime is roughly twice as common in Amarillo, Texas, as it is nationwide. In 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the city reported a total of 1,447 violent offences, or 594.4 per 100,000 people.
Murder is the most serious of the four forms of violent crime, according to the FBI’s crime severity classification. In Amarillo, which has a population of around 201,000 people, there were 15 murders in 2019, or 6 per 100,000 inhabitants. The murder rate in the United States is 5 per 100,000 inhabitants. Aggravated assault accounted for 71% of all recorded violent crimes in Amarillo in 2019 (419.8 per 100,000 residents).
Amarillo is ranked 15th on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US.
14. Bakersfield, California
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 621.1
Bakersfield has one of the highest crime rates in the United States when compared to other cities of similar size, with a current violent crime rate of 621.1 per 100,000 population. The communities of Lakeview, East Bakersfield, Rio Bravo, and Southgate are among the terrible parts of Bakersfield to avoid.
Aggravated assault accounted for 403.8 per 100, 000 residents in 2019 putting Bakersfield at 14th position on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US.
13. Springfield, Missouri
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 632.1
Springfield has one of the worst crime rates in America, with a violent crime rate of 632.1 per 100,000 residents, when compared to all communities of all sizes – from the tiniest towns to the greatest cities. There is a one in 11 probability of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in this city.
The city reported a total of 11 murder, 365 rape, 319 robbery and 1,885 cases of aggravated assaults in 2019
Springfield is ranked 13th on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US.
12. Rockford, Illinois
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 634.5
Rockford is ranked 12th on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US. Chances of becoming a violent crime victim in Rockford are 1 in 71. Rockford is considered dangerous owing to the poor incomes caused by recession. Others claim that Rockford’s proximity to Chicago and Milwaukee attracts gangs and drug traffickers thus making it an unsafe city.
The city reported a total of 14 murder, 125 rape, 282 robbery and 1,290 cases of aggravated assaults in 2019.
Cyber security concerns are at a rise in US. Cyber security stocks and home security stocks like CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD), Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NYSE: PANW), Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON) and Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE) are rising since 2020.
11. Gainesville, Florida
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 692.1
We found that the violent crime rate in Gainesville is among the highest in the US. Rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, including assault with a dangerous weapon, were among the violent offences investigated. In 2019 the city reported a total of 928 violent criminal cases of which aggravated assaults were the highest at 588. Similarly motor vehicle theft stood at 3,803.
Gainesville is ranked 11th on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US.
10. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 698.7
Baltimore is ranked 10th on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US. The city’s aggravated assaults rate is 403.8 per 100,000, while the robbery rate is at 242.7 incidents per 100,000 according to Uniform Crime Reporting Program 2019.
Violent crime has increased in Baltimore following the infamous death of Freddie Grey in 2015, and there are no signs that it will improve soon.
9. Corpus Christi, Texas
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 736.9
High violent crime rate puts Corpus Christi at 9th position on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US. The city reported a total of 35 murder, 313 rape, 536 robbery and 2,285 cases of aggravated assaults in 2019.
There is a one in 23 probability of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in this city.
8. Wichita, Kansas
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 781.2
The violent crime rate in Wichita is already more than three times higher than the national average. The number of shootings has continuously increased over the years. Between 2016 and 2019, the number of murders, rapes, and aggravated assaults all increased. Domestic violence has also increased, accounting for roughly half of all aggravated attacks in the city.
It is ranked on 8th position on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US.
Cyber security concerns are at a rise in US. Cyber security stocks and home security stocks like CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD), Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NYSE: PANW), Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON) and Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE) are rising since 2020.
7. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, Arkansas
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 782.3
It is ranked on 7th position on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US. The crime rate is about four times that of the national average, and high violent crime rates have remained nearly unchanged over the years.
City of Little North, City of North Little North and City of Conway recorded 3,009, 562 and 324 violent criminal cases respectively in 2019.
6. Stockton, California
Rate of Violent Crimes per 100,000 Residents: 788.5
Stockton is known for a variety of violent crimes, and the city’s crime scene appears to be exacerbated by the city’s persistent poverty rates. Stockton has a particularly high property crime (2836.2 per 100,000 residents) and larceny-theft cases (1,928.8 per 100,000 residents).
The city reported a total of4,380 violent crimes in 2019. It is ranked on 6th position on our list of 25 most dangerous cities in the US.
Cyber security concerns are at a rise in US. Cyber security stocks and home security stocks like CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD), Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NYSE: PANW), Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ: HON) and Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE) are rising since 2020.
