The Americas still record high rates of homicide, so creating the top 30 most dangerous cities in the US 2023 list was challenging. With an estimated 46 homicides per 100,000 men between the ages of 18 and 19, young men are particularly vulnerable. This is far higher than the risk that their counterparts in other regions suffer. Additionally, homicides in the Americas use firearms significantly more frequently than homicides in other regions of the world. It is the reason why some of these cities are on the list of the 30 most dangerous cities in the world.
A crime is defined as an intentional act. According to estimates, only 40.9% of violent crimes and 32.5% of property crimes committed in homes were reported to the police, with the remainder being undetected. A significant proportion of violent and property crimes in the United States go unreported to law enforcement, and even those that do often remain unsolved. In any location, the employment rate is a major determinant of the crime rate. Many Americans are becoming more and more concerned about crime. Their worries are only going to intensify in the wake of recent events like the mass shooting in Maine that left 18 dead and 13 injured.
In the 32 research cities that provided homicide data, there were 515 fewer homicides in 2023 than there were in 2022, a 10% decrease. Trends in property crime have been more inconsistent. Compared to 2019, there were more nonresidential burglaries and fewer residential burglaries and larcenies in 2023. Drug-related crimes decreased by 27% over this period, whereas motor vehicle thefts more than doubled (+105%). At the conclusion of this study is a dashboard that shows it is crucial to know not only the highest crime rate cities in the US but also percent changes from 2019 to 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Though there are some significant outliers, overall, crime rates are gradually declining to pre-COVID levels as the country gets further away from the pandemic’s peak. Homicide rates in the studied cities—as well as in many other cities—have decreased. The progress has been inconsistent, though, and data from other sources—such as household surveys of violent victimization—indicate greater rates and more pronounced swings in the crime data than do reports to law enforcement.
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However, other statistics are also necessary to determine which US cities are the most dangerous. One such statistic is the crime rate. In certain regions, a multitude of different factors contribute to the sensation of insecurity. In addition to users’ confidence and experience in certain cities, it is crucial to calculate the homicide and crime rates and which are the most dangerous cities in the US per capita. However, as they are not useful for compiling the list, we have not considered natural disasters this time. There is no list of the cities that are most vulnerable to terrorism, even though the United States is dealing with an increasing problem of terrorism that will probably get worse over the coming year. Based on a CSIS data set of terrorist incidents, the only thing we know for sure is that white supremacists provide the greatest threat. Anarchists and religious fanatics influenced by al-Qaeda and the Islamic State may also pose a concern.
To make a list of the most dangerous cities in the US, we started our research on the FBI’s list of the most dangerous cities in 2024. They looked at the number of violent and household crimes as well as the number of violent crimes per 1000 people. We compared this list with the 2023 crime trends list and the list of the places with the most murders. Because they often have the highest number of homicides and other crimes, some cities have been at the top of all our lists for an extended period of time. The number of murderers, violent crimes, and repeats on these lists helped us decide how to rank them. This is our list of the US’s most dangerous towns.
30. Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, situated on a major port, is not only Louisiana’s capital but also one of the most dangerous cities in the US. The city is vibrant and home to many cultures. The city is home to several prestigious universities, including Louisiana State University. In 2023, Baton Rouge had 8,743 property crimes and 1,598 serious crimes. That translates to roughly 7.27 crimes of any kind per 1,000 residents of Baton Rouge, given the size of the city. It’s obvious that living in Baton Rouge is boring, yet there are some issues with crime. Perhaps this city won’t be on this list in a few years because both the number of crimes and the crime rate have been down over the past few years.
29. Aurora
From 688 per 100,000 people in 2008 to 774 per 100,000 people in 2022, Aurora’s monthly crime rate increased by 12.5%. Since 2008, Aurora has had higher crime rates annually than the entire state. It is the reason why we put it on the list of the 30 most dangerous cities in America. Colorado had 36% fewer crimes in 2022 than Aurora did. It remains one of the most hazardous cities in the United States, though, since this number hasn’t changed significantly from the previous year. In the previous year, there were 7.32 dangerous offenses.
28. Philadelphia
Philadelphia consistently has a higher crime rate than the national average, particularly when it comes to serious offenses. This town has the highest rates of both violent crime and poverty out of the ten major towns in the US with a population of one million or more. The yearly “Top 100 Most Dangerous Cities in America” list has it listed by real estate data provider Neighborhood Scout. The north, west, and southwest areas of the city are where crimes seem to occur most frequently. Philadelphia experienced the highest number of murders ever in 2021, with 5.62 homicides. In 2023, there were 11,531 crimes.
27. Lubbock
Websites such as The Hub City compute a high rate of major crimes as well as a high rate of crime. You had a 1 in 90 chance of becoming a victim of a serious crime in Lubbock, according to their estimates. One of the most hazardous communities in the United States is Lubbock, Texas, which makes this city one of the most dangerous cities in the US. The crime rate in Lubbock is 121% greater than the average for the country. There are 260,993 inhabitants in the city. Lubbock had 5,263 crimes for every 100,000 residents in 2022. Even 2,856 of these had major issues. Among these violent offenses were 2,169 assaults, 431 thefts, and 28 homicides. The likelihood of becoming a victim of a serious crime was generally 1 in 90, with 13,858 instances of property theft reported. The riskiest neighborhoods in Lubbock were Maxey, Dunbar, Chatman Park, Tech Terrace, and Jackson.
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26. Toledo
Physical crimes and property crimes are the two primary categories of crime in one of the most dangerous cities in the US. Violent crimes include assault, robbery, rape, and murder. Among the crimes against property are car theft, theft, and burglaries. Compared to the national average, Toledo has 82.6% higher crime rates. With 2116 violent crimes reported in Toledo alone, there were 214.5% more violent crimes than the national average (7.93 per 1000 inhabitants). Additionally, Toledo had 5196 property crimes, which is 57.6% higher than the national average.
25. Springfield
Missouri contains just one metro region that ranks among the top 50 most dangerous in the country, and that is Springfield. That translates to 2,993 violent crimes in Springfield in 2020, or 632 crimes for every 100,000 residents. While the metro area’s overall violent crime rate decreased somewhat in 2020, the number of murders increased by over 50%, from 17 in 2019 to 26 in 2020. This year’s numbers may be a touch lower, but the location remains among the deadliest in the US.
24. Evansville
Evansville, located in Vanderburgh County, is the third-largest city in Indiana. In Evansville, one of the most dangerous cities in the US, there are 8.15 major crimes for every 1000 residents. There are 36.71 property crimes for every 1000 residents. Compared to the rest of the nation, this area has higher crime rates. Compared to the rest of the state, Evansville has five times more crimes per square mile.
23. Metropolitan Nashville
The 2023 crime statistics from the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) indicate declines in burglary, robbery, and homicide. Several violent crimes have decreased in the last year, according to MNPD. Robbery has decreased by more than 10% and murder by more than 7%. The number of street and business robberies has also decreased. According to MNPPD data, there has been a rise in property crime this year, but auto theft is mostly to blame. While residential and commercial burglaries were on the decline, auto thefts saw a significant rise of over 75%. The widely known theft fault, according to police, is the reason for a nearly 30% spike in stolen Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Metro Nashville is on the list, though, with a crime rate of 8.27.
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22. Dayton
According to Dayton Police Department data, crime increased in one of the most dangerous cities in the US last year once more, with a spike in auto thefts contributing to the highest number of criminal offenses reported by police in years. Dayton experienced an increase in home invasion shootings, menacing incidents, scams and deceptions, theft of property crimes, drug and narcotics offenses, and violent robberies. Since the early 2000s, the Dayton Police Department has reported a sharp decline in certain property offenses. The department claimed that proactive law enforcement efforts are to blame for the rise in a few certain crime categories. Although the main goal of proactive policing is usually to avoid crime, increasing enforcement might occasionally cause crime levels to vary.
21. Minneapolis
Crime in Minnesota is the broad category of illegal actions that take place in the state and are governed by state and federal legislation. Although Minnesota’s crime rates are generally lower than the national average, several regions and categories of crime have drawn media attention. According to city records, there were 72 killings in Minneapolis by the end of the year. That is a decrease from 2022’s 80 and 2021’s 97. But violent crime is still far greater than it was prior to the epidemic and George Floyd’s death, which put Minneapolis on the list of the most dangerous cities in the US.
20. Rockford
Based on the latest available data, Rockford’s crime rate exceeds the national average by 74.9%. There are two main types of these crimes: property and violent. Murder, rape, robbery, and assault are examples of violent crimes; theft, auto theft, and burglary are examples of property crimes. In comparison to the national average, Rockford had 2067 fewer violent crimes reported per 100,000 people, or 1430 per 100,000. Furthermore, there were 3866 property crimes, or 2635 per 100,000 people, which is 34.8% more than the average for the United States.
19. Anchorage
With a violent crime rate of 1151 per 100,000 residents, Anchorage is among the most hazardous cities in the country and is in the bottom 10% of all U.S. cities with reported crime. In Anchorage, there is a 1 in 87 chance that you will become a victim of violent crime. Although the murder rate in the US has been steadily declining since 1990, there has been an unsettling increase in recent years. Out of all the cities that reported crime, Anchorage has one of the highest murder rates in the country. There were 29 murders in Anchorage, which translates to 10 murders for every 100,000 residents. This highlights the urgent need for ongoing measures to address and lower extreme violent crime in the community.
18. Stockton
With an average of 72 violent crimes per 1,000 people, San Joaquin County had the highest rate of violent crimes in the state, almost twice as high as the average of 44 events per 1,000 people for the entire state. According to their analysis, San Joaquin County has recorded 56,177 violent offenses in total during the last ten years, according to state crime data. By their count, there have been 617 killings, 2,379 rapes, 14,592 robberies, and 38,589 violent assaults. It coincides with a high rate of leadership turnover in Stockton, the county seat and epicenter of much of the region’s violent crime. There have been 4,380 documented violent crimes in Stockton, a city with 313,604 residents. In Stockton, there are 1,397 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents. There are roughly 1,158 robberies, 34 homicides, 181 rapes, and 3,007 violent assaults per year.
17. Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico, has a crime rate that is 170.9% higher nationally and 75.6% higher than the state average. Despite these alarming figures, most crimes in Albuquerque are perpetrated in neighborhoods that have a higher concentration of gang activity and nightlife. These figures are also decreasing. The Albuquerque Police report that violent crime fell by 8% in 2022 compared to 2021, and it is still declining. The police force runs several crime prevention initiatives, including Children’s Crime Prevention, Neighborhood Watch, General Presentation, and Personal Safety. After the events of 9/11, the FBI, including the Albuquerque Division, made stopping terrorist attacks the top priority, even as it continued to concentrate on other significant criminal and national security investigations. Still, it is one of the most dangerous cities in the US.
16. Milwaukee
According to a recent FBI assessment, Milwaukee is among the top three largest cities with the greatest rate of violent crime. Milwaukee had the third-highest rates of robbery, serious assault, and murder among the major cities. This is comparable to national patterns, which showed a minor increase in these three crimes in 2021 after a spike in 2020. Between 2011 and 2021, there was a roughly 50% increase in murder rates. When you look at large cities, especially those with populations greater than 500,000, these figures become even more alarming. According to the research, the combined crime rates in large cities increased to about ten times the national urban average last year.
15. Peoria
According to the Peoria Police Department’s 2023 annual report, there was a 13.5% increase in overall crime last year. The study was just published on social media and the internet. There were almost 3600 arrests, according to the data. Compared to 2022, that is 300 more, so Peoria should be on the list of the most dangerous cities in the US . Of them, 13% were younger people and 72% were men. Adolescent arrests increased by 151 in the previous year to 564 in the previous year. Assault is the most frequent offense, according to police. In 2023, there were 137 shootings, a 22% increase over the previous year. Nineteen victims of their wounds passed away. But gun-related homicides decreased by 5%. With nearly 5500 shots fired, ShotSpotter warnings increased by 9%.
14. Tacoma
The annual average number of killings in the City of Tacoma is roughly 18, albeit this figure is subject to frequent fluctuations. In the past, the Unit has investigated up to 35 homicides in a single year and as few as 9. Over 700 felony assaults occur in the City of Tacoma annually on average. These attacks cause serious physical injuries or even fatalities. The Tacoma Police Department has detected more than a hundred active gang groups in the City of Tacoma, with over a thousand members in all. There are five adult missing reports each week on average in Tacoma, a city of about 200,000 residents.
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13. Lansing
Compared to all communities of all sizes, from the smallest towns to the greatest cities, Lansing has one of the highest crime rates in America, with 40 crimes committed for every 1,000 residents. There is a one in twenty-five risk of becoming a victim of violent or property crime, which puts this city on the list of the most dangerous cities in the US.
12. Beaumont
In Beaumont, there were roughly 4792 recorded criminal occurrences in total in 2019. The rate of violent crime in the city is approximately 1,085 incidents per 100,000 people, which is far higher than the national and Texas averages. The likelihood of falling victim to property crime in Beaumont is 1 in 26. With 1.085 violent crimes per 1,000 people, Beaumont has a higher rate of violent crime than the national average and represents one of the most dangerous cities in the US.
11. Pueblo
The offices of the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, the Pueblo Police Department, and the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office released updated crime figures for the previous year during a press conference in February. These figures show a notable decrease in violent crimes of 13% and 7.5 percent, respectively, in Pueblo County and the City of Pueblo in 2023. Law enforcement refers to these violent crimes as “part-one crimes,” which include motor vehicle theft, arson, rape, serious assault, robbery, burglary, larceny, and human trafficking—including commercial sex acts. The Pueblo Police Department fielded 143,612 service calls in 2023. Police Chief Chris Noeller stated that he believes the decline in violent crime is a result of the diligent work of his men and women in uniform, despite the high number of calls.
10. Kansas City
We are entering to the list of top 10 dangerous cities in America. Compared to all communities of all sizes, from the smallest towns to the greatest cities, Kansas City has one of the highest crime rates in America, with 63 crimes committed per 1,000 persons. Here, there is a one in sixteen chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime. Kansas City’s overall crime rate is 166.6% greater than the US average. Kansas City reported 7538 violent offenses, or 1481 per 100,000 people, which is 300.6% more than the national average. Furthermore, Kansas City had 23995 property crimes reported, or 4715 per 100,000 residents, which is 141.3% more than the national average.
9. Cleveland
Cleveland has a thriving community and a diversified population. Like any other urban region, nevertheless, it is important for both locals and visitors to be aware of the crime environment and comprehend the facts related to it. The statement “In 2019, Cleveland recorded 7,292 incidents of violent crime” sums up all the violent crime incidents that Cleveland’s city had to deal with in 2019. Crimes classified as violent include rape, robbery, homicide, and serious assault. With the use of this statistic, which offers a numerical representation of Cleveland’s crime rate, one may analyze patterns, draw comparisons with other cities, and guide the development of public safety and crime reduction programs.
8. Denver
Anticipating a break, Danzel Atkins left for Denver. In Houston, the father of four owned and operated a modest electrical company. As he landed in Denver on August 16 at 8:43 p.m., he posted on Facebook, saying, “Feels so good to finally be on vacation.”
After five hours, he was dead.
There were 7.4 violent offenses per 1,000 residents in Denver, one of the most dangerous cities in the US. The rate of property crime per 1,000 people was 52.6. Its rate of domestic violence was 2.6 per 1,000 people. The rate of sexual assault was 0.9 per 1,000. According to data provided to the FBI, the number of assaults that result in significant physical injury, or “aggravated assaults,” has almost doubled since 2012, growing at the quickest pace of any city with a population of more than 500,000. According to Denver Police, the number of aggravated assaults increased from 2,463 in 2012 to 4,790 in 2013, so it is surely among the top 50 worst cities in America.
7. Washington
In just five years, violent crime in Washington has increased by nearly 20%, setting new records after 40 years of below average crime rates. In contrast to the expected drop in homicide rates across the United States, Washington has had a 96% surge in murders during 2019, setting a new state record for 2022. In reaction to crime in the state of Washington, several policies, plans, laws, and initiatives have been put into place to both lower crime rates and deter crime altogether. Compared to the national average of 3.25, the ratio of police officers to civilians in Washington is 1.13 per 1,000 people. There is good reason to consider it one of the most dangerous cities in the US. This disparity draws attention to the possible influence of community policing and law enforcement on crime rates. Their strong working relationship has the potential to discourage criminal activity and promote a safer atmosphere.
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6. Baltimore
If we compare guns per capita by country vs. crime rate: top 20 countries, Baltimore has one of the highest crime rates in America, with 48 crimes committed for every 1,000 people. In one of the most dangerous cities in America 2023, there is a one in twenty-one risk of becoming a victim of violent or property crime. Baltimore has a well-known crime rate that is far higher than the national average. After Freddie Gray’s death on April 19, 2015, which sparked protests and an increase in homicides, violent crime surged in 2015. With a population of almost 125,000 more, the city recorded 348 homicides in 2019, making it the second-highest total ever. In Baltimore, most homicides occur in a limited number of extremely impoverished neighborhoods. 2016 Baltimore Sun research found that about 25% of the city’s neighborhoods account for 80% of the gun killings that occur there. Drug dealers, especially those dealing in drugs and competing gangs, are the main targets of gang-related crimes, which are typically concentrated in drug areas.
5. Chattanooga
Chattanooga has one of the highest crime rates in America, with 64 crimes committed per 1,000 people, making it one of the most dangerous cities in the US. Here, there is a one in sixteen chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime. Chattanooga has a crime rate that is 173.58% greater than the national average, at 6359 per 100,000 population. As a result, the nation has one of the highest rates of overall crime.
One of the most hazardous cities in the country is Chattanooga, which has a violent crime rate of 1137 offenses per 100,000 population. Chattanooga is among the worst ten cities in the nation for violent crime reports filed in the previous year. That means that there is a 1 in 88 chance that you will fall victim to a violent crime. Remember that while some places will always be safer than others, this does not always imply that violent crime is rife throughout the entire city.
4. Little Rock
According to preliminary data, violent crime in Little Rock increased by 6% from the five-year average in 2023 but decreased by 1% from 2022. The 63 homicides in 2023 are down roughly 25% from 2022, according to the LRPD. With 81 homicides, 2022 was the worst year in Little Rock history. Based on data from the LRPD, the 10-year average of yearly homicides in Little Rock is roughly 50. The number of cases recorded in 2023 is almost twice as high as that in 2013. In Little Rock, rape reports fell by 2% in 2023 over 2022. The percentage drop indicated a four-report difference. There were 78 recorded rape instances between the 12th Street Division and the Southwest Division, with the Northwest Division reporting the most with 48. Nonetheless, it ranks highly among the most dangerous cities in the US, with a crime rate of 13.42.
3. St. Louis
There is a reason why this city is on several lists of the most dangerous cities in the US. St. Louis, Missouri, had the highest murder rate in the nation in 2019 and most certainly will continue to do so with a rate of about 65 per 100,000 citizens. That’s a little over a 1/10,000 probability of being murdered in St. Louis, just doing the arithmetic, which is better than the odds of winning the lotto. In contrast, there is a 1/40 million chance that you will ever experience a lightning strike, and that figure only accounts for the 20 or so fatalities caused by lightning strikes each year. Several more are hit and make it out alive.
Youth involvement in criminal activity and the epidemic of gun violence are major problems in St. Louis. A significant factor in St. Louis’s total crime rates is the widespread availability of firearms and the lack of effective gun control laws. Over the course of the past year, St. Louis officials have passed one board bill to regulate the open carry of firearms and are currently working on another to outlaw it entirely. The leaders of the Missouri GOP have opposed these measures. To address an increase in juvenile crime in the St. Louis metro area, police are taking several measures.
2. Detroit
In terms of homicide rates, Detroit ranked 42nd globally as of 2018 and fourth among large American cities, behind only St. Louis and Baltimore. Between 1985 and 2014, the number of robberies in Detroit decreased by 67%, but the number of aggravated assaults rose. The city’s overall crime rate has significantly dropped from its 1980s peak, so it is among the top 25 worst cities in America 2023.
As one of the most dangerous cities in the US, Detroit saw 267 homicides in 2017, compared to 303 in 2016, so it is among the 30 U.S. cities with highest violent crime rates. After St. Louis, the violent crime rate in the country was the second highest at 2,057 per 100,000. It was over ten times higher than the metro Detroit suburban counties’ average rate, which was 394 violent crimes per 100,000, less than the national average. While the crime rate is still relatively high throughout most of the city and significantly affects daily living, there has been a notable drop in violence in particular communities in Detroit’s downtown region in recent years.
1. Memphis
The Memphis Shelby Crime Commission reports that in 2023, the city of Memphis experienced its highest-ever crime rate. Memphis rocketed to the top of the list of the most dangerous cities, even though the data indicates a decrease in general crime over the last few months of 2023 compared to 2022. Memphis had a decrease in violent assaults, auto thefts, rapes, and robberies in 2024 compared to 2023, but an increase in murders. According to a recent Gallup Poll, the greatest percentage of Americans since the survey’s inception—63%—think that crime is a very significant problem in the nation. From 2023 to 2024, there was a decline of approximately 100 instances year-over-year in both robbery and aggravated assault. The biggest decline was in car theft, with nearly 1,100 fewer instances in 2024. However, Memphis’ murder rate is still rising, with 55 cases reported in 2024. These figures are comparable to those of other major cities. Baltimore and Detroit slowly surpass Memphis, which currently has a murder rate of 43 per 100,000 residents, according to Safe Home’s 2024 Crime Rates in US Cities Report. This is what our list of the most dangerous cities in the US looks like.
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