Top 100 Most Dangerous Cities in the US

Alexander City, Alabama

(Population: 14,859; Violent Crime Rate: 2,158)

Small cities that are otherwise peaceful still make it onto the list of the most notorious cities. The reason is that a couple of bar fights with grave consequences add to crime statistics for a specific year. Unfortunately, this is not the case here. 

Alexander City is permanently on the list, with the occasional change in ranking. The worst city in America had 314 violent crimes in 2019 (292 assaults, 15 robberies, 5 rapes, and 2 murders). Very high numbers for such a small city.

West Memphis, Arkansas

(Population: 25,411; Violent Crime Rate: 1,984)

West Memphis, AR, shouldn’t be confused with Memphis, TN—the only thing these two cities have in common is the extremely high crime rate and the fact that they’re among the most dangerous places to live in the US. 485 violent crimes were reported in West Memphis in 2019 (387 assaults, 57 robberies, 33 rapes, and 8 murders).

Detroit, Michigan 

(Population: 639,111; Violent Crime Rate: 1,965)

According to the FBI Crime Report for 2019, Detroit is the third most dangerous city when it comes to violent crime. The murder rate of 41.4 per 100,000 residents also makes it one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

In 2019, Detroit had 13,040 violent crimes on record (9,467 assaults, 2,346 robberies, 952 rapes, and 275 murders).

Opa-Locka, Florida

(Population: 15,219; Violent Crime Rate: 1,957)

With a total of 323 violent crimes, Opa-Locka is not your ideal Florida retirement spot. The city had 235 assaults, 67 robberies, 109 rapes, and 11 murders in 2019.

Perhaps it’s wise to carry the best stun gun with you at all times to protect yourself.

St. Louis, Missouri

(Population: 308,174; Violent Crime Rate: 1,927)

The 5th most dangerous city in America had 5,792 violent crimes in 2019. Assaults were the most prevalent, with 3,858 of them being reported. They are followed by 1,475 robberies, 265 rapes, and 194 murders.

Memphis, Tennessee

(Population: 651,932; Violent Crime Rate: 1,901)

Memphis saw 12,367 violent crimes in 2019. The city’s violent crime rate was almost four times higher than the national average, with 9,277 assaults, 2,432 robberies, 468 rapes, and 190 murders reported during the year.

Baltimore, Maryland

(Population: 609,032; Violent Crime Rate: 1,859)

Maryland also has some of the worst places to live in the US. Baltimore happens to be the most violent one, with 11,101 reported crimes of a violent nature. Data shows that 5,573 of them were assaults, 4,856 were robberies, and 348 were classified as murders.

Helena-West Helena, Arkansas

(Population: 11,325; Violent Crime Rate: 1,836)

This small Arkansas city had 187 violent crimes in 2019 (142 assaults, 17 robberies, 17 rapes, and 11 murders). The murder rate is more than 20 times higher than the national average, which makes it one of the US cities with the most murders per 100,000 residents.

Danville, Illinois

(Population: 32,030; Violent Crime Rate: 1,741)

Danville is our first but definitely not the last city from Illinois. The FBI’s crime statistics show that this relatively small city had 536 violent crimes in 2019 (414 assaults, 65 robberies, 50 rapes, and 7 murders).

Henderson, North Carolina

(Population: 15,258; Violent Crime Rate: 1,626)

We conclude our list of the top 10 most dangerous cities with Henderson. 242 violent crimes were reported in Henderson during 2019 (195 assaults, 30 robberies, 9 rapes, and 8 murders), which doesn’t exactly make it a nice place for a peaceful life.

This small city is the birthplace of Ben E. King, a singer who’s best known for the song “Stand by Me.” But the city itself doesn’t do much to make you want to stay.

Troy, Alabama

(Population: 18,944; Violent Crime Rate: 1,582)

This small city is considered one of the fastest-growing cities in Alabama —and one of the most dangerous. In total, 222 violent crimes were included in the 2019 crime report (193 assaults, 23 robberies, 7 rapes, and 6 murders).

Alexandria, Louisiana

(Population: 48,044; Violent Crime Rate: 1,570)

Alexandria is another of the most dangerous cities in America that’s located in the south. A total of 732 violent crimes were reported in 2019 (575 assaults, 132 robberies, 16 rapes, and 9 murders).

Pine Bluff, Arkansas

(Population: 45,404; Violent Crime Rate: 1,552)

Extremely violent for a city of its size, Pine Bluff exceeds the national violent crime rate by more than 309%, with 644 violent crimes (502 assaults, 96 robberies, 23 rapes, and 23 murders).

Springfield, Missouri

(Population: 165,138; Violent Crime Rate: 1,519)

The fifth-largest city in Missouri also happens to be one of the most dangerous cities in the United States. Springfield had 2,571 violent offenses in 2019 (1,885 assaults, 319 robberies, 356 rapes, and 11 murders).

Little Rock, Arkansas

(Population: 197,640; Violent Crime Rate: 1,517)

Little Rock is a great place to live in—if you don’t mind the amount of violent crime that the city sees. 3,009 violent crimes were reported in this Arkansas city in 2019 (2,371 assaults, 391 robberies, 209 rapes, and 38 murders).

Cleveland, Ohio

(Population: 385,282; Violent Crime Rate: 1,517)

Cleveland is one of the most dangerous places in the US when it comes to violent crime. 

In 2019, it had 5,791 violent crimes—3,325 assaults, 1,895 robberies, 479 rapes, and 92 murders.

Wilmington, Delaware

(Population: 71,502; Violent Crime Rate: 1,498)

Wilmington managed to exceed the national crime rate averages by more than three times. 1,058 violent crimes were reported in the city in 2019 (689 assaults, 326 robberies, 19 rapes, and 24 murders), making Wilmington a bad choice for people who want a peaceful life. 

Greenwood, South Carolina

(Population: 23,260; Violent Crime Rate: 1,494)

Greenwood, SC, had 350 violent infractions reported in 2019 (287 assaults, 32 robberies, 29 rapes, and 2 murders). This is quite a number, considering Greenwood’s population. 

What is America’s safest city?

The safest small city in the US is New Providence, NY. The law enforcement agencies in charge of protecting its 12,434 residents reported zero violent crimes in 2019. Property crimes (35 in total) were mostly thefts and different types of burglary.

When it comes to larger cities, Frisco, TX, is the safest. The city has 145,646 residents and a violent crime rate of 80, five times lower than the national average. If you need more information, check out our safest cities in America infographic.

Saginaw, Michigan

(Population: 49,892; Violent Crime Rate: 1,474)

In Saginaw, MI, 707 violent crimes were reported in 2019 (613 assaults, 51 robberies, 34 rapes, and 9 murders). If you want to move to Michigan, skip Saginaw. It’s one of the worst cities to live in, according to the crime rates.

Kansas City, Missouri

(Population: 471,767; Violent Crime Rate: 1,431)Kansas City was the third most violent city in Missouri in 2019, with 7,099 violent crimes (5,159 assaults, 1,443 robberies, 347 rapes, and 150 murders). It’s a shame that such a charming city has a dark side. If you’re planning to move or visit, you better be careful.

Stockton, California

(Population: 309,228; Violent Crime Rate: 1,397)

Famous for its role in the Gold Rush and its bankruptcy a couple of centuries later, this city is also notorious for its high crime rate. 4,380 violent crimes were documented in Stockton in 2019 (3,007 assaults, 1,158 robberies, 181 rapes, and 34 murders).

Darby, Pennsylvania

(Population: 10,677; Violent Crime Rate: 1,392)

Darby is a city that sits just outside of Philadelphia, PA. This small suburban community is among the top 25 of the 100 most dangerous cities in the US due to 149 violent crimes reported in 2019 (94 assaults, 37 robberies, 17 rapes, and 1 murder).

Chester, Pennsylvania

(Population: 34,056; Violent Crime Rate: 1,383)

Chester is located a bit further to the west from Darby. It’s another suburban city with a horrific violent crime rate. 469 crimes were reported in 2019 (280 assaults, 142 robberies, 29 rapes, and 18 murders).

Albuquerque, New Mexico

(Population: 559,374; Violent Crime Rate: 1,352)

New Mexico’s largest city is also the city with the highest crime rate in the state, with 7,596 violent crimes reported in 2019. 5,327 assaults, 1,699 robberies, and 84 murders combined make it one of the places we don’t feel safe staying too long in.

Flint, Michigan

(Population: 81,252; Violent Crime Rate: 1,349)

With a total of 1,284 violent crimes committed in 2019 (1,119 assaults, 78 robberies, 64 rapes, and 23 murders), Flint is one of the cities with the highest gun violence rates.

Emeryville, California

(Population: 11,111: Violent Crime Rate: 1,341)

Emeryville brings us back to sunny California once again. This city made a list due to 166 reported violent crimes (40 assaults, 114 robberies, and 12 rapes).

El Dorado, Arkansas

(Population: 18,393; Violent Crime Rate: 1,341)

Welcome to the golden city. Despite its promising name, El Dorado is one of the worst crime cities in America, a fact that multiple publications agree on. 

In 2019, this city had 239 violent crime reports (197 assaults, 23 robberies, 16 rapes, and 3 murders). The murder rate in this small city exceeds the state average by two and the national average by more than five times.

Scottsboro, Alabama

(Population: 14,748; Violent Crime Rate: 1,336)

The latest available data show that Alabama continues to be one of the states with the highest crime rates. Scottsboro is another proof of this statement, as this small city had 193 instances of violent crime reported in 2019 (180 assaults, 5 robberies, and 8 rapes).

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

(Population: 598,672; Violent Crime Rate: 1,332)

The city is famous for its many breweries, Harley-Davidson Museum, and high crime rates. Milwaukee had 7,874 reported instances of violent crime in 2019 (5,439 assaults, 1,911 robberies, 427 rapes, and 97 murders).

San Bernardino, California

(Population: 214,581; Violent Crime Rate: 1,319)

A place most of us would rather avoid, San Bernardino, is one of America’s most dangerous cities, with a total of 2,858 violent crimes last year (1,766 assaults, 906 robberies, 140 rapes, and 46 murders). 

Susanville, California

(Population: 15,555; Violent Crime Rate: 1,317)

Susanville, CA, had 196 violent crimes in 2019 (179 assaults, 10 robberies, and 7 rapes). Fortunately, no murders were reported. However, judging by the number of assaults, it wasn’t for the lack of trying.

Los Lunas, New Mexico

(Population: 15,271; Violent Crime Rate: 1,287)

This small city is pretty busy when it comes to criminal activity. 205 violent crimes were committed in 2019 (185 assaults, 16 robberies, and 4 rapes).

Oakland, California

(Population: 412,040; Violent Crime Rate: 1,272)

Oakland is the eighth-largest city in California and one of the most dangerous cities in the USA. 5,520 violent crimes were reported in 2019 (2,211 assaults, 2,859 robberies, 372 rapes, and 46 murders).

Bogalusa, Louisiana

(Population: 11,964; Violent Crime Rate: 1,258)

Small towns can be very dangerous. With 147 violent crimes (115 assaults, 14 robberies, 16 rapes, and 2 murders) reported, Bogalusa is the best proof of that.

Crowley, Louisiana

(Population: 13,155; Violent Crime Rate: 1,252)

Another small city with a big crime problem. What puts Crowley on the list of cities with the most crime are 158 violent crimes that happened in 2019 (135 assaults, 14 robberies, 8 rapes, and 1 murder).

With this much violence in Crowley, people might want to consider buying pepper gels to protect themselves. 

Anchorage, Alaska

(Population: 293,531; Violent Crime Rate: 1,245)

Encountering wildlife is not the only thing you should be worried about when visiting beautiful Alaska. 3,581 violent crimes were recorded in Anchorage in 2019 (2,388 assaults, 621 robberies, 542 rapes, and 32 murders), making it one of the cities with the highest crime rates.

East Point, Georgia

(Population: 35,477; Violent Crime Rate: 1,243)

Considering that Georgia has a violent crime rate of 341 per 100,000 residents, East Point is not the best this state has to offer. The city had 441 violent crimes in 2019 (238 assaults, 175 robberies, 23 rapes, 5 murders).

Kalamazoo, Michigan

(Population: 75,885; Violent Crime Rate: 1,235)

One of the deadliest cities in America was featured in an adorable children’s book called “From Kalamazoo to Timbuktu,” thanks to its exotic name. But, there is nothing adorable about its crime statistics. 949 violent crimes were reported in 2019 in Kalamazoo, MI (648 assaults, 182 robberies, 110 rapes, and 9 murders).

Prichard, Alabama

(Population: 22,340; Violent Crime Rate: 1,217)

Prichard is a small city with lax gun laws and high murder rates. One of the most dangerous cities in the US, Prichard had a grand total of 263 violent crimes in 2019 (206 assaults, 46 robberies, 4 rapes, and 7 murders), according to gun violence statistics.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

(Population: 30,106; Violent Crime Rate: 1,190)

In 2019, Myrtle Beach had 415 crimes classified as violent (262 assaults, 98 robberies, 52 rapes, and 3 murders).

Florence, South Carolina

(Population: 38,221; Violent Crime Rate: 1,188)

Florence is just 70 miles away from Myrtle Beach. It’s also similar in size and crime rates. It had 447 violent crimes in 2019 (353 assaults, 58 robberies, 29 rapes, and 7 murders)—rough numbers for a city of its size. The fact that this area has two of the most dangerous places in America is a clear indicator it should be avoided.

Rockford, Illinois

(Population: 147,070; Violent Crime Rate: 1,174)

You’re four times more likely to be a victim of a violent crime in Rockford than in most US cities. In 2019, this fairly large city had 1,711 violent crimes (1,290 assaults, 282 robberies, 125 rapes, and 14 murders).

Asbury Park, New Jersey

(Population: 15,850; Violent Crime Rate: 1,160)

Even though the state of New Jersey has below average violent crime numbers, it has some of the worst crime cities in the US. One of them is Asbury Park, NJ. With 179 violent crimes in 2019 (120 assaults, 47 robberies, 10 rapes, and 2 murders), this small city is not the place you want to get lost in.

College Park, Georgia

(Population: 14,434; Violent Crime Rate: 1,159)

College Park doesn’t represent Georgia in the best light, at least when it comes to crime rates. It had 177 violent crimes in 2019 (99 assaults, 64 robberies, 8 rapes, and 6 murders), making it a city with the most crimes in the area.

New Orleans, Louisiana

(Population: 390,845; Violent Crime Rate: 1,145)

The world capital of jazz music is another example of a city that would probably see more tourists if it were a bit safer.

In 2019, 4,516 violent crime reports were submitted in New Orleans (2,608 assaults, 1,013 robberies, 774 rapes, and 121 murders). This might be the most violent city in America in terms of murders and rapes. 

Wichita, Kansas

(Population: 389,877; Violent Crime Rate: 1,141)

Wichita exceeds the national violent crime rate by more than 200%, with 4,451 violent crimes (3,588 assaults, 436 robberies, 367 rapes, and 35 murders) reported in 2019.

Daytona Beach, Florida

(Population: 64,105; Violent Crime Rate: 1,137)

Just how much of a negative impact spring break can have on a community is best shown by the city of Daytona Beach, whose violent crime rate spikes in this period. During these couple of weeks, it’s the most dangerous city in the US. 794 violent crimes were reported in this Florida city in 2019 (654 assaults, 109 robberies, 18 rapes, and 13 murders). At one point, the local paper even called the city “Florida’s rape capital.”

Barstow, California

(Population: 23,438; Violent Crime Rate: 1,136)

In Barstow, 274 violent crimes were reported during 2019 (177 assaults, 82 robberies, 10 rapes, and 5 murders), making it one of the worst cities in the US for raising a family or living a peaceful life.

Newburgh, New York

(Population: 28,406; Violent Crime Rate: 1,129)Newburgh is a city located in upstate New York. In 2019, Newburgh had 317 violent crimes (213 assaults, 82 robberies, 19 rapes, and 3 murders). Such high numbers make going out at night an adventure—but not the kind of adventure you would want to experience.

Trenton, New Jersey

(Population: 84,559; Violent Crime Rate: 1,123)

Trenton, one of the oldest cities in the state of New Jersey, is also one of the cities that we’d all like to avoid. Trenton had 937 violent crimes in 2019 (552 assaults, 300 robberies, 70 rapes, and 15 murders).

Kinston, North Carolina

(Population: 21,393; Violent Crime Rate: 1,111)

Kinston, NC, is a wonderful small town with serious crime issues. Even though it’s not in the top 10 of the worst cities in America, it’s far from safe. This place had 226 violent crimes in 2019 (185 assaults, 38 robberies, and 3 murders). 

Jackson, Michigan

(Population: 33,165; Violent Crime Rate: 1,108)

In Jackson, Michigan—not to be confused with the city in Mississippi—360 violent crimes occurred in 2019 (268 assaults, 37 robberies, 51 rapes, and 4 murders).

Lansing, Michigan

(Population: 117,159; Violent Crime Rate: 1,104)

Lansing had a grand total of 1,313 violent crimes in 2019 (983 assaults, 178 robberies, 140 rapes, and 12 murders) and earned its spot on our list of dangerous cities in the US.

Dyersburg, Tennessee

(Population: 16,867; Violent Crime Rate: 1,104)

2019 didn’t bring anything good to Dyersburg when it comes to violent crime, and this year probably won’t either. The city had 180 violent crimes (140 assaults, 30 robberies, 7 rapes, and 3 murders), almost doubling the already high crime rate.

Nashville, Tennessee

(Population: 692,587; Violent Crime Rate: 1,073)

Here’s another Tennessee city that has an issue with violence. What helped Nashville become a member of the top dangerous cities club were 7,376 violent crimes reported in 2019 (4,877 assaults, 1,978 robberies, 438 rapes, and 83 murders).

Houston, Texas

(Population: 2,310,582; Violent Crime Rate: 1,072)

Houston, TX is a city with over 2 million people but with a similar crime rate to Nashville’s. In 2019, the law enforcement agencies reported 25,527 violent crimes(14,586 assaults, 9,147 robberies, 1,249 rapes, and 275 murders).

Chattanooga, Tennessee

(Population: 179,670; Violent Crime Rate: 1,070)

Number 57 on our list of the most dangerous cities in America had 1,946 violent crimes in 2019 (1,556 assaults, 196 robberies, 161 rapes, and 33 murders).

With this many violent crimes occurring in Chattanooga, maybe people should consider buying pepper sprays to try and neutralize any threat they might face.

Albany, Georgia

(Population: 75,657; Violent Crime Rate: 1,053)

Albany has roughly the same violent crime rate as Chattanooga and takes 58th place on this list of the most violent cities in the US. 827 violent crimes were reported in 2019 (581 assaults, 165 robberies, 32 rapes, and 12 murders).

Camden, Arkansas

(Population: 11,515; Violent Crime Rate: 1,052)

Another Arkansas city on our list is Camden, a small city with no murders on record in 2019. However, 113 other violent crimes happened (95 assaults, 10 robberies, and 8 rapes).

Beaumont, Texas

(Population: 118,151; Violent Crime Rate: 1,047)

This city had 1,241 violent incidents (802 assaults, 323 robberies, 97 rapes, and 19 murders), which isn’t enough to qualify for the top 10 crime cities in the USA but quite sufficient for the top 60.

Muskogee, Oklahoma

(Population: 38,605; Violent Crime Rate: 1,046)

Muskogee had 389 violent crimes reported in 2019 (309 assaults, 43 robberies, 35 rapes, and 2 murders), which is a lot for a city of its size.

Peoria, Illinois 

(Population: 113,532; Violent Crime Rate: 1,044)

Peoria saw 1,158 violent crimes in 2019 (800 assaults, 268 robberies, 65 rapes, and 25 murders). With these numbers, the city exceeds the average national crime rate.

Odessa, Texas

(Population: 119,702; Violent Crime Rate: 1,038)

The law enforcement agencies in the city reported 1,282 violent crimes in 2019 (1,000 assaults, 128 robberies, 141 rapes, and 13 murders). It’s one of the top crime rate cities where the number of rapes exceeds the number of robberies, so women should be very careful. 

Ozark, Alabama

(Population: 14,721; Violent Crime Rate: 1,031)

Ozark is not where the popular TV show is set, but rather a small, rural city with a big violence problem. 148 violent crimes were reported in 2019 (138 assaults, 7 robberies, 2 rapes, and 1 murder), making Alabama one of the most commonly mentioned states on this list.

Lubbock, Texas

(Population: 253,851; Violent Crime Rate: 1,008)

Another Texas city on our list. There were 2,613 violent crimes (1,867 assaults, 468 robberies, 268 rapes, and 10 murders) reported in Lubbock, making it one of the scariest cities in the US.

Inkster, Michigan

(Population: 24,738; Violent Crime Rate: 997)

The next city on our list had 242 violent crimes on record in 2019 (181 assaults, 32 robberies, 22 rapes, and 7 murders).

Natchitoches, Louisiana

(Population: 18,402; Violent Crime Rate: 997)

Natchitoches had 177 violent crimes in 2019 (138 assaults, 23 robberies, 12 rapes, and 4 murders). The murder rates in this small city are more than four times higher than the national average.

Buffalo, New York 

(Population: 256,480; Violent Crime Rate: 991)

Buffalo had 2,533 violent crimes in 2019 (1,563 assaults, 802 robberies, 121 rapes, and 47 murders), making it one of the most dangerous cities in New York.

Marion, Arkansas

(Population: 12,323; Violent Crime Rate: 988)

With 99 violent crimes in 2019 (99 assaults, 11 robberies, and 12 rapes), Marion ranked 69th. Fortunately, no murders were recorded in that period in this small town.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

(Population: 402,324; Violent Crime Rate: 987)

The second-largest city in Oklahoma has the highest crime rate in the state. Overall, it had 3,964 violent crimes in 2019 (2,850 assaults, 718 robberies, 341 rapes, and 55 murders).

Riviera Beach, Florida

(Population: 33,683; Violent Crime Rate: 985)

346 violent crimes were documented in Riviera Beach in 2019 (258 assaults, 71 robberies, 20 rapes, and 7 murders), making this peaceful-looking place one of the top dangerous cities in the USA.

Washington, DC

(Population: 692,683; Violent Crime Rate: 977)

The nation’s capital has many bad people roaming the streets. Criminals managed to commit 6,896 violent crimes in Washington in 2019 (4,029 assaults, 2,359 robberies, 342 rapes, and 166 murders).

Cambridge, Maryland

(Population: 12,552; Violent Crime Rate: 970)

Cambridge has roughly the same crime rate as the previous city on the list, despite having more than 50 times less the population. In total, 119 violent crimes were mentioned in the FBI’s report (87 assaults, 20 robberies, 10 rapes, and 2 murders).

What is the safest state to live in?

Maine is the safest state in the US, with 115 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. In general, New England states stand out for having low rates of violent and property crime. Maine is followed by New Hampshire, Idaho, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Further down the list, we find Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Alaska is at the opposite end of the spectrum, with more than 867 incidents per 100,000 people.

North Charleston, South Carolina

(Population: 115,382; Violent Crime Rate: 966)

A city that’s described as “a great place to live, work, and play” can also be described as one of the unsafest cities in the US. With 1,114 violent crimes (756 assaults, 229 robberies, 103 rapes, and 26 murders), it has the highest crime rate in the state.

Elkton, Maryland

(Population: 15,687; Violent Crime Rate: 964)

The state of Maryland has a violent crime rate of 380 per 100,000 residents. Elkton more than doubled the already unflattering number. It had 151 violent crime reports in 2019 (101 assaults, 39 robberies, and 11 rapes).

Dayton, Ohio

(Population: 140,569; Violent Crime Rate: 962)

Dayton is home to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, but also some shady characters, judging by the crime rates in the city. What makes it one of the top dangerous cities in America is its worrying number of murders (48). 

Unfortunately, that number was increased by a mass shooting in August when 9 people died, and 17 were injured. The city had 1,351 violent crimes in total in 2019 (756 assaults, 347 robberies, and 200 rapes).

Toledo, Ohio

(Population: 276,614; Violent Crime Rate: 952)

Toledo is a major trade center for the area and an important port on the Great Lakes. Unfortunately, being an economic hub also attracts criminals, making this charming place one of the highest crime rate cities in the US.

There were 2,604 violent crimes in 2019 (1,710 assaults, 655 robberies, 205 rapes, and 34 murders).

Chicago, Illinois

(Population: 2,714,017; Violent Crime Rate: 943)

Chicago and its infamously violent South Side showed alarming violent crime numbers in 2019. 25,532 violent crimes were reported in total (15,296 assaults, 7,983 robberies, 1,761 rapes, 492 murders), making it twice more likely for people in Chicago to be assaulted than in most US cities. The city really lives up to its title of one of the most ghetto cities in America.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

(Population: 224,149; Violent Crime Rate: 936)

Louisiana’s capital has one of the highest crime rates in the state. With 2,066 violent crimes (1,299 assaults, 645 robberies, 52 rapes, and 70 murders) that were reported in 2019, it’s one of the unsafest state capitals in the US.

Red Bluff, California

(Population: 14,065; Violent Crime Rate: 930)

Residents of this small, picturesque city can get a bit violent: 133 instances of violent crime were recorded in 2019 (92 assaults, 14 robberies, 26 rapes, and 1 murder), exceeding the state averages by almost three times.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

(Population: 420,324; Violent Crime Rate: 926)

Minneapolis is proof that even a famously peaceful Midwest state can have some of the most dangerous cities in the US. It had 3,990 violent crime reports in 2019 (2,196 assaults, 1,289 robberies, 459 rapes, and 46 murders).

Bridgeton, New Jersey

(Population: 25,209; Violent Crime Rate: 917)

This New Jersey city had 223 violent crimes reported in 2019 (90 assaults, 114 robberies, 17 rapes, and 2 murders).

Springfield, Massachusetts

(Population: 154,139; Violent Crime Rate: 905)

The city that once played a pivotal role in the Civil War now has made a list of the US cities ranked by crime. It had 1,397 violent crime reports in 2019 (938 assaults, 358 robberies, 81 rapes, and 20 murders).

Akron, Ohio

(Population: 197,597; Violent Crime Rate: 901)

Akron is the fifth-largest city in Ohio and has the fourth-highest crime rate in the state due to 1,782 violent crimes recorded in 2019 (1,246 assaults, 328 robberies, 181 rapes, and 27 murders).

Niagara Falls, New York

(Population: 49,180; Violent Crime Rate: 900)

Niagara Falls is not the most dangerous city in America. However, its romantic and dark side is intriguing and may make you let down your guard, which is something you don’t want to do. 

The US side of the city is notorious for its crime rates: 431 violent crimes were reported in this city last year (296 assaults, 101 robberies, 32 rapes, and 2 murders), discouraging numerous tourists from visiting the iconic landmark.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

(Population: 49,160; Violent Crime Rate: 900)

The Harrisburg police department responded to 443 violent crime incidents in 2019 (234 assaults, 160 robberies, 36 rapes, and 13 murders). Numbers like these make Harrisburg one of the most dangerous cities in America.

Arvin, California

(Population: 20,562; Violent Crime Rate: 899)

The streets of Arvin aren’t the safest when it gets dark. The city had 196 violent crime reports in 2019 (174 assaults, 16 robberies, 3 rapes, and 3 murders).

New Haven, Connecticut

(Population: 864,835; Violent Crime Rate: 895)

New Haven is the first planned city in the US and also the home of the prestigious Yale University. It’s also known as the Elm City, thanks to its greenery. But, unfortunately, it’s also notorious for being among cities with the highest crime rates. There were 1,168 violent crimes recorded in 2019 (789 assaults, 321 robberies, 41 rapes, and 13 murders).

Indianapolis, Indiana

(Population: 846,674; Violent Crime Rate: 887)

Indiana’s most violent city is its capital. In fact, with 11,170 violent crimes reported (7,250 assaults, 3,081 robberies, 677 rapes, and 162 murders), it’s one of those places where it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.

Holyoke, Massachusetts

(Population: 40,280; Violent Crime Rate: 859)

Holyoke is located halfway between Boston and Albany. It’s one of the places you don’t want to be in Massachusetts. In 2019, the city had 345 violent crimes on the record (252 assaults, 53 robberies, 36 rapes, and 4 murders), making it one of the most violent cities in the US.

Atlantic City, New Jersey

(Population: 39,306; Violent Crime Rate: 859)

Atlantic City is another example of how tourist activity can negatively affect a community. This gambling capital of the East Coast had 323 violent crime incidents in 2019 (101 assaults, 182 robberies, 29 rapes, and 11 murders). It’s estimated that nearly as many went unreported.

Hartford, Connecticut

(Population: 124,320; Violent Crime Rate: 858)

Harford is not exactly the most dangerous city in the US. However, it’s surprising to see it on the list because it’s in Connecticut, an otherwise safe state. In 2019, this city had 1,049 violent incidents (726 assaults, 271 robberies, 31 rapes, and 21 murders), which is enough to earn a spot on our list.

Vallejo, California

(Population: 115,942; Violent Crime Rate: 845)

This relatively small city was California’s capital in 1852 and 1853. Unfortunately, it has recently come under the spotlight due to some controversial police shootings and high crime rate. There were 1,037 violent crimes in 2019 (551 assaults, 336 robberies, 138 rapes, and 12 murders). Due to the frequent shootouts, it’s one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

Cincinnati, Ohio

(Population: 2,190,209; Violent Crime Rate: 845)

Many years ago, slaves from Kentucky fled to slavery-free Ohio through Cincinnati. However, the city that was once a synonym for freedom is now more famous for its dire crime statistics. The law enforcement agencies recorded 2,562 violent crimes in 2019 (1,346 assaults, 872 robberies, 280 rapes, and 64 murders).

Greensboro, North Carolina

(Population: 299,035; Violent Crime Rate: 819)

The third most populous city in North Carolina is well known to truck lovers because Mack Trucks has its headquarters there. But it’s also known for being one of the US cities with the highest crime rates. There were 2,440 violent crimes in 2019 (1,663 assaults, 621 robberies, 113 rapes, and 43 murders).

Modesto, California

(Population: 212,616; Violent Crime Rate: 812)

This idyllic town surrounded by farmland is notorious for its car theft rates and the high number of gang members. The total number of violent crimes in 2019 was 1,758 (1,252 assaults, 399 robberies, 94 rapes, and 13 murders).

Cocoa, Florida

(Population: 17,558; Violent Crime Rate: 803)

This city with such a sweet name has a very dark side—it’s one of the most dangerous US cities. For example, 151 violent crimes were reported in 2019 (86 assaults, 58 robberies, 5 rapes, and 2 murders). These numbers are very high for such a small community.

Corpus Christi, Texas

(Population: 326,586; Violent Crime Rate: 794)

Corpus Christi is home to the fifth-largest port in the US. As a rule of thumb, large ports attract crime. Despite its holy name, the city reports high crime rates.

With 2,616 violent crimes (1,823 assaults, 496 robberies, 266 rapes, and 31 murders), it’s one of those places you don’t want to be when it gets dark.

Pompano Beach, Florida

(Population: 106,004; Violent Crime Rate: 794)

Pompano Beach holds 99th place on our list of worst cities in America, with 900 violent crime incidents in 2019 (502 assaults, 317 robberies, 73 rapes, and 8 murders). 

Syracuse, New York

(Population: 144,350; Violent Crime Rate: 793)

The honorable 100th place goes to Syracuse. It had 1,129 violent crimes in 2019, making it the safest of the unsafe cities in the US. The authorities reported 759 assaults, 246 robberies, 105 rapes, and 19 murders.