Top 10 High-Crime Cities in the US You Should Know About
Is Living in a Dangerous City Always Risky? Not Necessarily
Even in cities with high violent crime rates, most residents don’t face daily danger. That’s because urban violence tends to be hyper-local—occurring more frequently in specific neighborhoods, often block by block. A city’s reputation for danger doesn’t always reflect the daily reality for the majority of its residents.
In fact, the title of "most dangerous city in the U.S." often shifts year to year, depending on several key factors. To determine which urban areas are truly the riskiest, crime analysts typically focus on two core indicators: violent crime rate per 100,000 residents and socioeconomic conditions such as poverty and unemployment levels.
According to the latest FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data from 2024, the national violent crime rate stands at approximately 370 incidents per 100,000 people—a figure that, while lower than historical peaks in the 1990s, remains a concern in many metro areas.
To identify the most dangerous cities in America, data analysts at 24/7 Wall St. and other crime research organizations examined violent crimes including murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Their focus was on cities with populations of at least 100,000, where crime data could be reliably measured alongside economic indicators.
The result? A list of the 10 most dangerous U.S. cities in 2024–2025, highlighting regions where high crime rates intersect with economic hardship, often creating long-term challenges for both residents and local authorities.
How to Stay Safe in a High-Crime City1. Build Community Awareness 2. Secure Doors, Windows, and Valuables 3. Install a Home Security System |
Let's examine a few of the most hazardous American cities and the elements that have contributed to their notoriety (2024 Updated):
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What Are The Most Dangerous Cities In The United States
1. Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama has a crime rate of 60 incidents per thousand residents, one of the highest in the nation. One in 17 people will experience violent or property crime. The violent crime rate—including murder, manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault—was 1,682 per 100,000 residents.
Property crimes like burglary, larceny, and vehicle theft totaled 4,173 per 100,000 residents. These statistics demonstrate Birmingham's serious crime problem and the need for effective security measures.
2. Detroit, Michigan
Long considered one of America's most dangerous cities, has high crime rates. Detroit is the only midsize or large U.S. city with a violent crime rate above 2,000. The city has a 9.0% annual unemployment rate and 37.9% of residents live below the poverty line due to limited economic opportunities.
With 2,007.8 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2018, including 261 homicides, Detroit remains mired in social and economic issues despite efforts to revitalize specific neighborhoods and reduce crime. The city is known for its high rates of homicides, aggravated assaults, robberies, and property crime. Economic downturns, unemployment, poverty, and urban decay make this environment difficult.
3. Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee, has a crime rate score of 20.1, which indicates that criminal incidents are common there. The estimated 1 in 50 persons are likely to encounter danger, highlighting the city's public safety challenges. These indicators highlight how crucial it is to address and reduce crime in the area in order to improve the quality of life for locals. Memphis offers a wide range of crime scenes, from suburban areas to urban neighborhoods. The city's crime rate is influenced by elements like drug trafficking, gang activity, and poverty.
4. New Orleans, Louisiana
With 6,085 incidents per 100,000 residents, New Orleans has a higher crime rate than the national average by 161.81%. When it comes to overall crime rates, this puts the city among the highest in the country. The years 2020 to 2022 were the highest for the country's homicide rate, with over 200 murders per year. 266 killings occurred in New Orleans in 2022 alone, illustrating the persistent problem of violent crime in the city.
5. St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis has one of the highest crime rates in the nation at 87 incidents per thousand residents. Violence and property crime are estimated to affect 1 in 11 people here.
St. Louis' 2023 homicide rate dropped 21% to 158, the lowest in a decade, thanks to strategic investments in crime prevention, intervention, and enforcement. This year-over-year violent crime reduction is one of the city's largest in 90 years.
6. Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore has one of the highest crime rates in America at 48 incidents per thousand residents. Violence and property crime are estimated to affect one in 21 people in this city. About 37,000 crimes were reported in 2022–2023. The Baltimore crime rate is 64.2 per 1,000 residents, considering its population. Community safety is threatened by violent crimes like homicides, assaults, and robberies.
7. Little Rock, Arkansas
The crime rate in Little Rock is 72 incidents per 1,000 residents, which suggests that community safety is a significant challenge. It is estimated that one in fourteen people in this city will experience either violent or property crime. In addition, there are 709 violent crimes for every 100,000 people living in the state of Arkansas.
8. Cleveland, Ohio
One in 17 residents will experience violent or property crime in this area, with a crime rate of 60 incidents per thousand. Despite declining murder rates in many U.S. cities, Cleveland is concerning. Homicides rose 13.46% in 2023.
The pandemic has exacerbated violent crime, especially homicides. Ohio's lax gun laws make guns accessible to all. Cleveland's crime problems are compounded by its shrinking police force and failure to implement expert recommendations to strengthen its homicide unit.
9. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, known as "America's Dairyland," was in the spotlight in 2020 due to FBI data showing high violent crime. The city had 1,597 incidents per 100,000 residents, far exceeding the national rate of 399. Milwaukee had a 300% higher rate than the national average in September 2023.
Property crime in larger cities like Milwaukee has increased 22% in the past year. Thefts and burglaries are the most common property crimes, with nearly 1,000 and over 200 stolen cars in 2022. Even though the city has only 60,000 residents, violent crime is alarmingly high, with 2 assaults per week.
10. Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City has a higher crime rate than the national average, with 6,197 incidents per 100,000 residents, a difference of 166.62%. In Kansas City, there is a 1 in 67 chance of experiencing violent crime and a 1 in 21 chance of experiencing property crime. There were 157 homicides in the city in 2021, and 171 in 2022. The number of homicides as of mid-November 2023 has increased to 176, highlighting the area's ongoing problem with violent crime.
Top 10 Riskiest Urban Centers in the US (2021 Report)
10. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
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Rate of violent crimes per 100,000- 698.7
Baltimore has the highest murder rate per capita in the country. There are 56 homicides per 100,000 people.
9. Corpus Christi
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Rate of violent crimes per 100,000- 736.9
Crime is rampant in Corpus Christi city and violent crimes are as high as 2,616.
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8. Wichita
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Rate of violent crimes per 100,000- 781.2
Wichita is the most dangerous city in Kansas. The city is infamous for being generally unsafe and most neighborhoods are vulnerable.
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7. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
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Rate of violent crimes per 100,000- 782.3
The crime rate is almost 4 times of the national average, and there has been almost no decrease in high violent crime rates over the years.
6. Stockton
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Rate of violent crimes per 100,000- 788.5
Stockton is notorious for all kinds of violent crimes, the chronic poverty rates seems to aggravate the city’s crime scene.
5. Lubbock
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Rate of violent crimes per 100,000- 838.5
There have been 16 homicide cases in the city in 2019 alone. The rising poverty in the city might have a contribution in the elevated crime rates.
4. Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia
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Rate of violent crimes per 100,000- 984.3
A staggering 13,040 cases of violent crimes were recorded in Detroit in 2019.
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3. Albuquerque
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Rate of violent crimes per 100,000- 1,043.4
Murders, Automobile Thefts, burglaries … you name it! Albuquerque is infamous for its sky-touching crime rates.
2. Memphis
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| Photo: Getty Images |
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000- 1,120.5
Violent crimes occur three times more in Memphis than any other average city. 12,367 violent crimes were witnessed in 2019, while jaw-dropping 39,860 cases of property crimes were also recorded.
1. Anchorage
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| Photo: Getty Images |
Rate of violent crimes per 100,000- 1,194.6
Anchorage is known for its violent criminal activities as well as drug-related crimes. 34 cases of murder were recorded in 2019. The high crime index makes it the most dangerous city in the U.S.
| A violent crime is defined as any behavior in which one or more people attempt, threaten, or actually cause bodily harm to another individual or piece of property. Crimes that use violence as a means to an end as well as those whose goal is to commit a violent act are classified as violent crimes. Whether or not a weapon was used, how severely the victim(s) were injured, and whether or not the offender has a criminal record all affect how serious the crime is. Sexual assault, manslaughter, murder, airplane hijacking, terrorism, rape, shootings, and kidnapping are examples of violent crimes, but they're not the only ones. |
In Conclusion
Based on the latest crime statistics for 2025, we’ve compiled a new list of the Top 10 most dangerous cities in the United States. Despite ongoing efforts from law enforcement and community programs, challenges like poverty, property crime, and violent crime continue to affect public safety in these urban areas.
From bustling cities to smaller towns, the root causes of crime vary widely—often tied to socioeconomic disparities, unemployment, and strained public services. While there are initiatives to reduce violence and improve community safety, no one-size-fits-all solution exists.
These cities reflect the complex dynamics between crime, economics, and local policy, offering a deeper look into the state of urban safety in America today.
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