Top 50 Most Dangerous Cities In The US (2025)

Examining America’s “most dangerous” cities requires nuanced understanding. This list is based on recent FBI crime data and violent crime rates per capita, which means smaller cities can appear high on the list. Crime is often hyper-localized, concentrated in specific neighborhoods rather than spread throughout a city.

These rankings reflect reported violent crimes—murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault—and serve as a snapshot of community challenges, not a definitive label. This context is crucial for a meaningful discussion on public safety and urban well-being.

Top 50 Most Dangerous Cities In The US

1: St. Louis, Missouri

Despite its cultural gems, St. Louis consistently reports one of the nation’s highest homicide and violent crime rates per capita. Economic decline, population loss, and high poverty rates in certain areas have contributed to persistent challenges. While revitalization efforts continue downtown, the city grapples with property crimes and armed violence, making crime prevention a central focus for community leaders and law enforcement agencies striving to create safer neighborhoods for all residents.

2: Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore faces profound struggles with drug-related violence, systemic poverty, and gang activity. The city’s port history and industrial decline have left pockets of deep disadvantage. Homicide rates remain staggeringly high, drawing national attention. Despite these challenges, vibrant communities and ongoing civic initiatives work tirelessly to combat crime through youth outreach programs, economic development projects, and strengthened police-community relations aimed at building trust and fostering long-term safety.

3: Detroit, Michigan

The poster child for industrial decline, Detroit’s vast size and depleted tax base have created significant public safety challenges. While downtown and midtown experience renewal, blighted neighborhoods see elevated rates of violent and property crimes. The city contends with issues like arson, car theft, and robbery. Community groups and a focused city government are driving revitalization efforts, aiming to extend economic opportunities and reduce crime through investment and engagement.

4: Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis struggles with a high volume of violent crime, particularly aggravated assaults and robberies. Poverty, urban sprawl, and socioeconomic disparities are key underlying factors. While beloved for its music and food culture, the city faces significant challenges with property crime as well. Law enforcement employs focused deterrence strategies and community policing to address hotspots, while local organizations work on grassroots level intervention and opportunity creation for at-risk youth.

5: Little Rock, Arkansas

As Arkansas’s capital, Little Rock sees a violent crime rate significantly above the national average. Crime tends to be concentrated in specific areas, often linked to gang activity and drug trafficking corridors. The city has invested in technology-led policing and community programs aimed at intervention and prevention. Despite these challenges, it remains a center for government, culture, and a growing downtown scene that contrasts with its troubled areas.

6: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee exhibits some of the country’s sharpest racial and economic disparities, which correlate with high rates of violent crime, including armed robbery and homicide. Segregation, loss of manufacturing jobs, and easy access to firearms are often cited contributors. The city is actively pursuing comprehensive strategies that include jobs programs, educational investments, and police reform to address the root causes of violence and build a more equitable and secure community.

7: Rockford, Illinois

This Illinois city consistently records one of the nation’s highest violent crime rates for its size. Economic hardship and a loss of manufacturing have fueled problems with poverty and crime. Robbery and aggravated assault are significant concerns. In response, Rockford has implemented data-driven policing strategies and supports community initiatives focused on youth mentorship and economic development to stem violence and create new pathways for its residents.

8: Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland’s industrial downturn left behind widespread poverty and concentrated areas of violent crime. Homicides and assaults occur at a high rate per capita. The city also deals with significant property crime. Police reform and community-building initiatives are central to the city’s strategy, alongside investments in healthcare and education aimed at breaking cycles of disadvantage and violence in the most affected neighborhoods.

9: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque’s crime issues are characterized by high rates of property crime, auto theft, and violent crime linked to methamphetamine abuse and transient populations. Its location on Interstate 40 facilitates drug trafficking. The police department has faced staffing challenges, while community organizations work on addiction services and homelessness outreach to address the complex social factors driving the city’s elevated crime statistics.

10: Springfield, Missouri

Despite its location in a low-crime state, Springfield reports a violent crime rate that far exceeds state and national averages. The city faces challenges with property crime, domestic violence, and assaults, often connected to methamphetamine use and poverty. Law enforcement focuses on community policing and collaboration with social services to address underlying issues like substance abuse and lack of opportunity that contribute to criminal activity.

11: Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis struggles with a high number of homicides and non-fatal shootings, often concentrated in specific zip codes. Vehicle theft and robbery are also prevalent. The city employs a multi-faceted approach, combining focused deterrence policing with significant investment in community violence reduction programs, grassroots outreach, and economic initiatives aimed at creating jobs and hope in the neighborhoods most impacted by violence and disinvestment.

12: Oakland, California

Once notorious for its high crime rates, Oakland has seen improvements but still contends with significant violent crime, including robberies and homicides. Property crimes like car break-ins are a major quality-of-life issue. The city’s challenges are intertwined with high costs of living, homelessness, and gang activity. Community organizations are deeply involved in violence interruption and re-entry programs, working alongside police to foster safety.

13: San Bernardino, California

Bankruptcy, high poverty, and a struggling economy have long plagued San Bernardino, contributing to its high violent crime rate. The city deals with gang violence and property crimes. Despite these challenges, revitalization efforts are underway downtown. Law enforcement focuses on building community trust and implementing strategies to reduce gang-related activity, while also addressing quality-of-life issues that affect residents daily.

14: Stockton, California

Stockton’s bankruptcy a decade ago exacerbated existing issues with poverty and crime. The city has made progress but still faces high rates of aggravated assault and property crime. A focus on community intervention programs, including Operation Peacekeeper which uses outreach workers to mediate conflicts, has been a model for other cities seeking to reduce gang-related violence and retribution crimes through non-policing solutions.

15: Birmingham, Alabama

As Alabama’s largest city, Birmingham has a violent crime rate that is among the highest in the nation. Homicides and robberies are significant concerns, often linked to socioeconomic factors and historical inequality. The city is actively working on economic redevelopment to bring investment and jobs to distressed areas. Police and community leaders collaborate on violence prevention initiatives aimed at engaging youth and reducing opportunities for crime.

16: Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City perennially records one of the country’s highest homicide rates. The violence is often concentrated and connected to arguments and personal disputes, frequently involving firearms. The city has launched numerous initiatives, like the KC No Violence Alliance, which uses a focused deterrence model to directly engage with those most at risk of being involved in violence, offering support alongside the promise of swift consequences for continued criminal activity.

17: Memphis, Tennessee

18: Little Rock, Arkansas

19: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

20: Rockford, Illinois

21: Cleveland, Ohio

22: Albuquerque, New Mexico

23: Springfield, Missouri

24: Indianapolis, Indiana

25: Oakland, California

26: San Bernardino, California

27: Stockton, California

28: Birmingham, Alabama

29: Kansas City, Missouri

30: Memphis, Tennessee

31: Little Rock, Arkansas

32: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

33: Rockford, Illinois

34: Chattanooga, Tennessee

Nestled in the mountains, Chattanooga faces a violent crime rate that outpaces both state and national averages. The city struggles with property crimes and assaults, with challenges linked to economic transition and drug abuse. Community leaders have responded with initiatives that blend economic development in underserved areas with targeted policing and youth outreach programs, aiming to create opportunity and reduce the factors that lead to criminal activity and violence.

35: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa’s violent crime rate remains persistently high, with notable issues in domestic violence and robberies. The city’s challenges are connected to historical tensions, economic disparities, and opioid addiction. In recent years, Tulsa has invested in community policing and violence intervention programs, while also working to address root causes through economic development initiatives and support services aimed at breaking cycles of poverty and crime in affected neighborhoods.

36: Dayton, Ohio

Dayton has been significantly impacted by the opioid epidemic, which has intersected with high poverty rates to contribute to its elevated crime statistics. The city deals with property crimes and violent offenses. Local responses have included innovative policing strategies, drug treatment programs, and neighborhood revitalization projects that aim to strengthen community bonds and reduce the desperation that often fuels criminal activity, focusing on long-term holistic recovery for both individuals and the city.

37: South Bend, Indiana

As the home of the University of Notre Dame, South Bend presents a contrast between campus life and city-wide crime challenges. It reports a high violent crime rate, driven largely by property crime and aggravated assaults in specific neighborhoods. The city administration has prioritized data-driven policing and community engagement initiatives, investing in economic opportunities and youth programs to address the underlying socioeconomic factors that contribute to criminal behavior and violence.

38: Richmond, Virginia

Richmond’s history is deeply intertwined with issues of race and inequality, which continue to influence its crime rates today. The city struggles with gun violence and homicides, particularly in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. In response, Richmond has implemented focused deterrence strategies and supports a network of community organizations working on violence interruption, youth mentorship, and re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals, aiming to build trust and create alternatives to crime.

39: Orlando, Florida

Beyond its world-famous theme parks, Orlando grapples with a higher-than-average violent crime rate. Tourism can sometimes create opportunities for property crimes, while the city also faces challenges with gang activity and drug-related violence in certain areas. Law enforcement uses targeted patrols and community collaboration to keep tourists safe while also implementing longer-term strategies to address the root causes of crime in residential communities away from the tourist corridors.

40: Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati has made significant strides in reducing crime since the early 2000s but still faces challenges with violent crime and property offenses. The city employs collaborative approaches that bring together police, social services, and community groups to address crime hotspots. Initiatives focus on youth engagement, economic development in overlooked neighborhoods, and police-community relationship building, creating a comprehensive public safety strategy that looks beyond traditional law enforcement responses to crime.

41: Nashville, Tennessee

As Nashville experiences rapid growth and development, it also contends with rising crime rates in certain categories. The city sees significant property crime and has faced increases in violent crime, challenges associated with urban expansion and socioeconomic disparity. Law enforcement has responded with increased patrols and technology use, while community leaders focus on preserving neighborhood cohesion and ensuring that economic benefits from the city’s boom are distributed more evenly to address underlying causes.

42: Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville’s crime rates are among the highest in the state, with particular concerns around gun violence and homicides. The city’s challenges are connected to economic transition, drug trafficking, and neighborhood disinvestment. In response, Louisville has implemented focused deterrence policing and supports community-based violence prevention programs that work directly with at-risk youth, aiming to interrupt cycles of retaliation and provide positive alternatives to gang involvement and criminal activity.

43: Jacksonville, Florida

As the largest city by area in the contiguous U.S., Jacksonville’s crime challenges are spread across its vast expanse. It reports high rates of violent crime, including homicides and armed robberies. The city employs a multi-faceted approach that includes community policing, youth outreach programs, and targeted enforcement in high-crime areas. Recent efforts have focused on addressing juvenile crime specifically through intervention and prevention programs designed to steer young people away from criminal paths.

44: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City faces crime challenges that outpace its state’s average, with significant issues in property crime and violent offenses. Sprawling growth and economic disparities between neighborhoods contribute to these patterns. The police department has invested in technology and data analysis to deploy resources more effectively, while also partnering with social service agencies to address underlying issues like poverty and addiction that fuel criminal behavior in affected communities.

45: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia struggles with a high homicide rate and gun violence that disproportionately impacts certain neighborhoods. The city’s challenges are deeply connected to poverty, drug markets, and systemic inequality. Responses include focused deterrence policing, investment in community schools, and support for violence interruption programs that use credible messengers to mediate conflicts and prevent retaliation. These efforts aim to reduce violence while also addressing the long-term socioeconomic conditions that enable it.

46: New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans has long struggled with high violent crime rates, particularly armed robbery and homicide. The city’s challenges are intertwined with poverty, a history of governmental corruption, and cultural factors. Recent efforts have combined data-driven policing with community programs focused on youth development and re-entry services for formerly incarcerated individuals. The city also benefits from a strong network of non-profit organizations working to address the root causes of crime and violence.

47: Buffalo, New York

Buffalo’s ongoing economic renaissance contrasts with persistent crime challenges in certain neighborhoods. The city reports higher-than-average rates of violent crime and property offenses. Law enforcement emphasizes community policing and collaboration with residents to address quality-of-life issues and build trust. Simultaneously, city leaders are focusing on extending economic development and opportunity to all communities, understanding that crime reduction is intrinsically linked to improved economic prospects and neighborhood revitalization.

48: Hartford, Connecticut

As one of the poorest cities in the nation, Hartford’s crime rates reflect its economic challenges. The city deals with property crime and violent offenses, often connected to drug trafficking and urban poverty. Policing strategies focus on building community partnerships and targeting violent offenders, while city initiatives work on broader economic development, youth programming, and educational opportunities to create pathways out of poverty and reduce the appeal of criminal activity for residents.

49: Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta presents a complex picture of rapid growth and development alongside persistent crime challenges. The city sees high rates of property crime and struggles with violent crime in specific areas. Police use technology and data to target resources, while the city supports a wide array of community-based organizations working on youth empowerment, economic development, and violence prevention. These efforts aim to ensure that the city’s prosperity benefits all residents and neighborhoods equally.

50: Washington, D.C.

The nation’s capital has made significant progress in reducing crime but still faces challenges with violent offenses, including homicides and robberies. Crime is highly concentrated in specific neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River, areas that have historically experienced disinvestment. The district employs a combination of policing, community engagement, and significant investment in social services, education, and economic development in these communities to address the deep-rooted inequalities that contribute to crime.

Closing: A Nuanced Perspective on Safety

This list highlights cities facing significant public safety challenges, but it’s crucial to remember that danger is rarely city-wide. Many of these places contain safe, vibrant neighborhoods alongside areas in crisis. The data reflects complex intersections of poverty, historical inequality, and economic disinvestment. The true story lies in the resilient community organizations, dedicated law enforcement, and innovative public policies working to address root causes and build safer, more equitable cities for all residents. Crime statistics are a starting point for conversation, not a final judgment on a community’s character or future.