Dark Side of the US: 14 Cities With Highest Crime Rates
In the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of violent crimes all throughout the country. In fact, violent crimes, especially gun violence, always make the headlines, particularly in the country’s biggest cities.
However, even though for some, crime programs are entertaining to watch, they are not nearly as interesting and nice in person. That’s why you need to be aware of the cities with highest crime rates in order to avoid them or take the necessary precautions for yourself and your loved ones.
1. St. Louis, Missouri
With a crime density of 2,082 people per 100,000 inhabitants, St. Louis, Missouri, is the city with the highest crime rate in the United States. As a matter of fact, according to data, this city has a killing rate of almost 87 per 100,000 people.
But why is that the case? Simply put, St. Louis is known to struggle with a poor education system, unstable housing, and a crippled economy. Therefore, some areas, such as East St. Louis, face a higher risk of violent crime than others in the city. So, it’s safe to say that you should avoid these areas in particular when visiting St. Louis.
2. Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan is the second most unsafe city due to its high crime rate. More specifically, it has a crime rate of 2,060 per 100,000 inhabitants, which is higher than the national average. And, if that wasn’t enough, among major cities in the US, Detroit is the only one that has a crime rate of over 2,000 per 100,000 citizens.
By taking a look at Detroit’s economy, you can easily see why the city has such a high crime rate. To put it simply, the lack of economic possibilities has led to a rise in the unemployment rate of people living in abject poverty.
As a result, people have been struggling to make ends meet and support their families, which prompted some inhabitants to resort to violent crimes. And while not every part of Detroit is as dangerous as it seems, it’s best to avoid specific areas such as Fishkorn.
3. Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland has a murder rate of 2,030 occurrences per 100,000 people, which makes it the third most dangerous city in the United States. Unfortunately, you can find neighborhoods with high murder rates all throughout the city, including the inner city.
Therefore, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact cause of such a high crime rate besides the poor local economy and a lackluster education system.
Nevertheless, if you plan to visit Baltimore, you should keep an eye out for areas like Hopkins-Middle East and West Baltimore, as they have a rate of more than 3,000 violent crimes per 100,000 people.
4. Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is one of the most popular cities in the United States, with over 650,000 people calling it home. However, it is also an extremely dangerous place to live because of its high crime rate.
In fact, Memphis has a crime rate of almost 2,010 occurrences per 100,000 inhabitants. And, according to the Tennessee Tribute, 1 in every 52 people will most likely be a victim of a crime in this beautiful yet dangerous city.
5. Little Rock, Arkansas
With a crime rate of 1,640 per 100,000 citizens, Little Rock, Arkansas, is another dangerous city featured on our list. Although it is very gorgeous, this city is plagued with gang violence and similar crimes.
Even the local police department acknowledges the rising violence rates and is looking for ways to put an end to them. But in the meantime, you should avoid specific areas of the city entirely.
6. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
There’s a lot of debate about Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with two main arguments. On the one hand, people consider it a nice place to live due to its stunning landscapes. On the other hand, even its inhabitants are too afraid to remain there at all.
Why? Because Milwaukee has a crime rate of 1,600 per 100,000 inhabitants, which is very high for a city of its size.
What’s even worse is the fact that the police are unable to respond to every emergency situation, which leads to victims being constantly afraid for their safety. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that most people avoid the city entirely.
7. Cleveland, Ohio
Generally speaking, Ohio is a tranquil, nice, and secure state that its inhabitants are happy to live in. Yet, Cleveland is anything but that, as it has a crime rate of 1,560 per 100,000 people, which is considered extremely serious.
And, just like most previous mentions, the number of violent crimes is a result of the city’s weak economy and rising unemployment rates.
8. Rockford, Illinois
Besides its interesting history, Rockford is also known for its stunning crime rate, which has reached over 1,590 per 100,000 people. As a matter of fact, according to law enforcement, violent crime has continued to rise in 2021, and it doesn’t seem to slow down anytime soon.
To put things into perspective, Rockford has 54 neighborhoods, with a total population of almost 146,000 individuals. Therefore, your chances of being a victim of a crime are 1 in 30, with certain sections of a town being more dangerous than others.
9. Stockton, California
Despite having a total population of 309,228, Stockton, California has one of the worst crime rates in the United States. Since it is home to violent gangs responsible for drug trafficking, the city has a crime rate of 1,420 per 100,000 inhabitants.
And even though the rate has been decreasing recently, Stockton is still very dangerous, especially to outsiders.
10. Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico, has slowly transformed from a pretty popular city to a hazard zone, mostly because of its high crime rate. In fact, now, with over 1,370 violent crimes happening every 100,000, this city is almost unrecognizable.
And if that wasn’t enough, it seems that the crime rate is only going to increase, as there were already 35 murders reported in early 2021.
11. Indianapolis, Indiana
With over 1,334 incidents per 100,000 people, Indianapolis has seen a huge increase in its crime rate. What’s shocking is that from January to July, the city saw thousands of attacks or even murders.
As a result, since Indiana’s capital city is now known for its widespread, it is starting to bleed inhabitants, as many of them prefer to move to a safer place.
12. Springfield, Missouri
It seems that Springfield is starting to catch up to its more crime-ridden cousin, St. Louis. Crime data from the FBI shows that Springfield is becoming less and less safe, with a crime rate of over 1,340 per 100,000 inhabitants. That means that at least 1 in every 159 citizens in Springfield was a victim of a violent crime in the past year alone.
13. San Bernardino, California
Unfortunately, San Bernardino is not only known for its interesting architecture and landscapes. Actually, nowadays, it is home to a wide range of meth facilities and is considered the world’s meth capital.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that San Bernardino has a crime rate of 1,300 per 100,000 people. And while the city only spans a circumference of 63 miles, it is home to at least 801 gangs.
14. Anchorage, Alaska
Recently, Anchorage has become one of the most dangerous cities in Alaska. With a crime rate of 1,210 per 100,000 residents, this city is no longer a beacon of safety and property.
However, its inhabitants claim that the local economy is only getting better and that unemployment is decreasing. So, it seems that there is still some hope left for this beautiful yet crime-ridden city.
