The 25 Most Dangers Cities in the United States [Updated: 2023-2024]

The United States is regarded as one of the best tourist destinations in the world. It’s climate, advanced society, progressive mindset, and efficient security forces have collectively made America the land of dreams and opportunities. But, we cannot overlook that 100% peacefulness is impossible in any country nowadays, and the USA is no different.

Despite being the most progressive nation, America has its fair share of dangerous cities. As a traveler or tourist in America, it is essential to know the cities you should avoid visiting or be very cautious while staying anywhere in that city. For your convenience, we have researched and created a list of the 25 highly dangerous US cities this year and why they are dubbed dangerous.

Terra Haute in Indiana is small city with a big crime problem, just 5 miles east on the border of Illinois. Its population is just about 60,673, and lower average household income of $34,746. The city’s poverty rate was reportedly 26.4%. The same year, Terra Haute recorded 1381.1 violent crimes per 100,000 people. Regarding Terra Haute, an interesting fact is that the entire city isn’t unsafe for the residents, but only for certain parts of the city which you want to steer clear of.

This means you must avoid going to those areas to stay safe and avoid becoming the victim of a crime. Terra Haute’s most unsafe part is its western neighborhood, where the chances of someone becoming the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 16. The southeast is comparatively the safest part of Terra Haute as the chances of being a violent crime victim is 1 in 78.

San Bernardino is infamous for its unsafe nature, but the reality is that it is not as unsafe as we believe. Let’s not forget that one of the largest west coast terrorist attacks happened in San Bernardino, California during a holiday party at the Inland Regional Center on December 15, 2015, where 24 people were injured and 16 people were killed including the perpetrator. That’s why it is featured at number 24 on our list. It has a population of 216,089 residents with an average household income of $45,834. The city’s poverty rate is comparatively lower than most cities on this list, at 26%. On the other hand, its violent crime rate is substantially high, as it reported 1401.8 crimes per 100,000 individuals.

That’s the main reason why San Bernardino is considered a violent city. Its crime rate, on the whole, is 79% higher than the national average, whereas, in the property crime category, the city’s average is 43% higher than the United State’s total average. Another scary fact about San Bernardino is that it has a history and a high rate of violent crimes. Compared to the national average, San Bernardino’s crime rate is a whopping 261% higher.

Yet another Michigan city makes it to this list. Pontiac is also a less-populated city with just 59,955 residents. The city’s average household income is $33,568, with an ever-climbing poverty rate of 30.7% in 2021. The city witnessed nine violent crimes per 100,000 people.

Pontiac’s crime rate is no less problematic than Canton’s, as it is equally high, particularly in violent crimes. It is interesting to note that there is a massive difference between Pontiac’s violent crime and property crime rates but not much difference against the national average. The city reported 37.1 property crimes, which is 2 points less than the US’s 35.4.

You may find it hard to believe that although Canton has appeared on the list of most dangerous US cities at number 22, its crime rate is roughly three times higher than the national average. The city has 71,243 residents but an alarmingly high poverty rate of 30.8%. Canton in Ohio’s average household income is $32,287. That’s comparatively lower than other cities on this list. This could be one of the reasons behind the rising crime rate in Canton.

According to data, the city recorded 14208.9 crimes per 100,000 people, which is absurdly high. Property crime is way more common here than violent crime. Still, it cannot be stated that violent crimes are any less common, given that the average rate of such crimes is 51.7. In comparison, the property crime rate in Canton is 74.5. The average US property crime rate is 35.4, and violent crime is 22.7.

Spartanburg is one of the few cities on this list with a huge difference between property and violent crimes. This South Carolina city boasts a population of just 37,424 people, but its property rate is substantially high at 23.3%. The city’s median household income is $52,332. According to statistics, the city observed 1430.5 violent crimes per 100,000 individuals.

As far as crime disparity is concerned, the chances of a person becoming the victim of a violent crime in this city are 1 in 72. That’s higher than the national average but considerably lower than other cities on this list. Moreover, the chances of a person facing property crime are relatively higher in Spartanburg, even when compared to some list toppers. Reportedly, 1 in 17 individuals may become victims of property crimes in Spartanburg.

Kalamazoo is located in Michigan and boasts around 76,019 population only. Still, this city has secured a spot in this not-so-coveted list of dangerous US cities. The city’s average household income is $41,774, and the poverty rate is 28.4%. That’s considerably higher than many other cities on the list. Kalamazoo’s violent crime rate is increasing rapidly. In 2023, the city reported 1431.7 violent crimes per 100,000 people.

It is not surprising that Kalamazoo is the fourth city in Michigan to be featured on this list. Michigan is quickly becoming a dangerous state. Kalamazoo has one of the state’s highest property crime rates and the probability of someone becoming a victim of this crime is 1 in 20. On the other hand, violent crimes aren’t as common in this city, and 1 in 67 individuals may get attacked.

That’s another Michigan city featured in our list of most unsafe US cities, indicating that Michigan is quickly becoming a crime hotspot in the country. Lansing’s population is 117,159, and the city’s average household income is $41,674. The city reported 1431.9 violent crimes in 2021 per 100,000 people. Moreover, its poverty rate is also inclining. In 2023, the city’s poverty rate stood at 24.6%.

It is worth noting that within the last five years, Lansing’s crime rate has increased substantially. The most common is property crime, but the Smiley Face Killers have also brought disgrace to the city and tarnished its image. The rate of violent crime in Lansing is 55.7. Compared to the national average of 22.7, it is much higher. The property crime rate is 45, just ten points higher than the national average.

Rockford is another city from Illinois state featured on our list. This city has a fairly low population of 147,070 individuals and a median household income of $44,252; still, it is listed among the most unsafe US cities. It reportedly has an average poverty rate of 22.3%, and around 1451 violent crimes were reported per 100,000 residents.

Rockford’s main and probably worst crime-related issue is its gang and gun problem. Although it isn’t one of the top five cities in the USA with issues of gang violence, it is indeed the main reason behind most of the violent crimes committed in Rockford. And the rate of crimes is rapidly increasing. This incline is attributed to the city’s years-old association with gun violence.

In the entire South Carolina, the city that is regarded as having the most unsafe metro area is Florence. Despite such a refreshing name to its credit, Florence has been recording alarmingly high crime rates despite boasting a population of only 38,487 residents. Although its metro isn’t the most dangerous in the USA, it is still pretty unsafe for the residents.

The city’s average household income is $49,525, and it reported 1456.1 violent crimes per 100,000 individuals in 2023. The probability of someone becoming a victim of a violent crime in this city is 1 in 69, whereas the rate of property crimes is considerably higher than this average. This indicates property crimes are more common in Florence than homicides.

Missouri seems to be one of the most impacted US states as far as crime rates and safety fears are concerned since, after Kansas City and St. Louis, it is the third city from the same state to feature on this list. And pretty much similar to Michigan, this city has a history of violent crimes spanning decades.

The city boasts a population of 167,051 residents earning an average household income of $36,856. Springfield’s poverty rate is 22.9%, as per 2021 estimates, and in the same year, around 1507.2 violent crimes were reported per 100,000 people. Compared to the US average, Springfield’s crime rate is 261% higher. The probability of someone becoming a violent crime victim is comparatively low; 1 in 66 individuals may face such a threat. But, the chances of becoming a victim of a property crime are fairly high, with 1 in 14.

Kansas City’s population is comparatively higher than other cities on this list, with 486,404 residents having an average household income of $54,194. The city’s poverty rate is also fairly low at 16.1%. Still, it is number fifteenth in our list of most dangerous US cities. According to 2021 statistics, Kansas City reported 1585.9 violent crimes per 100,000 people.

And the surprising fact is that Kansas City has been reporting a low crime rate for the past decade, so this sudden jump to number 15th is a recent development. The city reported its history’s second worst year in the rates of homicides in 2023, while the first highest was in 2020. This indicates that the city doesn’t have a long history of violence, unlike some other cities mentioned in the list. In fact, Kansas City has been on such a list just once before. According to the latest estimates, the crime rate is decreasing, but homicides remain an issue of concern for the local government.

Wilmington is a surprising entry in this list because whenever someone talks about crime rates in the USA, Delaware is one of the few states that is hardly mentioned. Overall, Delaware is considered a peaceful state with a substantially low crime rate. However, the reality is stranger than fiction since Wilmington is number fourteen on our list. The city recorded 1590.6 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2021, indicating that the number of crimes is increasing daily.

Wilmington has a population of 120,194 residents and a 26% poverty rate. Moreover, the median household income in this city is $47,580. Regardless of this considerably high median income, Wilmington’s crime rate is steadily increasing, with 41 out of 1000 people may become a victim of crime in the city. Its violent crime rate is reportedly 80.1, whereas the average US statistics is 22.7. Conversely, the city’s property crime rate is 68.7, while the national average is 35.4.

Milwaukee in Wisconsin is another big city with an equally big crime rate. Its population is 594, 548 and the average household income is $41,838. Milwaukee’s poverty rate is higher than other small cities at 25.4%. But the most concerning aspect is that per 100k people, Milwaukee reported 1596.8 violent crimes in 2023. In fact, Milwaukee’s crime rate is shockingly high compared to the rest of the country.

According to reputed media outlets, Milwaukee’s violent crime rate is about five times higher than Wisconsin’s average. As far as the national average is concerned, it is slightly more than four times higher than the national average. On the other hand, the city’s property crime rate is just two times higher than the state average and one time higher than the overall US average.

Despite that Cleveland, Ohio, is listed in the most dangerous US cities list, it is worth noting that the city has recorded a considerable decline in inhabitance rates over the past few years. A city boasting a population of 385,282 and an average household income of $30,907 has become unlivable for most communities primarily due to its high crime rate. Reportedly, Cleveland recorded 1656.7 violent crimes per 100,000 individuals in 2023.

We cannot overlook the fact that such a high crime rate isn’t the result of any recent development because the city already has a long and tragic crime history that dates back to the time of the first settlers. Currently, the chances that someone might become the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 59, and at least 1 in 24 individuals in Cleveland may become a victim of property crime.

This city boasts a population of 31,246, and its average household income is $36,172. Danville, Illinois’ poverty rate is a whopping 29.4%. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the crime rate is constantly rising in this area. In 2023, the city witnessed 1671.7 violent crimes per 100,000 people. It is a relatively small city, but in violence, it is no less than any other city.

In fact, it is one of the few cities in the USA where almost every area is unsafe, and theirs is no highly safe and highly dangerous segregation. Reportedly, Danville is so unsafe that its metro area is regarded as the most dangerous in Illinois. And, in the entire US Midwest, Danville is the second most dangerous metro. According to 2021 estimates, the chances of someone being victimized in a violent crime is about 1 in 58, and about 1 in 25 individuals may become a victim of a property crime.

Georgia’s beautiful city Albany is also one of the country’s most dangerous destinations. It boasts a population of 73,478 individuals, and the average household income is $36,615 as per 2023 estimates. The city’s poverty rate is considerably high, with 30.8%. As far as crimes are concerned, this city is number 10. In 2021, Albany reported 1724.3 violent crimes per 100,000 people.

That’s way higher than the figures reported just one year ago in 2020. The metro area in Albany is the most unsafe location in the city, as around 1500 violent crimes were reported here in 2020. Another shocking record is that it is one of the most dangerous cities in the USA. Compared to the national average Albany’s crime rate is 161% higher. Overall, one in 22 individuals may become a victim of a property crime, and at least 1 in 56 individuals may face violent crimes in this city.

In Indiana, South Bend is probably the most dangerous city, whereas overall, it stands at number 9 on the national average of violent crimes. South Bend recorded 1728.4 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2023. This city boasts 102,037 population, whereas its poverty rate is comparatively low at 23.6%. South Bend has a reputation for being the hub of homicides in the USA, and this is perhaps what makes it the most dangerous city.

It is worth noting that South Bend has the United States’ highest murder rates. The national homicide average is 6.5 per 100,000 people. On the other hand, in South Bend, this rate is far higher, with 27.4 murders per 100,000 people, which indicates how dangerous this Indiana town is for the residents.

Boasting a population of 42,091 and a poverty rate of 26.8%, Pine Buff in Arkansas makes it to the most dangerous US cities for 2022-2023 at number 8. In this city, the average household income is $43,723. The city reported 1832.1 violent crimes per 100,000 people. Though it isn’t actually a small town by any standard, Pine Buff is frequently referred to as the US’s Most Dangerous Small town. It is also called a little farming community where crime rates are no less than that of Detroit, a comparatively much bigger city also featured on this list.

The southwest part of Pine Buff is generally considered the safest part of the city. The chances of someone becoming a victim of violent crime in this city are as high as one in ten on its eastern side, whereas, in the southwestern part, the chance is as low as 1 in 23. Still, the safest part is not truly safe by any margin.

A city boasting a population of just 47,012 individuals has a considerably high violent crime rate. Reportedly, Alexandria witnessed 1848 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2023. The city’s median household income is $43,497, and its poverty rate is 24.4%. That’s much higher compared to Little Rock. It is shocking that the rate of violent and property crimes in Alexandria is equally high. Compared to the national average of 22.7, Alexandria’s average is 83.8 in violent crimes. In the US, the average property crime is 35.4, whereas, in Alexandria, it is 95.4.

Like Saginaw, Alexandria is also a small city with a startling high crime rate. This proves that small cities are as prone to violent crimes as larger ones. According to local law enforcement authorities, it is one of Louisiana’s most dangerous cities. The metro area is the most dangerous part of this city. But this makes sense, given that it is a highly populated area in Alexandria.

Little Rock in Arkansas has a population of 197,958, but the city’s violent crime rate, as reported in 2023, was a staggering 1849.9 per 100,000 people. Here, the average household income is $52,485, and its poverty rate is 16.6%. That’s substantially lower than St. Louis, which is Number 5 on our list of most dangerous US cities.

It is worth noting that Little Rock’s crime rate is way higher than the national rate, which is shocking. For your information, its crime rate is 186% higher than America’s average crime rate. The violent crime rate is around 377% higher than the national average. However, people are more vulnerable to property crimes in Little Rock than to violent crimes.

St. Louis is located in Missouri. It boasts a population of around 308,174 people. The city’s average household income is $67,420, whereas the poverty rate is 21.8%. If you think the poverty rate is lower than the top four cities on the list, here comes the concerning part- St. Louis recorded 2016.3/per 100,000 people. That’s outrageous. But those who live in this city or know a bit about its history won’t be too surprised because it is consistently rated a dangerous city.

However, it is worth noting that the crime rate in St. Louis is decreasing over the past five years, particularly since the city government launched the downtime safety initiative. Such efforts proved fruitful as St. Louis’ violent crime rate dropped significantly. Still, it isn’t too safe since the chances of someone facing a violent crime is 1 in 50, whereas 1 in 17 people can become the victim of a property crime.

Saginaw is also in Michigan, which indicates that the state is home to some of the least livable cities in the country due to high crime rates. According to the most recent census data, Saginaw boasts a total population of 48,650. The city residents have an average annual household income of $29,582, and its poverty rate is slightly lower than Detroit, with 34.8% as per 2023 data. What’s more concerning is the inclining rate of violent crimes in 2021, which is 2154.2 per 100,000 people.

Saginaw is comparatively much smaller than Detroit. So this is pretty surprising that it is giving tough competition to it. The crime rates in Saginaw are increasing rapidly, and only 6 percent of other cities are safer than Saginaw. This indicates how dangerous it would be for the residents. Reportedly, the chances of someone becoming a victim of violent crimes in Saginaw are one in 42. If we compare it with one of the US’s safest cities, Michigan, where the violent crime rate is just 1 in 212 people, Saginaw is a no-go area for many. 

Detroit, in Michigan, is the third most dangerous city on our list. It has a population of 674, 841 residents, and its median annual household income is $30,894. The city’s poverty rate is slightly higher than the above, at 35%. But, the most concerning fact is its steadily growing crime rate. Detroit recorded 2178.5 violent crimes per 100,000 people.

Compared to the list topper, Monroe, Detroit is a famous city as far as violence is concerned. From Hollywood movies to novels, Detroit has remained a key attraction in most gang war-based movies. In reality, the city has been recording high crime rates for the longest time and is one of the most unsafe cities in America. The local and federal government has taken many favorable initiatives to curb the city’s crime rate, but the efforts haven’t yielded any fruits so far.

Memphis boasts a population of 651,932 residents. The city residents’ average annual household income is $41,228, and its poverty rate is 25.1%. It also has a significantly high violent crime rate of 2350 incidents per 100,000 people. Memphis and Monroe appear on the lists of most dangerous cities pretty regularly. In fact, it is hard to choose which of these should occupy the first position. The situation is so much worse as far as crimes are concerned.

Another similarity between Monroe and Memphis is that the latter doesn’t have a long history of violence and is a relatively recent entrant in the list of dangerous cities. It is worth noting that the crime rates in Memphis recorded a steep incline over the last five years. As per recent statistics, there’s a one in 41 chance of a person becoming the victim of a violent crime in this city, and one in 17 might become the victim of property crimes.

Monroe boasts a population of 42,241 people with a median poverty rate of 36.8% and an average house income of $29,014 annually. Monroe is the first on this list of most dangerous US cities because the city reported a shockingly high violent crime rate of 2969.1 per 100K people in 2023. However, this isn’t surprising since Monroe in Louisiana has been one of the most dangerous cities for a long time and regularly features on such lists.

In fact, every year, when the list of most dangerous US cities is prepared, Monroe is always counted among the top five. That’s the extent of violent crimes in this region of the USA. The city boasts USA’s highest violent crime rate and is a hazardous city for locals and foreigners alike. For tourists, it is even more dangerous to stay there. Crimes against tourists and foreign visitors have increased significantly in Monroe. Overall, there was a 5% increase in violent crimes and a 29% increase in homicides during 2020.