2023 Top 100 Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S.
Our research reveals the 100 most dangerous cities in America with 25,000 or more people, based on the number of violent crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crimes include rape, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. The data used for this research are the number of violent crimes reported to have occurred in each city, and the population of each city. Based on the latest national data available at the time of publication, representing calendar year 2021 and released in October 2022, this report reveals interesting patterns about safety from crime in America.
This year, Monroe, LA was replaced by Bessemer, AL, dropping from its two-year ranking as the number one most violent city in America to the ranking of third. Bessemer has 33.18 violent crimes per 1,000 population, and the chance of being a violent crime victim is 1 in 30.
There are 10 newcomers to the list this year. Winston-Salem and Statesville, both in North Carolina, lead among newcomers with respective violent crime rates of 11.49 and 11.23. This state is the only with more than one newcomer that has made the list. Denver, the largest community in Colorado, is safer than only one percent of U.S. cities and the largest city to debut on the list this year.
Many of the dangerous cities on the list this year have appeared on past lists. For those who live in these cities, NeighborhoodScout can help you find the safest neighborhoods nearby any city using our Create feature. For example, by searching for the lowest crime rate within 15 miles of the number one most dangerous city, Bessemer, AL you can find the neighborhood of New Hope in Birmingham, AL is safer than 99% of neighborhoods nationwide. Similarly, a search for the lowest crime rate within 10 miles from the seventy-second most dangerous city, Dayton OH, you will find the Oakwood West neighborhood right in Dayton is safer than 96% of neighborhoods nationwide. We encourage you to use this feature to find your own safe neighborhoods among dangerous cities.
See the complete dangerous U.S. cities list below. Click on any city name for a complete crime report and neighborhood crime map.
For more information, see our FAQ on how we rank the most dangerous cities in America
1. Bessemer, AL
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 33.1
- Your chance of being a victim: 1 in 30
2. Monroe, LA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 26.3
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 38
3. Saginaw, MI
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 25.1
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 39
4. Memphis, TN
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 25.1
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 39
5. Detroit, MI
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 23.0
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 43
6. Birmingham, AL
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 20.6
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 49
7. Pine Bluff, AR
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 20.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 48
8. Little Rock, AR
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 20.2
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 49
9. Alexandria, LA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 18.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 53
10. Cleveland, OH
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 17.1
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 58
11. Kalamazoo, MI
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 16.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 59
12. Milwaukee, WI
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 16.6
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 59
13. Albany, GA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 16.1
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 61
14. Gadsden, AL
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 15.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 63
15. Danville, IL
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 15.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 63
16. Lansing, MI
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 15.7
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 63
17. Baltimore, MD
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 15.6
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 63
18. Springfield, MO
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 15.6
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 64
19. Spartanburg, SC
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 15.2
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 65
20. Rockford, IL
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 15.0
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 66
21. Wilmington, DE
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 15.0
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 66
22. St. Louis, MO
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.9
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 66
23. San Bernardino, CA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.9
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 67
24. Kansas City, MO
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 68
25. Canton, OH
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 68
26. Chester, PA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 68
27. South Bend, IN
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.4
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 69
28. Inkster, MI
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.1
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 70
29. Albuquerque, NM
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.9
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 71
30. Chattanooga, TN
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.9
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 71
31. Terre Haute, IN
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.9
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 71
32. New Orleans, LA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 72
33. Camden, NJ
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.7
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 72
34. East Point, GA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.6
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 73
35. Minneapolis, MN
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.4
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 74
36. Florence, SC
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.1
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 75
37. Elkhart, IN
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 77
38. Pueblo, CO
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.6
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 79
39. Stockton, CA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 79
40. Oakland, CA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 79
41. Flint, MI
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 79
42. Houston, TX
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.4
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 80
43. Jacksonville, AR
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.1
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 82
44. Myrtle Beach, SC
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.1
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 82
45. Paragould, AR
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.1
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 82
46. Battle Creek, MI
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.0
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 82
47. Tacoma, WA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.9
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 83
48. Baton Rouge, LA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.9
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 83
49. Jackson, MI
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 84
50. North Little Rock, AR
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.9
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 84
51. Nashville, TN
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 84
52. Pontiac, MI
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.7
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 85
53. Wichita, KS
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.7
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 85
54. Newnan, GA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.7
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 85
55. Compton, CA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.7
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 85
56. Riviera Beach, FL
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 86
57. Winston-Salem, NC
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.4
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 87
58. Anchorage, AK
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.4
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 87
59. Statesville, NC
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.2
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 89
60. Fort Smith, AR
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.1
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 89
61. Springfield, OH
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.0
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 90
62. Palm Springs, FL
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.9
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 91
63. Beaumont, TX
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 91
64. East Chicago, IN
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 91
65. Tulsa, OK
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 91
66. Lubbock, TX
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 92
67. Toledo, OH
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 92
68. York, PA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 92
69. Barstow, CA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.7
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 92
70. Farmington, NM
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.7
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 93
71. Dayton, OH
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 95
72. Bossier City, LA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.4
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 95
73. North Charleston, SC
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.4
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 95
74. Mobile, AL
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.4
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 97
75. Aurora, CO
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.1
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 98
76. Daytona Beach, FL
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.1
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 98
77. South Salt Lake, UT
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.9
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 100
78. Salt Lake City, UT
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.9
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 100
79. Billings, MT
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.9
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 100
80. Washington, DC
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 101
81. Grand Rapids, MI
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.8
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 101
82. Louisville, KY
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.7
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 102
83. Fayetteville, NC
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.7
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103
84. Huntsville, AL
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.7
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103
85. Denver, CO
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.7
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103
86. Goldsboro, NC
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.6
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103
87. Holyoke, MA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.6
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103
88. Wheeling, WV
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.6
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103
89. Vallejo, CA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.6
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103
90. Shreveport, LA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.6
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103
91. Muskogee, OK
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.6
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103
92. Panama City, FL
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 104
93. Dover, DE
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 105
94. Atlanta, GA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 105
95. Jackson, TN
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.5
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 105
96. Texarkana, AR
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.4
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 105
97. Lake Worth Beach , FL
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.3
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 106
98. Chamblee, GA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.3
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 106
99. Springfield, MA
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.3
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 106
100. Rocky Mount, NC
- Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.3
- Chance of being a victim: 1 in 107
- See 2022’s top 100 Most Dangerous Cities
- See 2021’s top 100 Most Dangerous Cities
- See 2020’s top 100 Most Dangerous Cities
- See 2019’s top 100 Most Dangerous Cities
- See 2018’s top 100 Most Dangerous Cities
- See 2017’s top 100 Most Dangerous Cities
- See 2016’s top 100 Most Dangerous Cities
- See 2015’s top 100 Most Dangerous Cities
- See 2014’s top 100 Most Dangerous Cities
- See 2013’s top 100 Most Dangerous Cities
- See 2012’s top 100 Most Dangerous Cities
- See the Top 100 Safest Cities in the U.S.