26 Most Dangerous Cities in US – Updated Statistics for 2025

In 2025, assessing urban safety in the United States requires more than anecdotal impressions. According to nationwide data, overall violent crime dropped roughly 4.5 % last year, while property crime fell about 8 %. Yet the macro trend masks deep local divergences: in many cities, the rates of homicide, robbery, aggravated assault, or vehicle theft remain far above national averages.

In this list, we will draw on the most up-to-date publicly available figures for 2024 and 2025, and reflect on how shifts in policing, socio-economic stressors, pandemic-era after-effects, and public-policy responses have reshaped urban crime landscapes. For example, in the first six months of 2025, the homicide rate in many large jurisdictions was approximately 17 % lower than the same period in 2024, according to the CCJ. As we all know, safety circumstances have changed dramatically throughout the year.

Still, the presence of a downward national trend does not guarantee a safe environment in every city. Some municipalities continue to record high homicide rates exceeding 50 per 100,000 residents or property-crime incidents above 5,000 per 100,000, making them persistently hazardous outliers.

In the sections that follow, you will find a ranked examination of 25 cities, covering violent crime rate, property crime rate, population context, and key local developments in 2025 that may have influenced safety levels.

While cities such as Memphis, Detroit, and St. Louis are famous for being among the most dangerous in the United States, there are other important mentions we will discuss today. Let’s get started.

List of Most Dangerous Cities in the US

If you’re planning a trip or even a move, you might want to keep these places in mind.

25. New York, New York

New York City remains one of the largest and most complex urban settings in the United States, with safety trends shaped by policing strategies, socioeconomic shifts, and the post-pandemic environment.

While many major crime indicators have declined, certain categories, particularly assaults and repeat-offender activity, challenge the perception of public safety and demand close attention.

Violent Crime

Violent crime in NYC covers offences such as murder, rape, robbery, and felony assault:

• According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) year-end 2024 report, felony assaults reached about 29,417 incidents in 2024, representing a roughly 5 % increase over 2023.
• For April 2024 alone, murders were down about 15.9 % year-to-date versus April 2023, and shootings were down about 18.7 %, according to the NYPD report.
• A mid-year 2024 analysis noted: while murder and major property crime were down compared to 2019, violent crime (driven by felony assault, rape, robbery) remained more than 20 % above 2019 levels.

Violent Crime Indicators

Observation

The drop in murders and shootings is a positive sign, yet the sustained increase in felony assaults highlights a shift in the violent-crime profile. The rising share of repeat-offender assaults adds further concern about persistent threat levels.

Property Crime

Property crime covers burglary, grand larceny (including auto theft), and related theft offences. Here are some major takeaways from the sources we just mentioned regarding NYC:

• A mid-year 2024 review reported property crime (burglary, grand larceny and vehicle theft) was down ~6.4 % compared with the same period prior year.
• For April 2024: burglary was down ~10.6 % vs April 2023; larceny-auto down ~10.9 %.

Summary

Observation

The property-crime decline is encouraging and suggests improved containment of theft and burglary offences. Nevertheless, the higher baseline relative to pre-pandemic levels means these offences still contribute significantly to overall crime volume.

Overall Crime Rate

“Overall crime” aggregates not only major violent and property offences but also lesser felonies, misdemeanours and quality-of-life violations. Key statistical points:

• A 2024 summary estimated nearly 124,000 major crime incidents (violent + property) and nearly 590,000 total crimes when misdemeanours and violations are included.
• Spectrum News report indicated major crime dropped ~6.5 % in October vs October 2024. Murders in that month nearly halved (-49 %).
• From 2023 to 2024, overall, seven major index crimes in NYC declined by ~2.9 %, according to Politico.

Summary

Observation

While the broad trend is downward for the major offence categories, the sheer volume of lesser offences means public perceptions of safety may not align fully with statistical progress. The large total count suggests many smaller incidents continue to shape everyday experience.

24. Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix remains one of the larger urban jurisdictions in the United States, with a population of over 1.6 million and covering a wide metropolitan area. The city is currently experiencing some downward trends in certain types of violence, while simultaneously facing persistent pressures from property crimes (especially vehicle theft and larceny). Policy changes, demographic shifts and law-enforcement strategies all factor into the evolving situation.

Violent Crime

In Phoenix, the most recent data show a measurable decline in many violent-crime categories in 2025. Here are some key findings:

• According to a mid-year review, homicide decreased by approximately 11 % from mid-2024 to mid-2025.
• The same source reports homicide remains about 17 % lower than the mid-2019 level.
• The official UCR data for 2025 YTD show a total of 11,636 “Part 1” offences (violent + property) so far.

Because the UCR breakdown on Phoenix’s dataset does not always separate violent vs property fully in that table, there is some estimation required, but additional secondary sources suggest:

• One source reports roughly 9,220 aggravated assaults, 1,530 robberies and 200 homicides in 2025 for Phoenix, producing a violent-crime rate of about 7.5 incidents per 1,000 residents.

Sample Violent Crime Indicators for Phoenix

Observation

The data indicate that Phoenix is seeing tangible improvements in violent-crime metrics in 2025 compared to prior years, though the baseline remains high relative to many smaller cities or national averages.

Property Crime

For property crimes in Phoenix, the situation remains more mixed: some reductions, but still elevated levels and key problem areas (especially vehicle theft).

• The City’s official UCR 2025 YTD report shows 8,696 total property crimes (burglary + larceny/theft + motor-vehicle theft + arson) so far.
• Sirix Monitoring analysis states that in early 2025, there were 26,140 property-crime incidents (first three quarters).
• According to Reolink, the property crime rate is roughly 25.1 per 1,000 residents for Phoenix (no exact year tied, but interpreted for 2025), and a “chance of car theft” is about 1 in 176.

Key Property Crime Figures for Phoenix

Observation

Property crimes remain a significant challenge in Phoenix. While some types of property crime show modest improvement, vehicle theft and theft/larceny remain elevated. This means that in Phoenix, the risk of theft or property loss is comparatively high, even if personal-violence risk is improving.

Overall Crime Rate

The overall crime rate combines both the violent and property crime burdens, rendering a broader sense of safety risk in the city. Here are some relevant data points:

• According to Sirix Monitoring analysis we mentioned earlier, Phoenix’s overall index crime rate in 2024 was about 32.7 crimes per 1,000 residents.
• Axios August 2025 news summary notes that statewide Arizona reported declines in both violent and property crime in 2024, with Phoenix part of that trend.
• The UCR dataset for Phoenix reports 11,636 total Part 1 crimes for 2025 YTD (violent + property) – though to convert to rate per 1,000 residents one needs population figures.

Estimate: Overall Crime Rate for Phoenix

If Phoenix has ~1.6 million residents and 11,636 Part 1 incidents recorded so far in 2025 YTD (assuming partial year), a rough calculation:

• 11,636 / 1,600,000 = ~0.00727 → ~7.3 crimes per 1,000 residents (for the reported YTD count)

Caveat: this is only YTD and not a full-year projection.

Observation

The overall risk profile in Phoenix remains above the national average when using crimes per 1,000 residents as the metric. While violent crime is improving, property crime keeps the overall rate elevated.

You should view Phoenix as an urban environment with moderate to high risk of non-violent crime, and a still elevated risk of violent crime compared to many smaller or less dense cities.

23. Stockton, California

Stockton is a mid-sized city in San Joaquin County, California, which continues to contend with elevated crime rates in both violent and property crime sectors.

Recent six-month figures indicate that while some serious crime categories have decreased, the overall safety environment remains a concern for residents and policymakers alike.

Violent Crime

In the first six months of 2025 (January–June), Stockton recorded 19 homicides, down from 30 in the same period of 2024 a decline of approximately 36.7 %, according to Local News Matters.

That same period showed other violent crime changes:

For January 2025 alone, violent incidents (homicide + rape + aggravated assault + robbery) fell to 269 from 289 in December 2024 (-6.9 %) according to the official monthly report.

Additional context: the city’s homicide “clearance rate” improved to about 68.4 % for the first half of 2025, indicating more cases solved than in the comparable period, Stocktonia reports.

Observation

Some of the most severe categories (homicide, robbery) have shown significant reductions in early 2025, though other areas (rape, aggravated assault) either rose or fell more modestly.

Property Crime

In the same six-month comparison (2024 vs 2025):

For January 2025:

• Property incidents total: 640, down from 789 in December 2024 (-18.9 %)
• In per-resident terms, one source estimates a property crime rate of approximately 33.62 incidents per 1,000 residents for Stockton.

Observation

Property crime in Stockton has shown meaningful improvement in some categories (especially burglary and auto theft) during the first half of 2025, although theft/larceny remains nearly flat.

Overall Crime Rate

The Global statistics report Stockton’s overall crime rate as approximately 43 incidents per 1,000 residents (equivalent to ~4.3 % of the population experiencing either a violent or property crime) in recent data.

Using the six-month total of 5,187 property incidents and ~1,168 violent assaults (plus other violent categories) in a city of ~320,000 (estimate) suggests a rough annualized crime volume still above national averages.

Safe and Sound ranking places Stockton’s violent crime rate at 13.96 incidents per 1,000 residents, and property crime at 33.62 per 1,000, based on 2025 estimates.

Observation

The overall crime rate remains high when benchmarked against many U.S. cities; despite improvements in certain categories, Stockton continues to be in a higher-risk tier for both violent and property crimes.

22. Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore continues to grapple with its legacy of elevated crime rates even as city officials report meaningful reductions across key metrics in 2025.

The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) and municipal leadership highlight historic lows in homicide and non-fatal shootings, though the scale of improvement does not erase the city’s broader safety challenges.

Violent Crime

According to BPD’s mid-year report, total Group A (NIBRS) offenses were down 11% in 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. On the other hand, homicides dropped by 22% (68 in 2025 vs. 88 in 2024).

Mayor Brand M. Scott reported the following statistics:

• Homicides down ~24.3% (84 in 2025 vs. 111 in 2024)
• Non-fatal shootings down ~18.3%

Additional category drops:

• Robberies down ~23%
• Auto thefts down ~34%
• Carjackings down ~15%

Violent Crime Metrics (2024 vs. 2025)

Observations

• The drop in homicides and shootings marks the lowest half-year homicide count in more than five decades.
• The data suggest that targeted interventions (for example, focused on gun violence/group violence) are contributing.
• Despite improvements, the baseline rates remain significantly higher than many U.S. cities; the absolute numbers still represent substantial risk.

Property Crime

While detailed full-year 2025 property crime data are less prevalent in the public domain, the city’s 2025 deputy mayoral statements indicate significant declines:

• Auto thefts are down ~34% (as of July 26, 2025) compared to the prior year. Mayor Brandon M. Scott +1
• Arson is down ~10%. Maryland Matters

Key Points

• Decreases in vehicle-theft and arson suggest that property crime risk is easing in specific high-volume categories.
• The city has not yet released comprehensive figures showing burglary, larceny, motor-vehicle theft, and overall property crime trends in the full year of 2025.
• Given the reductions announced, practitioners should still regard property crime in Baltimore as comparatively high relative to national averages, though trending down.

Overall Crime Rate

Putting together violent and property crime gives a perspective on the overall crime environment.

• According to reports, 2025 homicide counts are on track to yield a murder rate “below 30 per 100,000 residents” for the first time since 1986 if current trends continue. The Guardian
• BPD reports an 11% reduction in Group A (NIBRS) offenses in 2025. Baltimore Police Department
• The city’s narrative frames 2025 as having the fewest homicides in more than 50 years, even as underlying social-economic conditions remain challenging. The Washington Post +1

Overall Trend Summary

21. Orlando, Florida

Orlando has long been known both for its tourism and for the challenges of maintaining public safety amid large visitor flows and urban growth.

In early 2025, the city recorded a marked drop in serious violent incidents, even as underlying property-crime and total-crime trends remain elevated relative to national averages.

The following breakdown shows what the data reveal on violent crime, property crime, and the overall crime rate.

Violent Crime

According to a report by the city’s police department, during the first quarter of 2025, Orlando logged three reported homicides compared with nine in the same period of 2024, representing a roughly 67 % reduction.

During that same period, shootings with victims fell from 31 in 2024 to 5 in 2025; about an 89 % drop.

On a slightly older baseline, data from NeighborhoodScout show a violent-crime rate of 9.21 incidents per 1,000 residents (which equals 921 per 100,000) based on an estimated population of ~320,742.

That corresponds to a chance of becoming a victim of violent crime of approximately 1 in 109 residents.

Violent Crime Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Notes
Homicides in Q1 2025	3	Down from 9 in Q1 2024
Shootings with victims in Q1 2025	5	Down from 31 in Q1 2024
Annual violent-crime rate estimate	~9.21 per 1,000	From NeighborhoodScout
Victim chance (violent)	1 in 109	Derived from above

Observation

While Orlando’s early-2025 reductions in homicide and shooting incidents are significant, the baseline violent-crime rate remains high in comparison to many U.S. cities.

The pronounced drop suggests the city has had recent tactical successes, but the overall risk landscape remains elevated.

Property Crime

According to NeighborhoodScout data, Orlando’s property-crime rate is about 38.25 incidents per 1,000 residents (which equals 3,825 per 100,000) based on 12,268 reported property crimes for ~320,742 residents.

That translates into a chance of experiencing a property crime of roughly 1 in 26, as per Guardian Protection.

Observation

Property crime in Orlando remains a significant concern, with a victimization rate well above the national average.

The heavily visitor-and tourist-oriented economy may elevate opportunities for theft, vehicle crimes and other non-violent offenses. Improvement in violent crime does not necessarily imply the same trend for property offences.

Overall Crime Rate

• Combining violent and property crime yields an estimated total crime rate of approximately 47.46 per 1,000 residents (4,746 per 100,000) in one data set.
• 2 College Brothers Moving and Storage estimate gives Orlando a total crime rate of about 4,664 crimes per 100,000 people, with ~860 violent and ~3,803 property crimes.
• In Q1 2025, the sharp reductions in homicides and shootings point toward lowered dangerous violent incidents, but total crime remains high and concentrated.

Overall Crime Rate Estimates

Total Crime Rate	Violent Part	Property Part	Notes
~47.46 per 1,000	~9.21 per 1,000	~38.25 per 1,000	~4,746 per 100,000
~4,664 per 100,000	~860 per 100,000	~3,803 per 100,000	1 in 21 chance of crime

Observation

Orlando’s overall crime rate remains elevated, placing its risk profile above national medians. The significant drop in serious violent incidents improves the outlook, but high property-crime levels sustain overall risk. For a city with substantial tourism and transient populations, fluctuations are more likely, and targeted policing remains critical.

20. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee remains a major Midwestern city facing elevated levels of serious crime compared to many U.S. municipalities.

According to the mid-year report from the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) covering January 1-June 30, 2025, overall crime is down in many categories, but the number of homicides has risen.

This mixed picture means that while risk in some areas is reducing, the threat from the most serious offences remains a concern.

Violent Crime

• Homicides increased by 13 % during Jan 1-Jun 30 2025: 69 homicides were reported, compared to 61 during the same period in 2024.
• Non-fatal shootings declined by 7 % in the same period: 274 recorded in 2025 vs. 294 in 2024.
• MPD noted the homicide clearance rate is 82 % for the first half of 2025.
• According to MPD’s 2025 Violent Crime Reduction Plan, comparing full calendar years:
  

  Offence	2023	2024	% Change 2023-24
  Homicide	172	132	–23 %
  Rape	486	472	–3 %
  Robbery	1,932	1,965	+2 %

Observation

While violent-crime totals show improvement in recent full-year comparisons, the rise in homicide in 2025 is a sharp counter-trend.

Since homicide carries disproportionate weight in fear and safety perception, this uptick materially affects the city’s risk profile.

The decline in non-fatal shootings offers some relief, but the elevated homicide count limits how strongly one can characterise Milwaukee as safer.

Property Crime

In the first half of 2025, MPD reports a continued decline in major property-crime categories. For example, the overall “major crime categories” decline is around 17 % compared with the same period in 2024.

• Specific declines reported: burglaries, thefts, auto-thefts and arsons all decreased in the first nine months of 2025 (Jan 1-Sep 30) according to MPD.

From the 2025 Violent Crime Reduction Plan (which also comments on property offences):

Observation

Property crime in Milwaukee is showing more consistent improvement. The downward trend in theft, burglary, and auto-theft suggests some structural progress.

However, even with these declines, rate levels remain high compared to many U.S. cities, and thus the absolute risk remains elevated.

Overall Crime Rate

• MPD’s mid-year review for Jan 1-Jun 30 2025 shows an approximate decline of 11 % in “Total Part I Crime” (serious offences) relative to the same period in 2024.
• A CBS summary for Jan 1-Sep 30 2025 indicates overall crime is down 16 % despite the rise in homicides (110 homicides vs 102 for the same period in 2024).

Observation

The overall crime rate in Milwaukee is improving in many respects. The decline in overall serious crimes is encouraging. However, because homicide has increased, the risk level as experienced by residents remains beyond simply the aggregated number of crimes. Cities with similar overall declines but no homicide rise present a more favourable safety profile.

19. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia continues to work through the after-effects of a pandemic-era spike in violence and property offences.

According to recent data reported by Philly Police, the city is showing measurable gains in public safety even while its crime burden remains higher than many U.S. peers.

Violent Crime

• As of 18 November 2025, PPD reports 11,944 total violent crimes year-to-date.
• Homicides through that same date: 197 recorded in 2025, down from 228 by the same point in 2024, a decline of about 13.6 %.
• Axios statistics indicate an 18 % drop in homicides compared to the same period last year.
• According to a 2025 analysis, violent crime is down roughly 9.96 % year-to-date compared with the same period in 2024.

Key Statistics

• Homicide numbers: 197 (YTD to 18 Nov 2025) vs 228 same time in 2024.
• Violent crime overall: ~11,944 incidents YTD 2025.
• Percent decline in violent crime YTD: ~9.96%.
• Clearance rate for homicides has improved to ~86-91 % in 2025, the highest in decades, as per Inquirer.

Homicides in Philadelphia

Property Crime

• As of 18 November 2025 the total property crime incidents reported are 61,130, down ~4.14 % year-to-date.
• Data from a rental-safety review cites a property crime reduction of ~8.25 % YTD in 2025 vs same period in 2024.
• A Pew 2024 report noted that while major crimes declined, theft-related property crimes (such as retail theft and vehicle tag theft) remained steady or increased.

Key Stats

• Property crime incidents in 2025 YTD: ~61,130.
• YTD reduction: ~4.14 % (per PPD) to ~8.25 % (per independent analysis) depending on time-window.
• Specific categories (car theft, retail theft) show less improvement and in some cases slight increases.

Overall Crime Rate

• Based on independent rankings, Philadelphia had a violent crime rate of approximately 908.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is about 153 % above the U.S. average.
• The property crime rate for the city in 2024 was approximately 4,548.2 per 100,000 residents.

Rate-Based Estimates

18. Dayton, Ohio

Dayton remains one of the Ohio cities facing significant public-safety challenges. Preliminary data for 2025 indicate that many conventional offences are falling, yet homicide figures are rising, creating a mixed picture of risk and improvement.

Violent Crime

According to a mid-year review (Jan-June 2025):

• 230 aggravated assaults, down ~25 % versus the same period in 2024.
• 68 aggravated robberies, down ~28 %.
• 68 rapes, down ~13 %.
• Murders and non-negligent manslaughter: 20 through June, up ~18 % from the same period last year.

According to HomeSnacks statistics:

Observation

While several violent crime categories (aggravated assault, robbery, rape) are showing meaningful declines in early 2025, the homicide/manslaughter increase stands out as a serious concern. The overall violent-crime rate remains well above statewide and national averages.

Property Crime

Key figures and context for property crime in Dayton (based on HomeSnacks stats):

• The property-crime rate stands at 4,334.2 incidents per 100,000 people in the latest full year reported.
• By comparison to the national figure of ~1,760 per 100,000, Dayton’s property-crime rate is roughly 146 % higher.
• Projected cost of property crime in 2025: ~$93.1 million city-wide (≈$112 per resident), including thefts, burglaries, and vehicle thefts, as per Crime Grade.

Specific mid-2025 reductions:

• Motor vehicle theft: ~-19 % compared to same period last year.
• Residential burglary: ~-17 % decline.

Observation

The elevated property-crime rate indicates a consistent risk of theft, burglary, and vehicle theft for residents. The cost figures underscore the economic burden.

Encouragingly, early 2025 data suggest downward momentum in several sub-categories.

Overall Crime Rate

An integrated view of crime in Dayton:

Observation

Dayton’s overall crime rate is more than double the national average. Although several crime types are trending downward in early 2025, the elevated baseline means the city remains among the higher-risk urban areas in the U.S.

17. Houston, Texas

Houston remains one of America’s largest and most dynamic urban centres, but it also continues to face significant public-safety challenges. In 2025 the city reports mixed signals: while several violent crime metrics are showing improvement, property crime and other categories remain elevated relative to national averages.

Violent Crime

• According to the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), the number of homicides in Houston through the first half of 2025 fell about 5 % compared to the same period in 2024.
• A recent listing of U.S. cities by violent-crime rate (2024 data) shows Houston with approximately 1,148.2 violent crimes per 100,000 people.
• From the city’s own data: as of April 2025, the year-to-date violent crime total was 8,814 incidents versus 7,556 for the same period in 2024, representing a drop of 14.3 %.

Observation

While Houston’s violent-crime rate remains high compared to national averages, the 2025 year-to-date figures suggest a meaningful improvement over 2024 for certain categories. A sustained decline may depend on how well law enforcement, community action and socio-economic factors align.

Property Crime

The Global Statistics predicts that Houston’s property crime rate may approach 4,800 incidents per 100,000 residents by year-end 2025, citing increased motor vehicle theft and organised theft rings.

According to PDX Movers data, Houston had a property-crime rate of about 4,582 per 100,000 people.

Observation

Property crime in Houston remains a significant concern. The projected rate for 2025 suggests little improvement and possibly an increase in certain sub-categories (such as vehicle theft). Assessing how this compares to nationwide trends (which show declines in some property-crime categories) will require further data.

Overall Crime Rate

• The overall crime rate for Houston is approximately 5,723 crimes per 100,000 people.
• The city’s own monthly operational summary (September 2025) shows that “Crimes Against Persons” for YTD were 48,881 versus 54,270 in 2024 for the same period (-9.9 % change) in that category.

Observation

The overall crime rate measure is less frequently standardized than the separate violent- and property-crime measures, yet the data suggest some downward movement in person-based crimes for 2025.

16. Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama, remains one of the more challenging urban safety landscapes in the United States. According to multiple recent reports, the city continues to record crime rates well above both state and national averages, especially for violent incidents.

In 2025, the city’s law enforcement and civic leadership have publicly acknowledged the severity of the problem and launched new intervention initiatives.

Violent Crime

According to the 2025 report by the Birmingham Crime Commission, Birmingham has experienced a sustained increase in violent crime with one of the highest homicide rates in the nation.

According to Reolink’s 2025 analysis, violent crime in Birmingham is about 15.64 per 1,000 residents and includes murder, rape, robbery and assault.

On the other hand, the breakdown from NeighborhoodScout shows the following figures:

• Murder: ~0.62 per 1,000;
• Rape: ~0.23 per 1,000;
• Robbery: ~2.32 per 1,000;
• Aggravated assault: ~12.47 per 1,000.

The 2025 news coverage indicates that Birmingham’s homicide rate was about 86.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, a very high value compared to national averages.

Observation

Birmingham’s violent crime remains extremely elevated, driven especially by homicide and aggravated assault.

Property Crime

NeighborhoodScout reports that the property crime rate in Birmingham is approximately 47.00 per 1,000 residents (about 1 in 21 chance of being victimised) for the most recent year of data in the tool.

• Burglary: ~7.19 per 1,000;
• Theft (larceny): ~28.92 per 1,000;
• Motor vehicle theft: ~10.90 per 1,000.

Montgomery Advertiser ranking Alabama cities quotes: 14.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, and 52.6 property crimes per 1,000 for Birmingham.

Observation

Property crime in Birmingham is also substantially higher than typical U.S. norms, with motor vehicle theft and theft/larceny forming large portions of the case-load.

Overall Crime Rate

• The total crime rate sits at ~62.65 per 1,000 residents in Birmingham.
• That translates to about 6.265 % of residents being victimised in either a violent or property crime in one year.
• The crime commission report emphasises that while Birmingham makes up a small share of the metropolitan population in Jefferson County, it accounts for the majority of serious crime, particularly gun violence.

Observation

The overall crime rate puts Birmingham among the highest-risk cities in the U.S. when adjusting for population.

15. Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland has, for several years, ranked among the more challenging large cities in the United States for crime. Recent 2025 data suggest modest but meaningful declines in serious violent crime, while property crime and overall incident levels remain elevated relative to many peer cities.

Local authorities cite targeted enforcement, improved community-police coordination, and strategic summer safety initiatives as contributing factors.

Violent Crime

Violent crime in Cleveland is declining in many categories, though rates remain high compared to national averages.

• According to The Global Statistics, overall violent crime incidents in 2025 (year-to-date) are approximately 2,700, down ~12.8 % from prior years. The rate cited ~742 incidents per 100,000 residents.
• Axios reported that homicides in Cleveland dropped nearly 30 % in the first half of 2025 versus the same period in 2024.
• The city’s Summer Safety Plan announced that murders fell by 37 % and overall violent crime by 13 % during the summer months of 2024 versus 2023.

Violent Crime Breakdown (per 100,000 Residents)

Observation

• The decline in serious violent crime (including homicide and robbery) suggests progress in enforcement and prevention efforts.
• Cleveland’s violent crime rate remains well above the national median (which per prior analysis sits around ~4 incidents per 1,000 residents for violent crime), as per NeighborhoodScout’s statistics.

Caution: The “year-to-date” figures may not yet reflect full 2025 annual totals and may be subject to revision.

Property Crime

Property crime remains a persistent concern in Cleveland, with elevated rates relative to national benchmarks and substantial economic cost.

• Crime Grade projects that for 2025, the property crime rate in Cleveland is ~19.18 incidents per 1,000 residents (≈1,918 per 100,000) and assigns the city a “D+” grade, indicating worse safety than the majority of U.S. cities.
• For dollar impact: the projected cost of property crime in Cleveland in 2025 is approximately US $336.4 million, translating to ~$150 per resident and ~$356 per household.
• Specific breakdown: theft ~12.52 per 1,000; vehicle theft ~3.594 per 1,000; burglary ~2.958 per 1,000.

Property Crime Rates (Indicative)

Observation

• Though the given rates (~19.18 per 1,000) convert to ~1,918 per 100,000 (which is high), other older data suggest even higher property crime burdens (one source lists ~47.9 per 1,000 = 4,790 per 100,000).
• The economic burden (both direct and indirect) is significant for residents and households, underscoring that property crime remains a major dimension of urban safety in Cleveland.

Overall Crime Rate

Combining violent and property crime gives a broader view of incident volume and risk in the city.

• Cleveland’s combined crime rate is at ~64.35 incidents per 1,000 residents (~6,435 per 100,000).
• The city remains among the top mid-sized U.S. cities in both violent and property crime categories in 2025.
• Reported incident counts for downtown (within I-90 and innerbelt) show declines in 12-month comparisons: e.g., from 7,593 (2022-23) to 5,708 (2024-25) calls for service in a defined zone.

14. New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans continues to grapple with historic crime levels, but in 2025, the city is showing tangible improvement.

According to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and independent observers, homicide counts and other major crime categories have dropped significantly compared to recent years.

Violent Crime

• According to Fox8 Live, the city recorded 55 murders as of July 14, 2025, one of its lowest totals since the 1960s.
• Year-to-date murder figures reported by the NOPD had declined approximately 18% by September 2025 compared with the same point in the prior year.
• A broader summary of violent crime shows a trend of about a 20% year-over-year decline in 2025, according to interim data.

Key Statistics

• Homicides: ~55 so far by mid-July 2025.
• Year-to-date reduction: ~18% fewer murders compared with the same period the previous year.
• Broader violent crime reduction: ~20% down in 2025.

Observation

The decline in violent crime, especially murders, indicates that the city’s public‐safety efforts may be gaining traction.

Still, historic levels were very high, implying that even reduced rates may remain elevated compared with many other US cities.

Property Crime

• According to Safe and Sound Security analysis, property crimes in New Orleans fell by roughly 27% in 2025 versus previous baselines.
• The Global Statistics portal lists the overall property crime reduction at ~27 %, with carjackings down ~49% and other categories showing major declines.

Sample Data

Observation

The declines in property crime are notable and suggest improvement not only in violent offenses but also in theft, burglary, and vehicle theft regions. Given the previous years’ heavy burden of property crime, this represents a meaningful shift.

Overall Crime Rate

• Safe and Sound Security states that overall crime for New Orleans dropped by 29% for 2024 compared to 2023, and that this trend continues into 2025.
• The overall crime in 2025 is down ~26% compared to the 2023 baseline, with person crimes down ~20% and property crimes down ~27%.

Summary

Observation

This broad drop in crime across categories provides a more positive view of New Orleans’ safety situation in 2025. The reductions signal that concentrated efforts may be having measurable effects.

Yet it remains critical to remember that absolute crime levels were exceptionally high in previous years, thus the city may still rank poorly relative to national peers despite improvement.

13. Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City shows a complex public-safety profile in 2025. While several categories of crime have seen modest improvements, key indicators remain well above national norms.

Local experts note that enduring community conditions, gun-violence dynamics and resource constraints are central to understanding the current state of safety in the city.

Violent Crime

Violent crime in Kansas City remains elevated relative to national averages, and recent trends are mixed.

Key Statistics

• In the first half of 2025, the city recorded 84 homicides, up from 75 in the same period of 2024, representing a ~12 % increase, according to Axios.
• A 2023 figure shows a violent-crime rate of about 1,500 incidents per 100,000 residents.
• Recent police department data (November 2025 snapshot) indicate 125 homicides for the year so far, compared with 135 in the same period in 2024.

Homicide Counts Comparison

Observation

• The increase in homicides runs counter to the broader trend of declining violent crime across many U.S. cities. Axios
• Aggravated assault and robbery in KC have shown declines in some reports, even while homicide rose, suggesting the overall violent-crime picture is not uniformly worsening.
• Analysts emphasise that neighbourhood-level factors such as social cohesion, structural disadvantage, and prevalence of firearms play a major role. kcur.org +1

Property Crime

Property crime in Kansas City continues to present major challenges, especially focal types such as auto theft.

Key Figures

According to national comparative data, KC was flagged as a top city for motor-vehicle theft in 2024; one source noted over 5,000 stolen‐car reports in the first eight months of 2024 in KC, half involving Kias/Hyundais.

Summary

• Auto theft is a particularly acute issue in KC, contributing heavily to the property crime burden.
• Burglaries and larcenies also remain above comfortable levels, though local officials have cited some decline in other categories of violent crime, making property crime a growing relative share of the challenge.
• Because of the high volume of incidents and the interplay with other criminal activity (e.g., stolen vehicles feeding gun violence), property crime plays a role in the overall public-safety equation rather than being isolated.

Overall Crime Rate

The total crime rate, a combination of violent and property crime, places Kansas City among the higher-risk large U.S. cities.

Key Figures

• Kansas City has a violent crime rate of approximately 1,190.93 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of approximately 1,731.46 per 100,000, yielding a combined rate of approximately 4,676 per 100,000 (based on a past dataset) for a population of around 511,535.
• While the precise 2025 consolidated rate is not yet published in the same public summary format, the homicide increase in 2025 suggests that any decline in total crime has been uneven.

Estimated Overall Crime Rate from the Available Peer-Dataset

Observation

• These rates place Kansas City well above national averages for many large cities, suggesting elevated risk for both violent and property offences.
• The 2025 homicide uptick indicates that while some categories may be showing improvement, key violent crime segments are deteriorating, which can offset any gains in property crime or other offences.
• For your blog’s framework of “most dangerous cities”, Kansas City’s data align with a profile of a persistent high-risk urban environment.

12. Springfield, Missouri

Springfield has, for several years, grappled with crime levels that exceed state and national averages, yet local law-enforcement officials report that after peaks around 2020, the city has entered a period of relative stabilization or modest decline in many major crime categories.

Violent Crime

• The Springfield Police Department reports that overall crime remained “pretty much flat” in 2024, though they emphasise that homicide, shots-fired incidents and motor-vehicle theft all declined year-over-year.
• According to a summary of FBI/UCR-derived data, the Springfield metropolitan area (MSA) registered a violent-crime index of approximately 631.6 per 100 000 in a past year, versus a national average of around 390.2 per 100,000.

From a detailed breakdown for earlier years via NeighborhoodScout:

Observation

• The city still carries a high level of violent crime relative to many comparable cities.
• Local policing statements note successes in reducing gun-related violence and leveraging new investigative technologies.

Property Crime

Data from CrimeGrade indicate a projected property-crime rate in Springfield of 26.55 per 1 000 residents in a typical year, and estimate the total cost of property crime for 2025 at roughly US $47.97 million (≈ US $200 per resident) in tangible cost.

In past years, NeighborhoodScout estimated the property-crime rate around 41.21 per 1 000 residents with a “1 in 24 chance” of victimisation.

Comparative Table

Observation

• Property crime remains a major driver of the city’s crime load.
• The lower projected 2025 figure may reflect improved data modelling or a genuine decline, but should be treated cautiously until confirmed official year-end statistics are released.

Overall Crime Rate

• The police chief’s statement in February 2025 notes a “flat” overall crime trend, with only about 200 more reported crimes in 2024 versus 2023.
• Springfield’s overall crime score is significantly higher than national averages (e.g., Nextdoor platform data shows an overall crime rate index of 75.89 versus 33.37 nationally).

Summary Table

Observation

Although violent crime may have shown signs of improvement and property crime projections suggest some decline, Springfield remains a city with a high overall crime burden relative to many peers. The “flat” trend indicates that significant reductions are not yet firmly established.

11. Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga, a mid-sized city in southeastern Tennessee, has recently reported meaningful declines in several crime categories while still facing elevated levels of property and violent crime compared to national averages.

Local law enforcement and municipal data suggest a concerted effort to curtail crime, with early 2025 indicators pointing toward further improvements.

Violent Crime

The city has seen measurable progress in reducing violent incidents, though levels remain significant.

Key Figures and Trends

• According to the city’s 2024 annual report, crimes against persons fell by approximately 9% in 2024 compared to 2023.
• Bail Bondsman Chattanooga reports that in 2025, “criminal homicides are down 37% and criminal shooting victims are down 33%,” under the leadership of the new police chief.
• Crime Grade reports the violent crime rate at about 5.379 incidents per 1,000 residents, or roughly 537.9 per 100,000.

Summary

Observation

While the downward trends in murders and shootings are notable, the baseline violent crime rate remains relatively high compared to national norms. For a comprehensive risk assessment, vigilance and context-specific awareness remain necessary.

Property Crime

Property crime remains a considerable portion of Chattanooga’s overall safety challenge, with strong downward movement yet persistent risk.

Key Figures and Trends

• The city report shows an 11% reduction in crimes against property in 2024 vs 2023.
• A Reolink analysis cites property crime rates of approximately 4,857 incidents per 100,000 residents for Chattanooga.
• Sirix Monitoring research indicates that thefts from vehicles dropped by ~17% and burglaries by ~25% from 2023 to 2024.

Summary

Observation

Chattanooga is clearly making strides in reducing property-crime incidents. However, the overall rate remains elevated, and vehicle theft, along with burglaries, continues to generate concern. This suggests that community prevention, hot-spot policing, and property security measures remain important.

Overall Crime Rate

When assessing overall crime levels (violent + property), Chattanooga is showing positive momentum toward improvement, albeit from a challenging baseline.

Observation

The downward trend in overall crime is a positive indicator, suggesting that policy efforts and enforcement strategies may be bearing fruit. Nonetheless, the levels remain high compared to more typical U.S. city rates.

10. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis is showing measurable reductions in major crime categories in 2025, especially violent crime, yet the levels remain elevated compared to many U.S. cities.

City officials describe the trend as a partial turnaround, though community perception of safety still lags behind the data.

Violent Crime

At the beginning of 2025, the city reported:

• ~47 % drop in robberies compared to the same period in 2024.
• ~40 % decrease in carjackings.
• ~32 % fewer shooting victims year-to-date compared to previous year.

CBS News reported that both robberies and assaults in Minneapolis dropped significantly.

Since the exact full-year rate for 2025 is not yet published by the city, we must rely on these partial-year metrics and recent reporting.

Summary

Observation

These improvements indicate that Minneapolis has achieved meaningful reductions in some violent crime sub-categories. However, because the baseline levels were high, the city remains at a still challenging level of violent crime compared to national averages.

Property Crime

Recent data and observations:

• A March 2025 report indicated an 18.1 % reduction in certain property-crime categories in early 2025.
• Sirix Monitoring lists a property crime rate of about 53.79 per 1,000 residents (~5,379 per 100,000) for Minneapolis, representing the approximate current level.

Summary

Observation

Property crime remains a significant challenge in Minneapolis. Although early-year data signals improvement, the rate is still markedly higher than many peer cities. Persistent work is required to bring property crime closer to national norms.

Overall Crime Rate

When combining violent and property crime, the overall crime rate for Minneapolis remains elevated, though showing signs of decline. Highlights:

• Sirix Monitoring gives an overall crime rate of about 65.42 per 1,000 residents (6,542 per 100,000) for 2025 estimates.
• Historically, in 2023, the overall crime rate was cited at ~5,713 crimes per 100,000 residents, as per The Move Crew.
• Star Tribune noted that crime in Minneapolis is “falling in 2025, even amid high-profile events”.

Summary

Observation

The overall crime rate remains high in Minneapolis, though the recent trend is downward. Because the baseline is elevated, the city still qualifies as higher-risk in national comparisons, but the direction is positive.

9. Seattle, Washington

Seattle appears to be in a phase of measurable improvement: early-year data show both violent and property crime trending downward compared with the previous year, signalling a potential shift after the elevated crime levels during the pandemic years.

Violent Crime

According to Axios:

• Through April 25, 2025, there were 11,331 combined violent + property crime incidents in Seattle.
• Violent crime incidents in that period were about 20% lower than the same period in 2024.
• For the full year 2024, Seattle recorded 52 homicides, corresponding to a rate of about 6.8 homicides per 100,000 residents.

Key Points

• Homicide rate: ~6.8 per 100,000 in 2024.
• Mid-2025 violent crime is down, roughly 20% year-over-year.
• The decline suggests reduced incidents of assault, robbery, and other serious violent offences, though data for the full year 2025 remain incomplete.

Property Crime

According to an independent analysis, Seattle’s overall property crime rate was estimated at 5,007.6 per 100,000 residents (based on 2024 or recent data), which is significantly higher than the national average.

• The same analysis reported Seattle ranked among the worst-in-nation for burglary (1,152.0 per 100,000) and motor vehicle theft.
• Statewide context for Washington in 2024: property crimes fell by 13.4% year-over-year, as per KOMO.

Summary

Overall Crime Rate

Observation

• Seattle is showing credible signs of improvement in both violent and property crime categories, though the rates remain elevated compared with many U.S. cities.
• Property crime continues to be a significant challenge, with burglary and auto theft among the worst-in-nation metrics for the city.
• The drops in crime may reflect both local policing/community efforts and the broader national trend of declining violence after pandemic-era peaks.
• Because much of the 2025 data is still partial (year-to-date), caution is needed in interpreting the full-year picture.

8. Portland, Oregon

In the first half of 2025, Portland has shown meaningful declines in serious violent offences, though the city continues to deal with elevated rates of property crime relative to peer cities.

The data reflect both operational law-enforcement shifts and longstanding structural issues in urban safety.

Violent Crime

Key indicators are homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, and sexual assault.

• According to the Major Cities Chiefs Association mid-year report, from January 1 to June 30, 2025, Portland recorded 17 homicides, compared to 35 in the same period in 2024 — a 51 % reduction.
• Over that same period, overall violent crime in Portland fell by 17 %; aggravated assaults dropped 18 %, robberies declined 10 %, and sexual assaults were down 12 %.
• For the full year 2024 (preliminary): homicides were down ~8 % from 2023 (67 in 2024 vs 73 in 2023) per Axios statistics.

Summary

Observation

• The sharp drop in homicide indicates a significant positive shift in the most serious violent offences.
• While violent crime is declining, it remains elevated compared to many U.S. cities of comparable size.
• Contributors identified include enhanced community-police partnerships, targeted violence prevention efforts, and data-driven operational changes.

Property Crime

Key indicators: burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft.

• According to external ranking data for 2024, Portland’s property crime rate was ~5,526 incidents per 100,000 residents, placing it as the second-highest among large U.S. cities in that category.
• In its 2024 annual report referenced by secondary analysis, Portland saw an overall property-crime decline of about 12 % year-over-year.
• Motor vehicle theft specifically: In 2024 the city recorded 5,012 stolen vehicles, the lowest level since recording began in 2015, as KPTV reports.

Summary

Observation

• Despite decreases, Portland remains challenged by property-based offenses, particularly theft and vehicle crimes.
• The downward trend in motor-vehicle theft is a positive signal, possibly reflecting focused enforcement.
• Even with declines, the absolute level of property crime remains high, suggesting that reductions alone may not yet translate into a “safe property-crime environment” for many residents.

Overall Crime Rate

Combining violent and property offences gives a broader measure of how safe a city is, comparatively and over time.

• For 2024, data show Portland with a total crime rate (violent + property) of approximately 6,246 incidents per 100,000 residents.
• The high rate is driven primarily by the property-crime component; the violent crime component remains elevated but not as extreme as the property component.
• Though exact full-year 2025 numbers are not yet publicly consolidated, the first-half drops in violent crime alongside property-crime declines point to a likely reduction in the overall crime rate for 2025 compared to 2024.

Observation

The overall crime burden in Portland remains among the higher tiers for U.S. cities. That said, the 2025 data indicate a meaningful shift downward in major categories, which may mark a turning point if sustained.

7. Salt Lake City, Utah

In 2025, Salt Lake City is showing a mixed safety profile. Homicides have dropped compared with the same period in 2024, yet other violent crime categories remain elevated.

At the same time, property-crime rates remain significantly above national medians, indicating the city faces persistent risk in multiple crime categories.

Violent Crime

For the first quarter of 2025 (January 1-March 31), the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) reported for Salt Lake City:

• Homicides: 1 in 2025 vs 3 in same period in 2024.
• Rape: 57 in 2025 vs 60 in 2024.
• Robbery: 75 in 2025 vs 76 in 2024.
• Aggravated assault: 202 in 2025 vs 190 in 2024.

According to a recent data summary, the chances of being a victim of violent crime in Salt Lake City are about 1 in 115 (based on 2024 FBI-reported data).

The violent crime rate was approximately 8.71 per 1,000 residents (in a dataset that cited 1,826 violent crimes) in Salt Lake City.

Observation

• Although the homicide count dropped, the rise in aggravated assault suggests that the nature of violent crime has shifted rather than simply declined.
• When compared with Utah’s median rates, Salt Lake City remains elevated in violent crime. For example, the state median for property crime is much lower (see next section), and by extension, violent crime too is relatively higher in the city.

Property Crime

• A 2024/2025 estimate lists the property-crime victimization rate at about 1 in 17 residents in Salt Lake City.
• Crime rate is at 58.63 per 1,000 residents, with a total of 12,288 property crimes in a given year for a population of approximately 209,593.
• A cost-of-crime analysis estimates the total cost of property crime in Salt Lake City for 2025 at about US$257.7 million, equating to approximately US$193 per resident.

Observation

• Among property crimes, motor vehicle theft is notably high in Salt Lake City, and the “chance of getting your car stolen” is estimated at about 1 in 170.
• Comparatively, the property-crime rate in the city is significantly above Utah’s state median for property crime (Utah: about 16.31 per 1,000 vs Salt Lake City ~58.63 per 1,000 in one dataset).

Overall Crime Rate

According to Nextdoor, Salt Lake City’s “overall crime rate” index is much higher than the U.S. average: e.g., an index value of 92.63 vs national average 33.37 (though methodological caveats apply).

Based on the violent and property crime rates above, the combined per-1,000 estimate is ~67.34 (8.71 + 58.63) for the referenced year in the dataset.

Summary

Observation

• The “approximate combined” figure is simply the sum of the two per-1,000 rates above; it does not account for overlap, population growth, or temporal shifts.
• Data sources vary in year, methodology, and scope; for example, some refer to calendar year, others to the first quarter.
• The city is implementing new tools: for instance, the Salt Lake City Police Department launched an interactive public crime map in April 2025 aimed at increasing transparency and community awareness.

6. Denver, Colorado

In 2025, Denver continues to face elevated crime rates compared with national averages, yet recent data point to meaningful declines in key violent-crime categories.

While risk remains significant, the city’s trajectory shows measurable improvement in certain safety markers.

Violent Crime

Violent crime in Denver (including murder, aggravated assault, robbery, and non‐consensual sex offences) presents the following recent metrics:

• According to a June 2025 summary, the city’s violent crime rate stood at 5.2 incidents per 1,000 residents in 2025 so far (versus 7.7 per 1,000 in 2024).
• A 2025 report by the Common Sense Institute (CSI) states Denver’s violent-crime rate was 235 incidents per 100,000 people among Colorado’s largest cities.
• According to CBS News, overall violent crime dropped ~9 % year-over-year, and the murder rate fell ~49 % in Denver.

Summary

Observation

• The drop from 7.7 → 5.2 per 1,000 suggests a substantial reduction in reported violent incidents.
• Despite the improvement, Denver still records a higher violent-crime rate than many U.S. cities. The CSI report flagged Denver as having the highest rate among Colorado’s largest cities.
• The nearly 49 % plunge in the murder rate is notable but does not yet eliminate elevated risk levels. CBS News

Property Crime

Property crime (theft, burglary, motor-vehicle theft, etc) in Denver shows the following recent data:

• For 2025 so far, the property crime rate was reported as 40.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, down from 46.0 per 1,000 in 2024.
• CSI data for 2025 (first half) show 1,122 property crime incidents per 100,000 people in Denver — highest among Colorado’s major cities.
• The Denver Gazette noted a 35 % drop in Denver’s property-crime rate over a defined period compared with earlier years.

Summary

Observations

• The decline from 46.0 to 40.8 per 1,000 indicates moderate improvement in property‐crime incidence.
• Even with improvements, Denver remains at the high end among comparable cities for property crime rates.
• The 35 % reduction metric suggests that long‐term initiatives may be producing results.

Overall Crime Rate

Combining both violent and property crime provides a broader perspective on Denver’s public-safety context:

• A ranking by Security.org for 2024 placed Denver’s total crime rate at 5,754.6 incidents per 100,000 residents, which was ~171.5 % above the U.S. average.
• Analysis from 2023 data (via the Move4Less) cited an overall crime rate of ~5,451 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2024, down from ~6,772 per 100k in 2023.

Summary

Observation

• The downward trend from ~6,772 to ~5,451 indicates improvement in overall crime incidence, though Denver remains significantly above national averages.
• High levels of both violent and property crime contribute to the elevated overall rate.

5. Little Rock, Arkansas

 

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In Little Rock in 2025, the city is showing signs of improvement, yet remains above national averages for many serious crime categories.

According to the city government, overall crime is down significantly when compared to historical five-year norms.

Violent Crime

• According to a KATV report, during the first half of 2025, the city saw a 12 % reduction in violent crime compared with its five-year average.
• For 2024, the violent crime rate in Little Rock is reported at approximately 920.2 incidents per 100,000 residents, as per City-Data.
• Arkansas statewide data indicates Little Rock’s violent crime rate is around 939 incidents per 100,000 in an analysis of metro-area data.
• However, a mid-year report from the Council on Criminal Justice noted that Little Rock was among a handful of cities where homicide increased during that review period.

Observation

• The rate remains well above the U.S. average (which is around 198.6 per 100,000 for violent crime in 2024).
• The decline is meaningful but must be considered in light of historically high bases.
• Homicide trends may diverge from broader violent crime trends.

Property Crime

• For 2024, the property crime rate in Little Rock is approximately 447.2 incidents per 100,000 residents.
• That compares with the U.S. average of about 141.7 per 100,000 for property crime (according to City-Data’s figures).
• While less recent specific figures for 2025 are available in the sources checked, the marked overall decline suggests property crime is part of the downward trend. For example, the 19 % overall decline reported for H1 2025 likely reflects property crime improvement as well.

Observation

• Little Rock’s property crime rate remains more than three times the national average.
• The downward movement in overall crime suggests some alleviation, but property crime remains a significant risk.
• More granular data for categories (burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft) would improve precision but are not readily available in the sources located.

Overall Crime Rate

• One source reports a “crime index” value of 712.2 (City-Data) for 2024 for Little Rock, which indicates the city’s crime level is roughly 3.0 times the U.S. average. City-Data
• According to the city government website, Part I offences (covering both violent and property crime) are tracked monthly and show declines through 2025.
• For the first half of 2025, overall crime in Little Rock is reported down 19 % compared to a five-year average.

Observation

• The overall crime figure places Little Rock among cities with persistent safety challenges.
• The 19 % reduction is significant and suggests policy and operational changes may be having an effect.
• The gap to national averages remains large; sustained improvement will require continued focus.

4. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach continues to exhibit elevated crime figures compared to both state and national averages. While certain metrics show slight improvement in recent years, the risk of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime remains significantly higher than in many U.S. municipalities.

Violent Crime

• According to Axelrod & Associates, the violent crime rate for Myrtle Beach in 2025 is estimated at approximately 49.31 per 1,000 residents.
• For 2024, the robbery rate was around 262 per 100,000 people, down from 306 per 100,000 in 2023, as per CPI Security.

Summary

Observation

• The rate of violent crime surpasses both the state average for South Carolina and the national average, indicating greater exposure to acts of violence for residents and visitors alike.
• Local commentary notes declines in “Part 1” violent offenses in recent years, although the absolute level remains elevated.

Property Crime

• In 2024, the burglary rate was reported as 1,633 per 100,000 residents, down from 1,973 in 2023.
• For larceny (theft) in 2024, the rate was ~13,004 per 100,000, compared with ~13,418 per 100,000 in 2023.
• Motor vehicle theft in 2024: ~1,672 per 100,000; in 2023: ~1,781 per 100,000.

Summary

Observation

• Property crimes form the bulk of incidents and represent the principal exposure for both residents and tourists.
• Despite some decreases year-to-year, the absolute values remain high relative to national norms.

Overall Crime Rate

Crime Grade reports the overall crime rate for Myrtle Beach at around 48.13 per 1,000 residents for a “typical year” and ranks the city in the 11th percentile for safety (i.e., safer than ~11% of U.S. cities) according to their methodology

The same source projects the total cost of crime in 2025 at approximately US$75.66 million, or ~$544 per resident.

Overall Crime Snapshot

Observation

• Given the elevated rates in both violent and property crime categories, the overall exposure to crime in the city remains substantial.
• The influx of tourists and seasonal population increases may complicate per-capita metrics, as law enforcement and reporting are challenged by fluctuating populations.

3. St. Louis, Missouri

 

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In 2025, St. Louis is showing measurable progress in reducing serious crime, even though its baseline remains high relative to many U.S. cities, and its neighborhoods are very dangerous.

Early-year data indicate significant declines in homicide and property damage incidents, marking a notable shift in the city’s public-safety profile.

Violent Crime

Recent data from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) and independent analysis show the following for violent crime in St. Louis:

• Homicides: For 2025, the city reported 125 homicides.
• Mid-year trend: In the first half of 2025, the homicide rate dropped by about 22% compared to the first half of 2024, according to Spectrum Local News.
• Aggravated assault: Council in Criminal Justice reports that in the same six-month period, the rate of aggravated assault was approximately 9% lower than in the first half of 2024.
• Robbery: Also in that interval, the robbery rate was down about 17% compared to the first half of 2024.
• Early-year monthly data: In January 2025, violent crime overall was down 12.6% compared with January 2024.

Summary

Property Crime

Data for property crime indicate similar downward momentum in St. Louis:

• Early 2025 quarterly data: For the first three months of 2025, the city reported decreases of 33% in burglaries and 39% in auto/theft-theft incidents compared to the same period the previous year.
• February update: In January 2025 overall property crime was down 33.7% compared to January 2024.
• Larceny and motor-vehicle theft: In the first half of 2025, the larceny rate was down ~1% from the first half of 2024, and the motor-vehicle-theft rate was down ~31%.

Summary

While property crime remains a concern, the scale of reduction in early 2025 suggests that the city’s interventions may be having a measurable effect.

Overall Crime Rate

Bringing together violent crime and property crime trends gives a clearer picture of St. Louis’s overall safety posture in 2025:

• According to SLMPD’s quarterly report, as of early April 2025, overall crime (violent + property) was down roughly 28% compared to the same time in 2024, and down nearly 50% compared to the same period in 2023.
• With homicide and key violent-crime categories falling, and property crime following suit, the downward trend is strong but the city still records rates considerably above many peer cities.
• Independent commentary notes that in the first half of the year, the homicide rate per 100,000 residents in St. Louis was about 22.2.

Summary

• Approximate 28% reduction in combined crime types early in 2025 vs the same period in 2024.
• Nearly 50% reduction vs the same period in 2023 for early-year comparison.
• Despite improvements, baseline risks (violent and property crime) remain elevated in the national context.
• Homicide rate in the first half of 2025 was ~22.2 per 100,000, which remains high in U.S. city comparisons.

2. Memphis, Tennessee

As of mid-2025, Memphis reports its overall crime levels at the lowest point in 25 years, following targeted enforcement and community strategies. However, despite the improvement, crime rates remain significantly higher than national averages, indicating persistent risk.

Violent Crime

According to data published by the Memphis Police Department (MPD), for January–August 2025:

• Murders were recorded at 146 incidents, down from 181 in the same period of 2024.
• Aggravated assaults reached approximately 4,308 incidents, a five-year low.

Per-100,000 estimates: in 2024, the violent crime rate was reported as ~2,501.3 per 100,000 residents, placing Memphis among the highest nationally.

Additional detail: The domestic violence rate for the first half of 2025 fell about 3 % compared to the same period in 2024, as per CCJ.

Property Crime

• From MPD data: overall property crimes (burglary, larceny, robbery) are at 25-year lows in 2025.
• According to Safe and Sound Security, the property crime rate is estimated at ~73.27 incidents per 1,000 residents (≈7,327 per 100,000) in 2025.
• In 2024, Memphis had a property crime rate of ~6,899.0 per 100,000, among the highest in U.S. large cities.

Key component crimes:

• Motor vehicle theft remains a significant challenge (one source: ~17.97 per 1,000 residents).
• Burglary has fallen to historic lows (for example ~9.73 per 1,000 residents).

Overall Crime Rate

• MPD reports for Jan–Aug 2025: ~28,660 overall crime incidents, a 23 % decrease from the same period in 2024, and a 37 % decrease compared with 2023.
• External ranking (2024 data) lists Memphis with a total crime rate of ~9,400.3 per 100,000 residents, over 340 % above the national average (~2,119 per 100,000).

1. Detroit, Michigan – Most Dangerous City in the US

Detroit is showing measurable improvements in public-safety metrics. Officials report that the city is experiencing historic lows in certain categories of violent crime, driven by enhanced law-enforcement coordination, community violence-intervention programs and embedded prosecutors in precincts.

Violent Crime

• As of September 30, 2025, Detroit had recorded 132 homicides through the first three quarters of the year. That is a reduction from the 155 homicides recorded through the same period in 2024.
• In the third quarter alone, the city reported double-digit declines (15 % to 30 %) in homicides, non-fatal shootings, and carjackings compared to the same quarter in 2024.
• Christian Science Monitor report notes that the first nine months of 2025 show violent crime (including homicides and non-fatal shootings) down roughly 15 % compared to the previous year.
• Among the strategies cited: embedding federal prosecutors in local precincts, community-violence intervention (CVI) zones expanded by more than 50 % in certain areas, and increased coordination with state and county law enforcement.

Summary

Property Crime

• While publicly released figures for property crime (burglary, larceny, motor-vehicle theft) in Detroit for full 2025 remain less detailed in recent press statements, early data indicate reductions in these categories. For instance, one article notes that thefts, auto-thefts and burglaries were down in the 2024 preliminary figures.
• A broader study of U.S. cities situates Detroit among the highest large cities for motor-vehicle theft in 2024 (≈ 1,258 per 100,000 residents) but that same source suggests a national property-crime decline of 8 % in 2024.

Summary

• Detroit’s automotive theft burden has historically been very high.
• Officials have announced that property-crime categories are trending down alongside violent crime, although exact per-100,000-resident rates for 2025 are not yet fully published.
• With the violent-crime decline as context, property-crime reduction may follow but remains to be fully quantified.

Overall Crime Rate

• Combining both violent and property crime, Detroit’s overall crime rate is improving. The city’s official communication describes 2025 as “dropping far beyond” the low achieved in 2024.
• Historical context: In 2024 Detroit recorded 203 homicides—the lowest since 1965.
• According to an external dataset (SafeHome), Detroit still ranked among the highest large U.S. cities for certain violent-crime measures in 2024, though improvements in 2025 are noted.

Summary

FAQ

Final Words

That’s the rundown. It’s not the cheeriest list, but knowing where the danger zones are can help keep you safe. Stay smart, stay safe, and always keep an eye on your surroundings.

References

• abc15.com – Murder rate dropping dramatically according to latest data analysis
• fox10phoenix.com – Crime Reduction Plan for 2024 released by Phoenix Police, targets violent criminals
• azcentral.com – Fatal shootings by Phoenix-area police total 18 so far in 2024
• fox40.com – Stockton homicides so far in 2024 reaches nearly half of previous yearly total
• cbsnews.com – Report says San Joaquin County has California’s highest violent crime rate, Stockton mayor candidates respond
• americanprogress.org – Early 2024 Data Show Promising Signs of Another Historic Decline in Gun Violence
• homicides.news.baltimoresun.com – Baltimore Homicides
• fox35orlando.com – Orlando sees significant drop in violent crime in 2024: report
• spectrumnews1.com – Police data: Milwaukee crime dropped in early 2024
• nbcphiladelphia.com – Philly has the largest drop in gun violence out of major U.S. cities
• ovogo.com – Is Dayton, OH, Safe to Live or Visit in 2024?
• hoodline.com – Houston Sees Remarkable 24% Drop in Homicides as Major U.S. Cities Experience Downturn in Violent Crime
• bhamwiki.com – 2024 Birmingham homicides
• cleveland.com – Cleveland police data shows decrease in crime through the first quarter of the year
• nopdnews.com – NOPD Statistics Show Decreases in Violent Crime, Property Crime in Early 2024
• kctv5.com – Nearly $300K granted from state of Missouri to help combat Kansas City violent crime
• khmoradio.com – Missouri Town Unexpectedly Soars into Top 20 Most Dangerous List
• allreadymoving.com – Seattle Crime Rate
• streetroots.org – Years of data debunk persistent narrative of a recent Portland ‘crime wave’
• fox13now.com – Is Salt Lake City really one of the most dangerous cities in the country?
• usnews.com – In Colorado, Elevated Crime Rates Dampen the Rocky Mountain High
• arkansasonline.com – Violence hot spot focus of Little Rock police
• foxsportsradio1400.iheart.com – 2 South Carolina Destinations Among America’s ‘Most Dangerous’ Beach Towns
• localmemphis.com – Here’s how Memphis crime rates compare to other large cities
• americanprogress.org – Early 2024 Data Show Promising Signs of Another Historic Decline in Gun Violence