10 Worst Neighborhoods in Detroit in 2025 (Updated With the Latest Information)

Michael Lloyd

Published: October 11, 2024
Updated: September 25, 2025

Detroit has always been a city of contrasts. Once the powerhouse of America’s auto industry, it is still pushing through deep economic hardship and stubborn crime in some neighborhoods. Amid the bright signs of reinvestment and cultural revival, there remain pockets where the struggle to stay safe and make ends meet is a daily test.

In 2025, the city’s story is not just about decline or comeback but about complexity. Some districts, long flagged as dangerous like Belmont, Van Steuban, and Fishkorn, still carry heavy reputations. Yet crime and poverty stretch beyond the usual suspects, spilling into less publicized corners of the city.

Even though we are discussing the “worst neighborhoods in Detroit,” this article aims to document, not sensationalize. After spending time on the ground and listening to residents, I’ve seen how Detroiters balance fear with fierce pride, hardship with small victories. Their resilience gives the city its pulse.

Still, there are neighborhoods whose challenges cannot be ignored. In the sections ahead, we’ll take a closer, unflinching look at ten communities where daily life remains tough, but where the will to endure and rebuild is unmistakable.

Stats showing overall crime rates in Detroit neighborhoods — Life in certain Detroit areas remains a struggle

Table of Contents

10. Poletown East

Ruined building in Poletown East — Source: YouTube/Screenshot, Crime rate here is over 300% higher than the state average

At the bottom of the list, we come to Poletown East, one of the smallest and most impoverished neighborhoods in Detroit. With such a low population, the crime rate is 307% higher than the state average.

People here have a 1 in 14 chance of being crime victims, and the poverty is intense. The median income is a meager $16,286, and homes are falling apart.

Overall Crime Rate

According to HomeSnacks, Poletown East had an estimated overall crime rate of 7,488 per 100,000 people (i.e. ~7.49 % annualized) in their last reporting year.
HomeSnacks also reports that this is ~222.18 % above the U.S. national average.
In that same source, 27 total crimes were tallied in the “last reporting year” for the area (though given the small population base, scaling to per-100k inflates the rate).

Violent Crime

HomeSnacks estimates 3,027 violent crimes per 100,000 people in Poletown East (this includes assault, robbery, etc.).
To put that in perspective, that is extremely high compared to national benchmarks.

Property Crime

It is estimated that there are 4,461 property crimes per 100,000 people in Poletown East.

Comparison to Other Benchmarks

For Detroit as a whole, the violent crime rate is much lower per capita (though still very high). NeighborhoodScout reports Detroit’s violent crime rate is ~20.07 per 1,000 (i.e. 2,007 per 100,000) and property crime ~46.27 per 1,000 (i.e. 4,627 per 100,000) in recent years.
The Poletown East estimates thus suggest its violent crime rate is well above even Detroit’s average (per those sources).
Another site, AreaVibes, states that Poletown East crime rates are 250 % higher than the national average, with violent crime ~564 % above national average.

9. The Eye

Street in the Eye neighborhood in Detroit — Source: Google Street View/Screenshot, September 2023, With almost 3,500 residents, there is one in ten chance of being a victim of crime

The Eye is one of those neighborhoods with a unique name but a familiar story. The neighborhood got its name from community watch groups formed in the 1980s, but unfortunately, crime is still a huge issue here.

With a population of 3,437 and a crime rate 479% higher than the Michigan average, safety is not a guarantee.

Overall Crime Rate & Trends

Homesnacks estimates 387 total crimes in a recent reporting year in The Eye, which corresponds to ≈ 10,642 incidents per 100,000 people according to their calculation.
They break that down further to violent crime ~5,010 incidents per 100,000 and property crime ~5,632 per 100,000.
According to CrimeGrade, the neighborhood’s total crime rate is ~61.58 per 1,000 residents (i.e. 61,580 per 100,000) in a “typical year”—though that figure may represent a distinct methodology or scaled estimate.
The Eye is ranked in the 18th percentile for safety (meaning it is safer than 18% of neighborhoods, but less safe than 82%) in the CrimeGrade assessment.
CrimeGrade also notes that the central parts of the neighborhood see more incidents (e.g. ~40 per year in some zones) versus ~2 in the northeast portion.
AreaVibes reports that total crime in The Eye is 344% above typical U.S. levels; violent crime is 1,047% above; property crime is 211% above.
AreaVibes claims crime in The Eye increased by 18% year-over-year and that the area’s crime is 479% higher than the Michigan average.

Violent Crime (Homicide, Assault, Robbery, etc.)

Murder in The Eye is estimated by CrimeGrade at 0.2376 per 1,000 residents per year, which is ~23.76 per 100,000.
Because the neighborhood has a small population base, localized events (one or two homicides) can have high per-capita impact.
Homesnacks’ breakdown suggests that violent crime accounts for a large portion of the total crime burden in The Eye (~5,010 per 100,000 in their estimates)
Robbery, assault, and other violent offenses are embedded in the cost-of-crime breakdown by CrimeGrade (they allocate portions of cost to “assault,” “robbery,” etc.).

Property Crime & Nonviolent Offenses

Homesnacks estimates ~5,632 property crimes per 100,000 in The Eye.
In the CrimeGrade “Cost of Crime” breakdown, they allocate costs across burglary, vehicle theft, theft, arson, vandalism, etc. (for instance, theft ~ $427,421 in aggregate cost)
The Eye’s cost of crime per resident is estimated at $1,192/year in tangible costs, which includes property crime burden.

8. Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald is another place where crime and economic hardship go hand in hand. With a population of 5,100, the crime rate here is 516% higher than the Michigan average.

People in this area have a 1 in 9 chance of being a victim of crime, which keeps many residents on edge.

The likelihood of being a victim of any crime in Fitzgerald is concerning. Residents face a 1 in 8 chance of becoming a victim of crime in general. For violent crime specifically, the chances are around 1 in 41 in some areas of the neighborhood.

Overview & Crime Rating

Fitzgerald receives a very poor grade for violent crime (an “F”) from CrimeGrade.
According to statistics, the violent crime rate is about 19.72 per 1,000 residents in a typical year in Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald ranks in the 2nd percentile for safety (that is, safer than only 2% of U.S. neighborhoods) under CrimeGrade’s metrics.
Some sources report much higher overall crime rates (inclusive of property crimes). For example, an alternate CrimeGrade listing puts the total crime rate around 83.63 per 1,000 residents (i.e. ~1 in 10 chance per year) for all crimes (violent + property).
According to Homesnacks, in a recent reporting year there were 729 total crimes in Fitzgerald, which corresponds to ~11,336 per 100,000 (i.e. 11,336 / 100k) in that estimate.
In that same estimate, violent crime was ~5,194 per 100,000, and property crime ~6,142 per 100,000.

Violent Crime Breakdown

Of the violent crime rate of 19.72 per 1,000 from CrimeGrade, the breakdown is roughly:

Assault: 17.16 per 1,000
Robbery: 1.094 per 1,000
Rape: 1.072 per 1,000
Murder: 0.3935 per 1,000

In more conventional units (per 100,000), Niche reports:

Assault ~1,824.3 per 100,000
Murder ~104.2 per 100,000
Robbery ~677.6 per 100,000

The numbers above are extremely elevated relative to national averages. For reference, the national rate of assault (per 100k) is ~282.7; for murder ~6.1; for robbery ~135.5.

Property Crime & Overall Crime

Beyond violent crime, Fitzgerald suffers from high property crime rates. In the Homesnacks data: ~6,142 property crimes per 100,000.
The “Overall Crime” figure (violent + property) is reported in various sources to be well above both city and national averages. For example, AreaVibes claims that Fitzgerald’s crime rates are 359% higher than the national average, with violent crimes at ~1009% above average.
AreaVibes also states that a “1 in 10” chance exists of becoming a crime victim in Fitzgerald.

7. Franklin Park

Street in Franklin Park in Detroit — Source: Google Street View/Screenshot, September 2023, Property crime and theft are the biggest issue in “The Eye”

Franklin Park has a population of just over 11,000 and crime rates that are 543% higher than the national average. With a 1 in 8 chance of becoming a crime victim, this neighborhood sees plenty of violence related to gangs and drugs.

The chance of falling victim to a violent crime in Franklin Park is about 1 in 21 – AreaVibes

The median income here is $29,235, Property Club reports, which is just another sign of the economic challenges residents face.

Overview & Safety Grade

According to CrimeGrade, the overall crime rate in Franklin Park is about 63.85 per 1,000 residents per year under typical conditions.
Franklin Park is rated a “D” in safety by CrimeGrade, i.e., worse than many U.S. neighborhoods, and ranks in the 16th percentile (i.e. safer than only ~16% of neighborhoods).
In terms of violent crime specifically, CrimeGrade gives it an F grade, with a violent crime rate of 13.31 per 1,000 residents annually.
In comparison to national averages, secondary sources (e.g. AreaVibes) report that Franklin Park’s crime rates are hundreds of percent above the national average; one source claims violent crime is 1,289 % higher than the U.S. average in this area.
Niche, a neighborhood rating aggregator, reports very high rates in Franklin Park:
• Assault: ~1,433.5 per 100,000 (vs national ~282.7)
• Murder: ~17 per 100,000 (vs ~6.1 national)
• Robbery: ~364.7 per 100,000 (vs ~135.5 national)

Violent Crime Breakdown

Within the violent crime total (13.31 per 1,000 residents), the breakdown is:
• Assault: ~11.03 per 1,000 residents
• Robbery: ~0.9549 per 1,000
• Rape / sexual assault: ~1.043 per 1,000
• Murder: ~0.2738 per 1,000
The probability of being a victim of violent crime in Franklin Park is estimated to vary by sub-area. In the northeast section, it is about 1 in 60; in the south part, 1 in 83.
In absolute counts, the northern parts of Franklin Park see the most violent incidents (~18 per year), while the southeastern parts see fewer (~7 annually).

Property & Total Crime

According to HomeSnacks’s estimation, in a recent year there were ~1,285 total crimes in Franklin Park.
They compute:
• Overall crime rate: ~11,864 per 100,000 people
• Violent crime rate: ~5,502 per 100,000
• Property crime rate: ~6,362 per 100,000
In their estimate, crime in Franklin Park is about 410.46 % above the national average.

6. Greensbriar

@googletheworld Ep 27 | Abandoned | Two homes in Greensbriar eventually are abandoned and demolished with no traces left except the driveway. #abandoned #abandonedhouse #abandonedplaces #abandonedtiktok #detroit #detroitmi #detroitmichigan #Michigan #xplr #explore #explorepage #retokfornature #inequality #urbanhell #urbandecay #suburbanhellscape #fyp #fypシ #fypage #googleearth #googlemaps #googlestreetview #googletheworld #paratii #paratitiktok ♬ Detroit – Disasterpeace

Greensbriar may be one of Detroit’s smaller neighborhoods, with only about 2,500 people, but it’s one of the most dangerous.

The crime rate here is 262% higher than the national average. In a neighborhood where you have a 1 in 7 chance of being a crime victim, that small size doesn’t feel comforting.

Residents in this neighborhood have a 1 in 14 chance of becoming victims of any type of crime.

Gang violence and drug activity are rampant, and economic hardship is everywhere. The median income here is just over $31,000, and home prices hover around $31,200.

It’s not enough to make life feel secure or prosperous. For the people living in Greensbriar, day-to-day survival often feels like the primary goal.

Overview & relative danger ranking

According to AreaVibes, crime rates in Greensbriar are 262% higher than the national average, and violent crimes are 586% higher than the national average.
Homesnacks reports that Greensbriar’s overall crime rate is ≈ 14,981 per 100,000 people, with a violent crime rate of ≈ 7,057 per 100,000 and property crime ≈ 7,924 per 100,000. They say that overall crime is 544.57% above the national average.
On the flip side, a user comment on Trulia claims the neighborhood is “pretty much quiet” and that the crime is minimal:

“neighbours mind their property… there is little crime I hardly hear about any crime here.”
That might reflect localized experiences or perception, possibly in a more stable sub-area within Greensbriar.

Thus, while some subjective accounts downplay crime, the quantitative rankings place Greensbriar among Detroit’s higher-crime neighborhoods.

Violent vs Property Crime

From the Homesnacks source:

Crime type	Estimated rate per 100,000	Comments
Total crime	≈ 14,981 / 100,000	Very high relative to national averages
Violent crime	≈ 7,057 / 100,000	Includes assault, robbery, etc.
Property crime	≈ 7,924 / 100,000	Includes burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft

Trends, Dynamics, and Broader Context

Citywide in Detroit, crime (especially violent and property crime) has seen recent declines. The 2024 Year End Stats provided by the City of Detroit report that violent crime dropped ~7% and property crime dropped ~3%.
A 2025 AP News article confirms that Detroit saw a substantial drop in homicides in 2024 vs 2023, the lowest in decade, along with declines in nonfatal shootings, robberies, and assaults.
These downward trends potentially benefit all neighborhoods, including Greensbriar; however, hyperlocal patterns (i.e. in specific blocks or subregions) may deviate from city averages.

5. Warrendale

Streets of Warrendale neighborhood in Detroit — Source: YouTube/Screenshot, Warrendale faces daily property crimes

Warrendale, with a population of 17,200, is another neighborhood where crime is a daily concern. With a total crime of 14,008 per 100,000 (as per AreaVibes statistics), residents here face a 1 in 8 chance of becoming victims.

It’s not just the crime that’s troubling; it’s the unemployment and lack of opportunities that keep many people stuck.

Assault is the most prevalent form of violent crime in this neighborhood, with a rate of 11.24 per 1,000 residents. – Crime Grade

Warrendale’s homes are some of the most affordable in the city, with a median price of just $17,650. But even in an affordable area, the poverty and danger can be overwhelming. Many residents are simply trying to survive day to day, with limited options for escape.

Total Crime & Relative Danger

According to Homesnacks, in a recent year there were 2,567 total crimes in Warrendale.
That source estimates a crime rate of ~12,432 per 100,000 people in Warrendale (i.e. ~12.4 % annually), far above national averages.
The same source splits that into violent crime ~5,599 / 100 k and property crime ~6,833 / 100 k.
AreaVibes reports that Warrendale crime is ~384 % higher than the US average, and violent crime ~1,044 % higher.
CrimeGrade gives a “C−” safety grade for Warrendale: crime rate ~48.05 per 1,000 residents in a “typical year.”
AreaVibes also suggests that in Warrendale, there is a 1 in 10 chance of being a victim of crime.

Violent Crime & Murder

The murder rate is estimated at 0.2325 per 1,000 residents in a “typical year” (≈ 23.25 per 100,000) by CrimeGrade.
This corresponds to a chance of murder around 1 in 3,653 in some parts (northwest) to 1 in 5,491 in safer zones (southwest) within the neighborhood.
Local reporting: between January 2018 and the mid-2019 period, there were 11 homicides in Warrendale, Detroit News reported.

Property Crime, Theft, Vandalism

CrimeGrade estimates the property crime rate ~23.27 per 1,000 residents (≈ 23.3 / 1,000) in a typical year.
In terms of raw numbers, the neighborhood is reported to average annually (2017–2021) ~1,548 property crimes and ~383 motor vehicle thefts (in block groups). Augurisk classifies the area’s property crime risk as “severe.”
Vandalism also shows up in those same block-group estimates (~383 acts per year) in that period.

4. Fishkorn

Fishcorn neighbordhood in Detroit — Source: Google Street View/Screenshot, September 2023, Fishkorn is very affordable for living, and crime is the biggest reason

Fishkorn is infamous for its violent crime, but what’s more alarming is the number of pedestrian accidents.

Statistics show that this neighborhood, with its crime rate of 12,451 per 100,000 people, has a dangerous mix of poor city planning and high traffic. Walking the streets here can be a real hazard.

Fishkorn residents have a 1 in 8 chance of becoming a victim of any crime, with violent crime being particularly concentrated in the central and northwest areas. – AreaVibes

With homes priced around $22,662, it’s one of the more affordable places in Detroit, but that affordability comes at a steep cost.

People living in Fishkorn face a 1 in 9 chance of being a crime victim. The incidents range from robberies to shootings, making it a tough place to feel safe, let alone thrive.