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NeighborhoodScout’s Most Dangerous Cities – 2020

Jan 2, 2020 | by: Dr. Andrew Schiller | Crime
NeighborhoodScout’s Most Dangerous Cities – 2020

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 murder, 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.

While Detroit, MI has been in the news as a possible comeback story it has also returned to this year’s list as the number one most dangerous city, moving up from the fifth spot last year.  Monroe, LA, a historic city incorporated in 1906, is getting increasingly safer.  Monroe gained attention in 2018 as being the number one most dangerous city.  This year the city moved down to the nineteenth spot with only 4 homicides, compared to 11 the prior year.

There are some newcomers to the list this year.  Scranton, PA, often referred to as “The Electric City”, and home to America’s favorite fictional paper company, Dunder Mifflin, made its debut on the most dangerous cities list at number 55.  Surprisingly, West Palm Beach, FL, a celebrity favorite and popular destination spot also landed on the list for the first time at number 81.

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. Detroit, MI

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 20.0
  • Your chance of being a victim: 1 in 50

2. Memphis, TN

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 19.5
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 51

3. Birmingham, AL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 19.3
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 52

4. Baltimore, MD

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 18.5
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 54

5. Flint, MI

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 18.3
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 55

6. St. Louis, MO

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 18.2
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 55

7. Danville, IL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 18.0
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 55

8. Saginaw, MI

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 16.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 60

9. Wilmington, DE

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 16.3
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 61

10. Camden, NJ

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 16.2
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 62

11. Pine Bluff, AR

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 16.0
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 62

12. Kansas City, MO

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 15.9
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 63

13. San Bernardino, CA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 15.3
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 65

14. Alexandria, LA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.6
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 68

15. Little Rock, AR

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.6
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 68

16. Cleveland, OH

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.5
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 69

17. Milwaukee, WI

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.3
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 70

18. Stockton, CA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.2
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 70

19. Monroe, LA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 71

20. Chester, PA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.0
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 71

21. Rockford, IL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 14.0
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 71

22. Myrtle Beach, SC

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.9
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 72

23. Albuquerque, NM

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 73

24. Shawnee, OK

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.6
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 73

25. Pontiac, MI

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.4
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 74

26. Kalamazoo, MI

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.3
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 75

27. Farmington, NM

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.2
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 76

28. Springfield, MO

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 76

29. Anchorage, AK

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 13.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 76

30. Oakland, CA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.9
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 77

31. Indianapolis, IN

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.9
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 77

32. East Point, GA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 78

33. Compton, CA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 82

34. Battle Creek, MI

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.0
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 83

35. East St. Louis, IL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 12.0
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 83

36. Canton, OH

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.9
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 83

37. Elkhart, IN

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.9
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 84

38. Newburgh, NY

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.9
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 84

39. Riviera Beach, FL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 84

40. Wichita, KS

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 84

41. Jackson, MI

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 84

42. New Orleans, LA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 85

43. Trenton, NJ

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 85

44. Jacksonville, AR

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 85

45. Nashville, TN

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.5
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 87

46. Lansing, MI

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 90

47. Daytona Beach, FL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 11.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 90

48. Albany, GA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.9
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 91

49. Harrisburg, PA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 93

50. Tulsa, OK

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 93

51. Beaumont, TX

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 93

52. Hartford, CT

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 93

53. Desert Hot Springs, CA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 93

54. Buffalo, NY

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.6
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 94

55. Scranton, PA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.5
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 94

56. Gadsden, AL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.5
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 95

57. Chattanooga, TN

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.5
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 95

58. Muskogee, OK

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.5
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 95

59. Houston, TX

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.4
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 96

60. South Bend, IN

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.4
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 96

61. York, PA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.2
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 98

62. Homestead, FL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 98

63. Fall River, MA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 99

64. Chicago, IL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 99

65. Lubbock, TX

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.0
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 99

66. Jackson, TN

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 10.0
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 100

67. Washington, DC

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.9
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 100

68. Pueblo, CO

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.9
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 101

69. Springfield, MA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.9
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 101

70. Dothan, AL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 102

71. North Las Vegas, NV

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103

72. Florence, SC

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103

73. Lake Worth, FL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103

74. Holyoke, MA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.6
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 103

75. Levenworth, KS

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.5
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 105

76. Richmond, CA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.5
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 105

77. South Salt Lake, UT

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.5
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 105

78. Miami Beach, FL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.5
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 105

79. Schenectady, NY

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.4
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 105

80. Baton Rouge, LA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.4
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 106

81. West Palm Beach, FL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.2
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 108

82. Sumter, SC

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.2
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 108

83. Dayton, OH

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 109

84. North Charlston, SC

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 109

85. Odessa, TX

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 109

86. Philadelphia, PA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 110

87. Lawton, OK

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 9.1
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 110

88. Brockton, MA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 113

89. Salisbury, MD

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 113

90. Modesto, CA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 113

91. Niagra Falls, NY

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 113

92. Kankakee, IL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.8
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 113

93. Chicago Heights, IL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 114

94. Oklahoma City, OK

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 114

95. Santa Monica, CA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.7
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 114

96. Akron, OH

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.6
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 116

97. Lauderdale Lakes, FL

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.6
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 116

98. Tacoma, WA

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.6
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 116

99. Albany, NY

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.6
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 116

100. Wheeling, WV

  • Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents): 8.6
  • Chance of being a victim: 1 in 116