Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S.

Last updated September 18, 2024

Cost of Local Crimes (per capita)
Top
Last
Cost of Local Crimes (per capita)
1.Birmingham, AL$11,392
2.New Orleans, LA$11,094
3.St. Louis, MO$11,055
4.Detroit, MI$9,281
5.Memphis, TN$9,056
6.Monroe, LA$8,902
7.Petersburg, VA$8,867
8.Saginaw, MI$8,856
9.Florence, SC$8,521
10.Baltimore, MD$8,160
11.Alexandria, LA$7,955
12.Pine Bluff, AR$7,935
13.Little Rock, AR$7,781
14.Cleveland, OH$7,397
15.Portsmouth, VA$7,253
16.Milwaukee, WI$7,029
17.Houma, LA$6,920
18.Kansas City, MO$6,398
19.Pueblo, CO$5,979
20.Oakland, CA$5,710
21.San Bernardino, CA$5,691
22.Rocky Mount, NC$5,647
23.Philadelphia, PA$5,570
24.Atlanta, GA$5,502
25.North Little Rock, AR$5,494
26.Fairbanks, AK$5,273
27.York, PA$5,177
28.Atlantic City, NJ$4,975
29.Riviera Beach, FL$4,932
30.Flint Township, MI$4,874

Introduction

When it comes to public safety within the U.S., a comprehensive understanding of the cost and prevalence of crime can shed light on the cities most impacted by violence and criminality. While violent crime rates have decreased significantly in the last 30 years, the threat remains far from eradicated, with certain areas bearing the brunt of this social issue.

  • Birmingham, AL tops the list with a crime cost per capita of $11.3K, closely followed by New Orleans, LA, and St. Louis, MO, which present crime costs of $11.1K and $11K, respectively.
  • The state of Louisiana is prominently featured with five of its cities (New Orleans, Monroe, Alexandria, Houma, Baton Rouge) listed among the regions with the highest cost of local crimes per capita — implying a pressing issue of criminal activities within the state.
  • Another pattern to note is that none of the traditional major hubs, like New York City or Los Angeles, appear on the list.
  • Detroit, MI, Memphis, TN, and Baltimore, MD, cities often correlated with high crime rates in the public consciousness, do feature within the top ten but, notably, they're succeeded by lesser-known urban environments such as Monroe, LA and Petersburg, VA.
  • Despite being ranked 20th, 'Oakland, CA' is the first representative from California, a state frequently stereotyped as crime-ridden.

By Region

Alexandria, LA

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#11

Atlanta, GA

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#24

Atlantic City, NJ

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#28

Baltimore, MD

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#10

Birmingham, AL

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#1

Cleveland, OH

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#14

Detroit, MI

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#4

Fairbanks, AK

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#26

Flint Township, MI

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#30

Florence, SC

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#9

Houma, LA

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#17

Kansas City, MO

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#18

Little Rock, AR

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#13

Memphis, TN

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#5

Milwaukee, WI

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#16

Monroe, LA

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#6

New Orleans, LA

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#2

North Little Rock, AR

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#25

Oakland, CA

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#20

Petersburg, VA

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#7

Philadelphia, PA

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#23

Pine Bluff, AR

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#12

Portsmouth, VA

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#15

Pueblo, CO

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#19

Riviera Beach, FL

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#29

Rocky Mount, NC

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#22

Saginaw, MI

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#8

San Bernardino, CA

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#21

St. Louis, MO

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#3

York, PA

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Ranked in U.S. Cities

#27

Table

Region ↕Cost of Local Crimes (per capita)↕
Alexandria, LA$7,955
Atlanta, GA$5,502
Atlantic City, NJ$4,975
Baltimore, MD$8,160
Birmingham, AL$11,392
Cleveland, OH$7,397
Detroit, MI$9,281
Fairbanks, AK$5,273
Flint Township, MI$4,874
Florence, SC$8,521
Houma, LA$6,920
Kansas City, MO$6,398
Little Rock, AR$7,781
Memphis, TN$9,056
Milwaukee, WI$7,029
Monroe, LA$8,902
New Orleans, LA$11,094
North Little Rock, AR$5,494
Oakland, CA$5,710
Petersburg, VA$8,867
Philadelphia, PA$5,570
Pine Bluff, AR$7,935
Portsmouth, VA$7,253
Pueblo, CO$5,979
Riviera Beach, FL$4,932
Rocky Mount, NC$5,647
Saginaw, MI$8,856
San Bernardino, CA$5,691
St. Louis, MO$11,055
York, PA$5,177
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