13 Most Dangerous Cities In America (2024) – Can You Guess The Full List?

According to Propertyclub, Crime rates, both violent and property-related, are on the rise in various cities throughout the United States. As we delve into the year 2024, alarming trends point to the emergence of the most perilous urban areas in America, notably Memphis, St. Louis, and Little Rock. This article aims to shed light on the thirteen cities exhibiting the highest levels of violent crime across the country.

Top 13 Most Dangerous Cities in America (2024)

1. 1. Memphis, Tennessee
   2. St. Louis, Missouri
   3. Little Rock, Arkansas
   4. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
   5. Oakland, California
   6. Albuquerque, New Mexico
   7. Baltimore, Maryland
   8. Cleveland, Ohio
   9. New Orleans, Louisiana 
   10. Detroit, Michigan
   11. Lubbock, Texas
   12. Stockton, California
   13. Chicago, Illinois

1. Memphis, Tennessee 

Memphis, Tennessee holds the title of the most dangerous city in America. With a population of 628,127, Memphis experiences an overall crime rate that surpasses the national average by 237%. Shockingly, there are 7,913 crimes per 100,000 people, with a notably high rate of violent crimes. In 2022 alone, there were 15,318 reported incidents of violent crime in Memphis, including 289 cases of murder, 2,134 instances of robbery, and 12,484 assaults. The violent crime rate in Memphis stands at a staggering 652% higher than the national average, leaving residents with a 1 in 40 chance of becoming a victim of such crimes.

2. St. Louis, Missouri 

St. Louis, Missouri, stands out as one of the most dangerous cities in America due to its alarming crime rate. With a population of 239,210, St. Louis experiences a crime rate that is 234% higher than the national average. Shockingly, there have been 7,847 reported crimes per 100,000 people, consisting of 6,112 violent crimes and 17,396 property crimes in the year 2023 alone. Among the violent crimes, there were 264 incidents of murder, 1,246 incidents of robbery, and 4,280 incidents of assault. In essence, the residents of St. Louis face a 1 in 50 chance of falling victim to a violent crime.

3. Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock, the largest city in Arkansas, is unfortunately known for its high crime rates. With a population of 202,591 residents, the city has one of the highest violent crime rates in the United States. In fact, the crime rate in Little Rock is 209% higher than the national average, with a staggering 7,182 crimes per 100,000 residents. The city’s violent crime rate is particularly alarming, standing at 1,833 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is nearly 400% higher than the country’s average.

In 2022, there were 79 reported murders in Little Rock, making the murder rate 144% higher than the national average. This paints a disturbing picture of the city’s safety. Additionally, the property crime rate in Little Rock is also a cause for concern, with 5,349 crimes per 100,000 residents. This figure is 174% higher than the rest of the United States, indicating a significant risk of property-related offenses in the area.

4. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, stands out as one of the most perilous cities in the United States. Its population of 227,470 makes it the second-largest city in Louisiana, trailing only New Orleans. Astonishingly, the crime rate in Baton Rouge surpasses the national average by a staggering 196%, reaching 6,880 incidents per 100,000 residents. When it comes to violent crime, the city is 178% more dangerous than the average American city, with a rate of 1,028 crimes per 100,000 residents. Notably, Baton Rouge’s murder rate exceeds the national average by 128%, standing at 29.1 homicides per 100,000 people. Additionally, the city’s property crime rate is nearly 200% higher than the national average, with 5,852 crimes per 100,000 residents.

5. Oakland, California 

Located east of San Francisco, Oakland is consistently ranked as one of California’s and the country’s most dangerous cities. With a population of 433,823, Oakland’s crime rate stands at 6,459 per 100,000, making it 175% higher than the national average and 150% higher than California. In 2022, the city witnessed 5,714 violent incidents, which included 103 murders, 2,515 robberies, and 2,730 assaults. Gang violence plays a significant role in contributing to the overall violence in Oakland.

6. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque is considered one of the worst cities in America due to its high crime rate. With a population of 562,599, the city has a crime rate of 6,356 per 100,000 people, which is 171% higher than the national average. In 2022 alone, there were 7,552 violent crimes reported, including 80 murders, 1,439 robberies, and 5,592 assaults. This means that the chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Albuquerque is 1 in 75. Property crime is also prevalent in the city, with 5,075 burglaries, 18,131 incidents of theft, and 4,965 incidents of vehicle theft reported in the same year.

7. Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore holds the dubious distinction of being one of the most perilous cities in America, housing around 567,498 residents. With a staggering violent crime rate of 6,170 per 100,000 individuals, the city witnessed a total of 9,498 instances of violent crime and 18,370 incidents of property crime in 2022 alone. This translates to an unsettling statistic, revealing that the chances of falling victim to crime in Baltimore stand at 1 in 17. Moreover, the city’s violent crime rate remains alarmingly high, as evidenced by the 177 homicides recorded in the first half of 2022. It is worth noting that a significant portion of the violence in Baltimore can be attributed to gang and drug-related activities.

8. Cleveland, OHIO

Cleveland, with a population of 372,623, is one of the most dangerous cities in the US. It holds the title of being the 2nd largest city in Ohio by population. The crime rate in Cleveland stands at 5,931 incidents per 100,000 residents, which exceeds the national average by 115%. When it comes to violent crimes, the city is even more alarming, with a rate of 1,614 crimes per 100,000 residents, making it 336% more dangerous than the rest of the country. The murder rate is particularly concerning, with 39.9 homicides per 100,000 residents, significantly higher than the national average of 6.3. Property crime is also a major issue in Cleveland, surpassing the national average by 121%, with 4,317 crimes per 100,000 residents.

9. New Orleans, Louisiana 

New Orleans, with a population of 376,971, emerges as one of the most perilous cities in the US. The city exhibits a staggering crime rate of 5,864 per 100,000 people, surpassing the national average by 150%. The year 2022 witnessed a total of 5,208 violent crimes, translating to a 1 in 74 chance of becoming a victim. Within this alarming figure, 201 murders, 1,106 robberies, and 3,200 assaults were reported. Property crimes, on the other hand, reached a staggering 18,098 incidents in 2020, with 2,039 cases of burglary and 3,526 vehicular assaults.

10. Detroit, Michigan 

Detroit has gained notoriety for its alarming crime rates, which solidify its position as one of the deadliest cities in America. With a population of 632,464, the city experiences a staggering 5,389 crimes per 100,000 residents. This crime rate surpasses the national average by a significant 130%. The likelihood of falling victim to a violent crime in Detroit stands at 1 in 44, with a total of 14,430 violent crimes reported in 2022. Among these incidents, there were 330 instances of murder, 1,850 cases of robbery, and 11,565 occurrences of assault. Furthermore, the city faced 21,258 property crimes throughout the same year.

11. Lubbock, Texas

Lubbock, Texas is recognized as one of the most dangerous cities in the US. With a population of 260,993, Lubbock experiences a crime rate that is 121% higher than the national average. In 2022, the city reported 5,263 crimes per 100,000 people, including 2,856 violent crimes. This includes 28 murders, 431 robberies, and 2,169 assaults. The likelihood of falling victim to a violent crime in Lubbock is 1 in 90. Additionally, there were 13,858 incidents of property crime.

12. Stockton, California 

Stockton, with a population of 322,120, is considered one of the most dangerous places to live in America. The city has a crime rate of 4,259 per 100,000 people, which is 82% higher than the national average. In 2022, the chances of becoming a victim of violent crime in Stockton were 1 in 79, with a total of 4,047 incidents. Among these incidents, there were 56 reported murders, 918 robberies, and 2,883 assaults.

13. Chicago, Illinois 

Chicago ranks among the most perilous cities in the United States, frequently grabbing headlines for its high levels of violence. With a population of 2,746,388, the city has a staggering crime rate of 3,926 per 100,000 individuals, surpassing the national average by 67%. The year 2020 witnessed a total of 26,620 violent crimes, including a shocking 774 murders. The prevalence of gang-related violence and clashes is a major contributing factor to the city’s alarming crime statistics, particularly in relation to the drug trade.

Chicago’s gang violence is primarily concentrated in certain neighborhoods where gangs have a strong presence. The South Side and West Side of the city are generally regarded as the most dangerous areas.

Most Dangerous Cities in America Methodology

In order to identify the most perilous cities in the United States, we examined various factors, such as the rates of violent crimes and overall crimes per capita, to gauge the level of danger in each city. Our analysis drew from the FBI’s latest crime report, as well as local and state data from 2021, 2022, and 2023.

We focused on larger cities with a minimum population of 200,000 for our evaluation of the worst cities in America. Despite their size, these cities have alarmingly high rates of violent crimes, including murders.