According to Propertyclub, Texas boasts a vast expanse of land, dotted with numerous towns and cities, and home to a richly diverse population. With a staggering population count of over 29 million and several thriving urban centers, the state’s livability and crime rates exhibit significant variations. Join us as we delve into the details of the ten most perilous cities in Texas for the year 2024.
10 Most Dangerous Cities in Texas (2024)
This Article Includes
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- Houston
- San Antonio
- Lubbock
- Beaumont
- Dallas
- Mesquite
- Austin
- Corpus Christi
- Waco
- Pasadena
1. Houston
Houston, with a population of 2.33 million, takes the title for the most dangerous city in Texas. The city’s violent crime rate stands at 2.67 per 1,000 residents, while property crime is at 10.70 per 1,000 residents. In 2022, a total of 6,241 violent crimes were reported, including 399 murders. Property crime is also a significant concern, with 95,926 incidents reported in the same year. This makes Houston the Texas city with the highest crime rate. The chances of falling victim to property crime are 1 in 23, while the chances of experiencing a violent crime are 1 in 78.
2. San Antonio
San Antonio, with a population of 1.59 million, ranks among the most dangerous cities in Texas. In 2022 alone, there were 2,918 reported incidents of violent crime, resulting in a violent crime rate of 1.83 incidents per 1,000 people. The city also faced property crime, with a rate of 10.83 incidents per 1,000 people. San Antonio saw a sharp increase in its homicide rate in 2016, reaching a 20-year high of 151 murders. Unfortunately, this trend continued, and in 2022, the city reached a 30-year high of 195 murders. The majority of these violent crimes can be attributed to gang activity, particularly drug-related or domestic incidents.
3. Lubbock
Lubbock, a city with a population of 327,424, is unfortunately known for its high crime rate, making it one of the worst cities in Texas in terms of safety. With a violent crime rate of 2.23 per 1,000 persons, Lubbock is 121% more dangerous than the national average. Over the past year, between 2021 and 2022, the city has experienced a 10% increase in crime. Notably, there has been a staggering 182% rise in homicides, with the number increasing from 11 to 31 between 2019 and 2020. As of 2022, the local homicide rate stands at 9.5 incidents per 100,000 people, surpassing the national rate of 6.5 per 100,000. Despite its safety concerns, Lubbock remains one of the more affordable cities to live in Texas.
4. Beaumont
Beaumont, a city in Texas, stands out as one of the most dangerous cities in the state. With a population of 112,556, Beaumont has a high rate of violent crime, measuring at 2.5 incidents per 1,000 people. This figure is a staggering 93% higher than the national average. Disturbingly, the overall rates of violent crime in the Beaumont metro area have seen an increase of nearly 12% from 2019 to 2022. The district attorney for Jefferson County, Texas, which encompasses both Beaumont and Port Arthur, has attributed this rise in crime to the pandemic-related delays in criminal trials. These delays have led to a backlog of cases, allowing violent offenders to remain on the streets for longer periods than they would have otherwise.
5. Dallas
Dallas, one of the largest cities in Texas with a population of 1,304,379, unfortunately, has a high crime rate. In fact, it is considered one of the worst cities in Texas for crime. The city’s crime rate stands at 4,291 per 100,000 people, making it 83% more dangerous than the national average. Shockingly, the chances of falling victim to a violent crime in Dallas are as high as 1 in 113. To put this into perspective, in 2020 alone, there were 11,534 violent crimes reported, which included 235 murders, 3,296 robberies, and 7,428 assaults. Gang activity often plays a significant role in the prevalence of shootings in Dallas.
6. Mesquite
Mesquite, a city in Texas, is known for its high crime rate, making it one of the most dangerous cities in the state. With a population of 147,691, Mesquite has a local crime rate that surpasses the national average by 69%. The year 2020 witnessed a total of 617 violent crimes, including 11 murders, 149 robberies, and 390 assaults. Property crimes in the same period amounted to 5,000 incidents, with 735 cases of burglary and 854 cases of vehicle theft. Theft and burglary were identified as the most common types of property crimes, with a significant number of incidents reported.
7. Austin
Austin, Texas is considered to be one of the most dangerous cities in the state. The city has seen a rise in the number of violent crimes reported, with cases increasing from 1,139 in 2021 to 1,282 in 2022. This translates to a violent crime rate of 1.24 per 1000 persons, while the property crime rate stands at 8.36 per 1000 people. When compared to the 30 largest cities in the United States, Austin ranks 28th in terms of its violent crime rate per 100,000 residents.
8. Corpus Christi
In 2021, Corpus Christi experienced a total of 686 reported cases of crime, which decreased to 619 cases in 2022. The rate of violent crime stood at 1.88 incidents per 1000 individuals, while property crime was reported at a rate of 7.52 incidents per 1000 people. Within the same period, there were a total of 2,824 incidents of violent crime, resulting in the chances of becoming a victim of such a crime being 1 in 133, which is 75% higher than the national average. The risk of falling victim to crime in Corpus Christi varies across different areas of the city, with the northern regions having a higher likelihood of 1 in 12, while the southwest part of the city has a lower chance of 1 in 67.
9. Waco
Waco, with its population of 138,486, ranks among the top 10 most dangerous cities in Texas. The city has a crime rate of 7.18 per 1000 people, making it 74% more dangerous than the national average. In 2023 alone, Waco witnessed 911 violent crimes, which included 14 murders, 143 robberies, and 671 assaults. Property crimes were also a concern, with over 5,000 incidents reported, including 882 burglaries and 422 cases of vehicle theft.
10. Pasadena
Pasadena, with a population of 135,732, has a crime rate of 2,428 per 100,000 people, making it 5% more dangerous than the US average. The residents of Pasadena face a 1 in 332 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. In the year 2020, the city reported 7 murders, 119 robberies, and 241 assaults. Additionally, there were 3,000 property crimes, including 678 burglaries, 2,038 thefts, and 361 incidents of motor vehicle theft in 2022.
