A recent study has listed the most dangerous, crime-ridden states in America. Sadly, violent crime is rising in urban areas, driven by increasing living costs, a polarized society, and a dysfunctional judicial system.
Many people are increasingly worried about the widespread rise in carjacking, burglary, and street robbery. While the average violent crime rate in the U.S. is around 3.8 crimes per 1,000 people, the cities on this list have up to ten times higher rates! Here are 12 of the most dangerous American cities right now based on crime statistics from a recent Neighborhood Scout study.
1. Bessemer, Alabama
Sitting in the unenviable position of the most dangerous city in America is Bessemer, Alabama, located just outside Birmingham. With 33.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, the city is almost nine times more dangerous than the U.S. average. There is no place worse for criminal activity per capita than Bessemer, whose residents have a 1 in 30 chance of becoming a victim.
2. Mobile, Alabama
It is not looking good for the Heart of Dixie these days. A shocking 27.9 violent crimes per 1,000 citizens means residents of Mobile, Alabama, have a one-in-thirty-five chance of becoming property or violent crime victims.
3. Monroe, Lousiana
A long-time fixture in the ‘most dangerous cities’ list is Monroe, Louisiana with 26.3 violent crimes per 1,000 people. Even with a low population of 100,000 people, dozens of crimes are reported daily. Anybody visiting the city must be careful, especially when parking one’s car at night.
4. Saginaw, Michigan
In 2022, Saginaw received a $350,000 federal grant to fight its violent gang and gun crime, which reportedly lowered the shooting rate by 65%. However, the city located near Flint in Michigan’s upper peninsula still sits fourth in the notorious cities list with 25.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.
5. Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is famous for its musical roots, Elvis Presley’s birthplace, and high-octane nightlife. However, those visiting must take precautions when going out at night, as the violent crime rate is 25.1 crimes per 1,000 residents.
6. Detroit, Michigan
Since filing for bankruptcy in 2013, Detroit’s fiscal story has been successful, earning the city awards for its monetary comeback. However, Motor City still struggles with a violent crime rate six times the national average with 1 in 43 people at risk of being a victim.
7. St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is famous for some esteemed alumni: Maya Angelou, Josephine Baker, and T.S. Eliot all frequented the Gateway City. However, St. Louis now has the highest murder rate in America, and the overall violent crime rate is 23 per 1,000 people. Homelessness and substance abuse are the culprits for such shocking crime figures — 60% above national levels.
8. Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico’s most populous city has vast problems with substance abuse and acute street poverty. It’s no wonder it provides the backdrop for the popular TV series, Breaking Bad. Although violent crime has been falling lately, street muggings, carjackings, and scams are still rife. Violent crimes amount to 13.9 incidents per 100,000 residents.
9. Baltimore, Maryland
In Season Three of The Wire, police chiefs cede a run-down part of the city as a decriminalized drug zone. By sweeping the problem away from residential areas, the idea is to free up police resources to deal with violent crimes. This scene reflects reality in Baltimore, which in 2022 had its worst homicide rate on record — 179 in the first two quarters alone.
10. Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is called “Forest City” and seems the perfect semi-urban place to raise a family, but this could be a mistake. Rockford residents have twice as much chance of mugging as most cities in America — the city’s mugging occurrences are twice the national average.
11. Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria’s crime rate is 91.83 per 1,000 residents, making it one of the worst southern cities, with violent crimes reaching 18.8 per 1,000 residents. The downtown metro area experiences the worst crime rate, with deadly violence becoming rampant from 2020 onwards.
12. Little Rock, Arkansas
I remember reading about Little Rock some years ago when it was officially the most dangerous city. Such an innocent-sounding name and a beautiful landscape on the Arkansas River hardly denote the right location for a criminal hotbed. Burglaries and car theft comprise most of Little Rock’s 73.31 crimes per 1,000 residents, but violent crime is still high at 20.2 per 1,000 residents.
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Source: Neighborhood Scout
