The most dangerous cities in the United States of America in 2024 on this list are actually wonderful cities. Truth be told, there is no city in the world today that is 100% safe. Being on the list does not mean you should not consider living in these cities.
You may find this article helpful if you are planning to move to these cities or you are planning to relocate to the US. At the end of this article, you will find some safety tips that are helpful wherever you are in the world.
Most of the crimes reported from these cities listed here happened majorly because individuals involved in disputes are unable to handle them well. The use of illegal guns and drugs also contributed to the high crime rate.
The violent crimes mentioned here are reported to the police and these include, murder, robbery, rape, and assaults. The statics detail here is from the FBI’s Crime report in the United States. The population as well is from the US Bureau of the census.
The 2023 list is from 2021 statics because it is the latest data at the time of compilation of this article. FBI usually releases data ten months after the end of each year’s calendar. For instance, the 2022 data will be released in September 2023.
Based on deep research, this is the list of the top 15 most dangerous cities in America 2024, they are,
- Monroe, Louisiana
- Memphis city, Tennessee
- Saginaw, Michigan
- Detroit City, Michigan
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Alexandria, Louisiana
- Pine Bluff, Arkansas
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Albany, Georgia
- South Bend, Indiana
And five more cities, with each city’s fascinating facts, keep reading!
1. Monroe, Louisiana - Most Dangerous City in United States of America
Population: 47,702
Total Number of crimes: 4,310
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 29.41
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 3.4%
Monroe city is situated in northeastern Louisiana, US opposite to the West Monroe, on the Ouachita River. The Ouachita River is among the world's most beautiful rivers. The city was founded by some group of French pioneers in 1785.
The city was named after James Monroe in 1819; he was the first to ascend the river with the first steamboat. However, there were 9 murder cases, 628 assaults, 39 rape cases, and 171 robberies in 2021. For this, it is the most dangerous city in the USA in 2024.
2. Memphis city, Tennessee
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| Image credit: Joshua J. Cotten/Unsplash |
Population: 633,104
Total Number of crimes: 51,856
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 24.2
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 2.44%
Memphis is located in the southwestern part of the State, on the Mississippi River. The city was founded by John Overton, James Winchester, and Andrew Jackson in 1819. Memphis city is known for its education and its extensive medical facilities.
There are art galleries and museums throughout the city as well. As one of the most dangerous cities in America, there were 190 murder cases, 9,282 assaults, 470 rape, and 2,433 robberies that were reported.
3. Saginaw, Michigan
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| Image credit: Michael Anthony / Pixabay |
Population: 44,202
Total Number of crimes: 1,796
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 23.8
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 2.38%
This time, this city pass Detroit as being the most dangerous city in America right now in 2024. Law enforcement are attributing this increase in violent crime rate to shortages of police staff and the rise in defund-the-police movements.
Sauks is the name given to the Native Americans, who are the first to settle down in this city. It is a great city that likes to invent things, yet living there might be risky.
Related article
The Top 10 Most Dangerous Places In The World (Natural and Beautiful)
4. Detroit City, Michigan
Population: 639,111
Total Number of crimes: 35,688
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 22.6
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 2.27%
Detroit is situated on the Detroit River, opposite Windsor Ontario, Canada. It is the United States' 23rd most populous city. The city covers an area of 370 square kilometers. From 2018 to 2019, violent crime in Detroit dropped by 3%. Even at that, the city is the first on the list of most dangerous cities.
You may have been searching for an answer to this question, what is the most dangerous city in the United States? It is Detroit city, statics shows it is one of the most dangerous cities in the United States in 2024.
According to police Chief James Craig, he said the use of more illegal guns and disputes between people who cannot control themselves. These are the two factors that badly contribute to the high violent crime rates in Detroit.
Most of the reports of crimes are arguments base plus a lot of stress related to COVID 19. A total number of 276 murders was reported. Rape cases were 964, robbery was 2,347 and 9,501 assaults happened.
5. St. Louis, Missouri
Population: 301,578
Total Number of crimes: 23,416
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 20.0
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 2.0%
The city is named after King Louis IX in 1764. It is the city where 7-Up was invented and it is the first city to host the Olympics. The city is known for Provel cheese, gooey butter cake, and toasted ravioli.
In the city, there are an art museum, zoo, science center, and history museum. However, about 194 murders, 265 rapes, 3,859 assaults, and 1,475 robberies were reported. The rate of unemployment in the city is just 6.3%.
6. Alexandria, Louisiana
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| Image credit: Ken Lund/Wikimedia commons |
Population: 45,275
Total Number of crimes: 4,167
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 18.1
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 1.89%
Alexandria is at the geographical center of Louisiana. The city is opposite Pineville along the Red River. The city engaged in the American Civil war which causes many damages to the city. With the exploitation of the dense hardwood forests and the railroad, the city was restored.
The city was officially announced as a city in 1882. Moreover, there were no murder cases that were reported but 232 cars were stolen, 892 burglars happens, and 3,056 theft.
See also:
7. Pine Bluff city, Arkansas
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| Image credit: Roland Klose/Wikimedia commons |
Population: 41,253
Total Number of crimes: 2,736
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 18.1
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 1.82%
The city is named after its forest of giant pines in 1832. It is a city with flat topography that is situated in the southeast part of Arkansas Delta states. It is located on a high bluff.
The basics of its economy come from lumber, cotton, poultry processing, paper, and soya beans. Nevertheless, there are 23 people that were murder, 23 rape cases, 96 robberies cases, and 502 assaults that were reported.
8. Little Rock city, Arkansas
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Population: 202,591
Total Number of crimes: 13,381
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 18.1
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 1.82%
Little Rock city was surveyed in 1820 and it is the Arkansas state capital. The city was named after two conspicuous rock formations at the bank of the Arkansas River, where the city is situated. It was a French explorer Bernard de la Harpe that saw those rocks.
He gave the 2 rocks these names, La Grande Roche and La Petite Roche. The city has the brick-and-mortar purse museum which is the only one in the United States. In this city there were 38 murder cases, 209 rape cases, 2,379 assaults, and 392 robberies.
9. Albany, Georgia
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| Image credit: Khtexg98537 at English Wikipedia |
Population: 69,647
Total Number of crimes: 4,391
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 17.7
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 1.79%
This city is also known as Artesian City. It is a small town with big city luxury feel. In the past year, this city experience surge in crime rate.
The surge is from the increase rate in homicide and aggravated assaults cases. Now, it is among the top most dangerious citues in the United States of America in 2024.
10. South Bend, Indiana
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| Image credit: Construction Equipment Guide |
Population: 103,453
Total Number of crimes: 5,522
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 17.1
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 1.69%
It is a city recognized for the adjacent University of Notre Dame, with its gold-domed, as the major structure.
Aggravated assaults and shooting increase in the previous year even though there is decrease in property crimes like burglary and larceny. However, there have been lots and increase in reports about shooting and homicides.
Domestic abuse seams to increase in this city. It is speculated b some national experts that decrease in trust and confidience in police also lead to increase in violent.
11. Cleveland, Ohio
Population: 372,624
Total Number of crimes: 21,729
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 16. 9
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 1.69%
Moses Cleaveland is a surveyor that founded Cleveland in 1796 and was named after him. The first indoor shopping mall in the US was opened in 1890. The first city to experience electricity is Cleveland in 1879.
In 1898, the city has the first automobile sale in the United States. And it is in the city that the modern-day golf ball was invented. The total number of reported cases of murder is 92, rape cases are 479, robberies are 1,901 and assault is 3,328.
See also:
12. Wilmington, Delaware
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| Image credit: Tim Kiser (User: Malepheasant)/Wikimedia Commons |
Population: 70,898
Total Number of crimes: 4,224
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 16.5
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 1.67%
The city is located in a flat coastal plain to the Southwestern part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wilmington was colonized by Swedish, Dutch, and then the British from 1638 to 1664.
Then in 1739, they were granted a borough charter, after which the king of Britain changes the name from Willington to Wilmington.
In 1832, Wilmington officially became a city. Wilmington is among the dangerous cities in the US from data. There are 25 murder cases reported, 23 rape cases, 343 robberies, and 723 assaults.
13. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Population: 577,222
Total Number of crimes: 26,101
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 16.48
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 1.64%
The use of gun in this city is out of control, as many are victims of gun violence, which bring this city to the list of the most dangerous city in the U.S. Many of thd reporyed homicides cases are caused by gunfire.
It is the fourth city with highest homicide rate in the country. This 2022, alone there have report of 133 homicides rate. There are reports of drug deaths as well.
14. Camden, New Jersey
Population: 71,791
Total Number of crimes: 2,758
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 16.5
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 1.64%
Camden city is located on the Delaware River, in Camden County, New Jersey, US. The city is named after the first Earl Camden, Charles Pratt, famous because of his opposition to British taxation.
During World War II, the city is the world’s biggest shipyards. Still, as one of the dangerous cities in the United States, 25 people were murdered, 67 rapes happened, 302 robberies and 767 assaults were reported.
15. Kansas City city, Missouri
Population: 508,090
Total Number of crimes: 28,706
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 15.6
Percentage of being a victim of violent crimes: 1.56%
Kansas City city is located at the confluence of the Kansas River on the Missouri River, the Western part of Missouri. Kansas City is the most US city with the most barbeque restaurants per capita, more than 100 barbecues.
The city is the marketing and shipping center for agricultural products like soya beans, wheat, corn, and dairy products. There were reports of 150 murders, 1,444 robberies, 347 rape cases, and 5,162 assaults.
These other cities mentioned below have been on this list previously, but they are no more presently among the top 15 dangerous cities in the United States, please check them too.
Baltimore City, Maryland
Population: 593,490
Number of crimes: 11,136
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 18.76
Percentage of being a victim: 1.89%
Baltimore city is situated northeast of Washington, D.C. Baltimore was founded in 1729 and was named after the seat of the Calvert family (Irish barony of Baltimore). It is the largest city in the state of Maryland.
Baltimore is known for its delicious foods like crabs cake with Old Bay seasoning, Captain Crunch French toast, and great cupcakes. Murder cases were 348, 326 rapes cases, 5,586 assaults and 4, 876 robberies.
See also:
City of Danville, Illinois
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| Front of the Vermilion County Courthouse, downtown Danville, Illinois, U. S. Image credit: Nyttend/Wikimedia commons |
Population: 30,479
Number of crimes: 536
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 17.59
Percentage of being a victim: 1.79%
Danville city is situated in eastern Illinois, near the Indiana border. Potawatomi, Kickapoo, and Miami Indians are the early residents of the area.
The main source of the city’s economy is agricultural produce, clay, and coal mining. The cost of living is 32% lower than in other US cities. Although in 2019, there was no murder case reported, 341 burglaries cases, 957 robberies, and 72 stolen cars were reported.
Scranton city, Pennsylvania
Population: 76,553
Number of crimes: 1,206
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 15.73
Percentage of being a victim: 1.59%
Scranton city is situated in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, in Lackawanna County. It was founded in 1886. The city is known as the electric city because, in 1886, the electric streetcar system was working continuously.
And that was the very first in the country then. No murder case was reported, rape cases were 46, robberies were 66 and assault was 1,094.
Springfield, Missouri
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| Hammon's Tower (Nighttime view), Springfield, U.S. Image credit: Semipaw |
Population: 167,882
Number of crimes: 2,572
Crime rate per 1000 residents: 15.32
Percentage of being a victim: 1.54%
The city is also referred to as "The Cultural Center of the Ozarks". It is situated in the Missouri southwestern part. The city is also referred to as "The Battle of Wilson's Creek," due to their major Civil War engagement in 1861.
Today, it is a city with world-class health care, it is a city with cultural and entertainment options that you can enjoy as well as great schools. On the other hand, 11 murder cases, 356 rapes, 319 robberies, and 1,886 assaults were reported.
Safety tips
1. Familiarise yourself with the new city.
2. Be acquainted with your new neighbors.
3. Do not walk alone in isolated areas, walk in well-populated areas.
4. Always walk with confidence and physically distance yourself from other people, so that they cannot touch or grab you.
5. If someone tries to grab you or act aggressively towards you, you should yell and call for help.
6. Do not display your expensive belongings, for instance, do not count your cash in public and do not display your expensive gadgets.
7. Though prevention is the best defense, you can always have pepper spray with you in case you find yourself in a situation where escaping might be hard.
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