Ranked: The 13 Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S.
People like to believe their favorite city or hometown is a safe place to live and work. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Sadly, crime is rampant in many areas. You have to be careful where you live, visit, or work. As of 2023, several cities have been identified as the most dangerous in the country.
If you live, work, or plan to travel in any of these cities be extra cautious. They may have their attributes, but the data doesn’t lie.
1. Memphis, Tennessee
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According to the Council on Criminal Justice (COCJ), as of 2023, Memphis is considered the most dangerous city in the country. Crime in the Southern metropolis has dramatically increased in recent years. A combination of poverty and poor education are believed to be factors in the rising rate of criminal activity in Memphis.
The drivers of the increasing number of crimes in Memphis include vehicle break-ins and thefts. Gun crimes have also increased because firearms have been stolen from vehicles. When a car becomes broken into or stolen outright, the guns end up in the hands of bad actors. Tragically, some children have fallen victim to gun violence.
2. Chattanooga, Tennessee
The city is famous for the Glenn Miller song “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” which is based on its famous railroad. Chattanooga has become infamous because it’s an unsafe place to be. The fourth largest city in the state is only second to Memphis when it comes to being a dangerous city.
According to an online annual report published by the Chattanooga Police, the 2023 rate of crime in the city is somewhat of a mixed bad. Overall crime is down, including burglaries, robberies, and aggravated assaults. Other serious offenses have gone up, including homicides, deadly shootings, and driving under the influence.
3. San Francisco, California
In the 1960s, San Francisco was the epicenter of the counterculture/hippie movement, with young people promoting peace and love and taking a stand against the Vietnam War. It was also the location of the Summer of Love in 1967. The atmosphere of positivity didn’t last, with public safety becoming one of the main concerns of people who work and live in the city.
During the three years before the global health crisis, crime in San Francisco had residents on edge. In 2023, improvements in public safety were implemented with the combined efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. In 2023, the number of overall offenses, property, and violent crimes dropped. A February 2024 report indicated that the trend continued through January 2024, but perceptions of public safety remain an issue.
4. Saint Louis, Missouri
From 2014 through 2019, St. Louis, Missouri had the highest murder rates in the United States. The rate of violent criminal offenses in the city had become so high, that in June 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice met with law enforcement and community groups to discuss strategies for combating the crime epidemic.
The belief was that if the different law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels of government combined resources, it would be more effective in combating crime. Business owners, local organizations, and community leaders would also play a major role in these crime-fighting efforts, known as the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.
5. Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee
Nashville, the state capital of Tennessee located in Davidson County, is known as the home of country music. It’s also the third Tennessee city and county on this list with a significant public safety issue. Property crimes like residential and business burglaries and automobile thefts have risen well into the first half of 2024.
While property crime rates continue to climb, there is some promising news when it comes to violent crimes such as robbery, aggravated assault, and homicide. Those particular offenses have gone down, although they still occur at higher rates than they have in the last nine years. It’s too high of a number that impacts so many people, but it’s headed in the right direction.
6. Little Rock, Arkansas
For history buffs, Little Rock, Arkansas is the home of the Little Rock Nine, who were nine brave teenagers who were the first to integrate Central High School. It’s also the home of the Clinton Presidential Center, named after former President Bill Clinton. The city also receives negative marks for its poor public safety record.
Residents of Little Rock provide anecdotal evidence of the frequency and casual nature of gun crimes, especially drive-by shootings in which innocent people are hurt. Most of the violent crimes are concentrated in the city’s urban areas. In contrast, the outlying suburban areas are more affected by property crimes like break-ins of cars and homes.
7. Denver, Colorado
The Mile High City has a lot going for it: it has several professional sports teams including the Broncos football team and the Nuggets basketball team, seven distinct arts districts, and stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. It also has a shockingly high crime rate that you wouldn’t expect from such a vibrant city.
The 2023 rate of violent crimes, like murder, robbery, and aggravated assault, experienced a slight drop from 2022. In general property crimes like auto theft, arson, and robbery also dropped simultaneously. The total number of other offenses, like other crimes against persons, and drug and alcohol-related crimes, saw an increase from 2022 to 2023.
8. Dallas, Texas
The third-largest city in Texas is a vital hub that appeals to businesses and people due to its tax-friendly status since the state doesn’t charge corporate or individual income taxes. It’s also a huge sports city with teams like the Mavericks and Cowboys calling it home. Yet these qualities can’t make up for its public safety deficits.
At the end of 2023, the general crime rate fell, but the number of homicides and auto thefts rose. By mid-2024, the numbers began to improve. Violent crime was down 17 percent, the number of aggravated assaults was reduced by 22 percent, and murders dropped 25%. The reduction in the crime rate is a good start, but more needs to be done to make Dallas safer.
9. Baltimore, Maryland
The city of Baltimore is recognized as much for violent crime as it is for its history. One of the more shocking crimes in recent history was the 2022 shooting death of a DoorDash driver. That same year, 333 people were homicide victims within the city, with almost 90% of those deaths due to firearms.
A recent report from the Baltimore police commissioner found that through mid-August 2024, the total number of criminal offenses like homicides and shootings, dropped compared to the same time in 2023. Despite this progress, the same report indicated that the number of juvenile arrests had increased during the same period in 2024.
10. Cincinnati, Ohio
As one of the state’s largest cities, a certain level of crime is to be expected. Law enforcement in Cincinnati is encountering an issue that other cities are grappling with: the rates of overall crime are falling, but juveniles are being arrested in greater numbers, which is a troubling development.
The total violent crime rate in 2023 is the lowest it has been since 2014. Violent crime includes but is not limited to homicide, aggravated assault, and robbery. The thefts of Hyundais and Kias, are leading to a spike in property crimes, including the stealing of firearms and other items from vehicles.
11. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis has been in the national spotlight since the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Since then, the crime statistics for the city have been something of a mixed bag. Despite persistent shortages of police officers over the last few years, the crime rate has been edging lower than before the global health crisis.
In the meantime, while homicides have dropped, there has been an increase in violent felonies like assaults, and property crimes like thefts from vehicles in some areas of the city. The number of carjackings has also fallen, attributed to additional efforts from the U.S. Attorney’s office tasked with addressing the problem.
12. Chicago, Illinois
The rate of violent crime, especially homicides and shootings, has been so bad that residents of the city call Chicago “Chiraq,” a combination of Chicago and Iraq. In 2022, there were 617 murders in the city, a reduction from the 804 homicides in 2021, but is still an incredible loss of life.
Other crimes increased during 2023, including robberies, which experienced a 23 percent jump, and thefts from cars, which went up 37 percent. As of August 8, 2024, 353 homicides were recorded in the city. Fortunately, law enforcement is making strides in taking guns off the street, having recovered over 12,400 illegal guns, getting them off the streets.
13. Charlotte, North Carolina
The Carolina Panthers pro football team and the NASCAR Hall of Fame are two attractions that bring visitors to the city. What’s worrisome to residents and visitors to Charlotte are the levels of violent and property crimes. Violent felonies like homicides and armed robberies decreased in 2023, but automobile thefts, property crimes, and thefts from cars went up 17 percent. For the most part, juveniles committed these offenses.
The dramatic increase in crimes committed by juvenile offenders plagues many metropolitan areas. In Charlotte, this is particularly a problem when it comes to the shootings of minors and shootings committed by youths under the age of 18. Shootings with a juvenile victim went up 18 percent, while shootings with a juvenile suspect were amplified 33 percent.
