Editor’s Note: Access the latest FBI data (2017), which reveals the top 10 most dangerous cities for violence in each of the four U.S. regions.
Each year, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program releases crime rates in the United States.
One of the datasets the FBI releases observes crime rates in U.S. cities with populations over 100,000. The data addresses violent crimes and property crimes, independently. Property crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson, or instances where there is no force or threat of force against the victims.
We’ve taken the 2016 dataset and solved for the crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants, for each type of crime. According to the data collected, here are the most dangerous cities in America, with populations over 100,000 for both property and violent crimes.
Top 10 Most Dangerous U.S. Cities, by Violent Crimes:
1. St. Louis, Missouri
- Population: 317,095
- Total violent crime: 2,781
- Violent crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 877.02
2. Memphis, Tennessee
- Population: 657,936
- Total violent crime: 5,733
- Violent crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 971.36
3. Rockford, Illinois
- Population: 148,178
- Total violent crime: 1,238
- Violent crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 835.48
4. Baltimore, Maryland
- Population: 621,252
- Total violent crime: 5,176
- Violent crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 833.16
5. Detroit, Michigan
- Population: 673,225
- Total violent crime: 5,409
- Violent crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 803.45
6. Kansas City, Missouri
- Population: 473,373
- Total violent crime: 3,668
- Violent crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 774.86
7. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Population: 600,400
- Total violent crime: 4,427
- Violent crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 737.34
8. Little Rock, Arkansas
- Population: 198,647
- Total violent crime: 1,415
- Violent crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 712.32
9. Stockton, California
- Population: 304,890
- Total violent crime: 2,158
- Violent crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 707.80
10. Oakland, California
- Population: 419,481
- Total violent crime: 2,952
- Violent crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 703.73
Top 10 Most Dangerous U.S. Cities, by Property Crimes:
1. Springfield, Missouri
- Population: 166,860
- Total property crime: 6,283
- Property crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 3,765.43
2. Spokane, Washington
- Population: 212,698
- Total property crime: 8,000
- Property crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 3,761.20
3. Tacoma, Washington
- Population: 206,884
- Total property crime: 6,795
- Property crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 3,284.45
4. Little Rock, Arkansas
- Population: 198,647
- Total property crime: 6,476
- Property crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 3,260.05
5. Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Population: 559,721
- Total property crime: 17,888
- Property crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 3,195.88
6. Pueblo, Colorado
- Population: 108,810
- Total property crime: 3,439
- Property crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 3,160.56
7. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Population: 178,598
- Total property crime: 5,366
- Property crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 3,004.51
8. Tucson, Arizona
- Population: 529,675
- Total property crime: 15,773
- Property crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 2,977.86
9. Renton, Washington
- Population: 100,015
- Total property crime: 2,921
- Property crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 2,920.56
10. Kent, Washington
- Population: 127,259
- Total property crime: 3,669
- Property crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants: 2,883.10
Click to access the full data set, which includes 264 cities.
Editor’s Note: While Chicago had the highest murder rate in the 2016 data, the city does not make the top 10 most violent overall per 100,000 inhabitants, which is the measure for FBI’s 10 Most Dangerous Cities list in 2016. Newly released data for 2017 is being reviewed and an update of the list is imminent.