In 2020, the F.B.I received reports of almost 8.9 million violent crimes in the United States,
including rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and murder.
However, violence varies regionally, and the rate of violent crime in some states is now
equal to or even higher than it was in the early 1990s.
Join ViewCation as we rank states with the highest crime rates.
Tennessee It's no secret that Tennessee is one of the
most violent and lawless states in the United States.
Gangs are a problem in numerous areas of Knoxville, Memphis, and even some parts of Nashville,
so much so that many natives avoid these cities unless absolutely necessary.
Murfreesboro is the most secure city in Tennessee because it has a lower crime rate, superior
public services, and a less chaotic environment.
The most common violent crimes in this portion of North America are assault, murder, and
rape, all of which often occur in Tennessee.
There are roughly 200 rapes in Tennessee, as well as more than 4,500 theft offenses
reported each year.
In 2019, there were 37,000 violent crimes reported in Tennessee, making it one of the
states with the highest crime rates in the United States.
Although murder is uncommon in this state, assaults occur on a regular basis.
One's odds of being assaulted are close to one hundred percent.
It's possible to get attacked almost anywhere in Knoxville or Memphis.
Therefore, you should be extra vigilant while visiting these cities.
Nevada Nevada, a state in the western United States,
is notorious for its casino and entertainment industries but has a much higher crime rate
than the rest of the country, a fact that is kept secret from visitors.
While other cities in Nevada have higher rates of violent crime, Las Vegas has the most due
to its abundance of casinos.
Las Vegas is one of the most hazardous cities in the United States, and travelers should
exercise extreme caution there because of the prevalence of organized crime and scam
artists that rely on taking advantage of the city's many tourists.
Robberies and assaults are the two most common types of crime in this state.
Nevada has crime statistics of about 100 homicides, over 23,00 assaults, about 200 rapes, and
more than 33,000 theft crimes annually.
The state has one of the highest rates of property crime in the country, with over 202,000
offenses committed annually.
Texas Texas was once considered a safe haven for
cross-country visitors, but today it is home to numerous criminal gangs that are active
across the United States.
Texas is one of the most hazardous states in the United States, with particularly high
crime rates in major cities like Austin and Houston.
Areas in Texas, such as Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, have a high crime rate due
to the presence of criminal gangs such as crips and MS-13.
Unfortunately, only approximately 20% of assaults and robberies are ever reported to the police
and hence never make it into national crime statistics.
Although murder is relatively uncommon in this state, it does occur on an annual basis,
with an estimated 50-100 homicides contributing to the state's elevated crime rate.
The likelihood of being a victim of theft, robbery, or any other violent crime is quite
high, given the high crime rates in Texas and the rapidity with which most violent crimes
occur throughout this state.
Idaho There are numerous different criminal gangs
operating in Idaho, each contributing to the state's high crime rate.
These groups go by names like the Aryan Knights, Latin Kings, S.V.C., and many others.
Every major city in Idaho reports thousands of attacks annually, making it one of the
most hazardous states in the United States.
Criminal Activity in the Gem State There were over 37,000 violent crimes reported
in Idaho in 2019, making it one of the states with the highest crime rates in the country.
Its crime rate puts it back in the top five most dangerous states in America.
Every year, there are about 23,000 assaults in Idaho.
At around 110,000 thefts each year, this state is consistently ranked as one of the five
most dangerous in the country in terms of property crime rates.
New Mexico The high rates of crime in New Mexico, especially
murders, robberies, and other acts that result in bodily harm, have earned the state a negative
reputation.
Since criminal groups in New Mexico make the state dangerous even for criminals, it's best
to avoid going there unless you know the area well.
New Mexico has an annual murder rate of around 100%, which makes it one of the most deadly
states in the United States.
Despite the frequency with which rape occurs, only around 20% of incidents are ever reported
to local police.
This is so low that it is not even reflected in national crime statistics.
Given the alarming increase in property crimes like robberies and thefts in New Mexico, once
you set foot there, it is very likely that you will experience a robbery or theft.
Alaska Compared to other states, Alaska has a disproportionately
high number of complaints of violent crime, especially rape and assault.
Some of the most dangerous places in Alaska can be found in Kotzebue and Anchorage.
In 2018, Alaska had the highest rate of violent crime, at 885 per 100,000 residents, compared
to the national average of 380.6 per 100,000.
Aggravated assault, as is generally the case, accounts for the great bulk of violent crime
in the state.
Alaska also has a disproportionately high rate of rape.
With 161.6 rapes per 100,000 residents in 2018, Alaska had the highest rape rate of
any state.
Places with fewer options for making a living often have a greater concentration of crime.
With 6.6% of its workforce unemployed in 2018, Alaska had the highest yearly unemployment
rate of any state in the U.S.
Arkansas Studies have shown that Arkansas is one of
the least secure states in the country.
It is not exactly the safest state to live in, despite the fact that the violent crime
rate dropped by 3.6% between 2017 and 2018.
The state's violent crime rate of 543.6 per 100,000 people in 2018 was much higher than
the national rate of 380.6 per 100,000 people.
The concentration of violent crime in a few cities in Arkansas is a major contributor
to the state's overall violent crime rate.
For instance, in 2018, there were 1,609.2 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents
in Pine Bluff.
West Memphis, the state's deadliest city, had 1,970.2 homicides for every 100,000 residents.
It is home to the highest violent and property crime rate in the state.
The odds of becoming a victim of a violent crime in West Memphis are 1 in 40, and the
odds of becoming a victim of a property crime are 1 in 22.
Louisiana It's a well-known fact that the rate of crime
in Louisiana is far higher than the national average.
Louisiana had the third-highest crime rate among the 50 states in 2019.
The crime rate in Louisiana increased by 14% from the previous year, with the violent crime
rate rising by the same percentage while the property crime rate fell by 10%.
While it's true that Opelousas isn't the largest city in Louisiana, it does have the highest
rates of both violent crime and burglary.
In 2018, there were 25,049 reported violent crimes in Louisiana, making the state the
sixth most violent in the U.S.
The state of Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the U.S., with 942 adults behind bars
for every 100,000 residents aged 18 and up.
Like many other states, low-income neighborhoods with little employment and educational opportunities
often have higher crime rates.
Louisiana has a higher percentage of people living in poverty than the rest of the U.S.
(18.5 percent vs 13.1 percent).
Furthermore, in 2018, the unemployment rate in the state was 4.9%, which was much higher
than the national average of 3.9%.
Alabama With 519.6 violent crimes per 100,000 residents,
Alabama has one of the highest crime rates in the U.S. Alabama follows the national trend
of increased crime rates in economically depressed communities.
The poverty rate in this state, at 16.8%, is significantly higher than the national
average of 13.1%.
Anniston is the most dangerous city in Alabama; therefore, try to avoid going there if at
all possible.
The state has a disproportionately high rate of aggravated assault and homicide.
In 2018, Alabama had the sixth highest rates of both homicides (7.8) and aggravated assault
(387.6) per 100,000 residents, respectively.
Missouri Missouri's rate of violent crime is among
the highest in the U.S., at more than 500 per 100,000 residents.
Most of Missouri's crime occurs in its larger cities.
With 10,661 crimes reported for every 100,000 residents, Branson, Missouri, has the state's
highest crime rate.
St. Louis is widely regarded as the most dangerous city in Missouri, despite having a very low
crime rate (1,927 crimes per 100,000 population).
That's because theft and vandalism account for much of Branson's high rate, while murder
and robbery fuel St. Louis's high rate.
Murder is at an all-time high in the Show Me State of Missouri.
With 9.9 murders per 100,000 residents in 2018, the state ranked second only to Louisiana
for the highest murder rate in the country.
South Carolina Five states in the South are among the most
hazardous in the nation, with South Carolina being one of them.
In 2018, there were 24,825 violent crimes in the state, which equates to 488.3 per 100,000
residents.
That same year, it recorded a total of 392 murder cases.
Particularly high rates of aggravated assault and murder can be seen throughout the state.
Lake City is the most hazardous municipality in the state.
With 1,712 violent crimes per 100,000 population, this community has more than three times the
statewide average.
In spite of having the highest crime rate in the state at 12,424 per 100,000 population,
Myrtle Beach is probably safer than cities like Lake City, where more violent crimes
are committed.
In 2018, South Carolina had the sixth-highest murder rate (7.7 per 100,000) and the seventh-highest
severe assault rate (362.8 per 100,000) in the United States.
Arizona In 2018, Arizona had the highest rate of violent
crime in the U.S., with 474.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, compared to the national
average of 380.6.
The state's higher-than-average violent crime rate nonetheless indicates a dramatic improvement
over 2017, in which there were 505.7 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants.
The state saw a decrease in violent crime of 4.5% between 2017 and 2018, which is higher
than the national decrease of 3%.
Despite that, there were 177,638 property crime reports, which represented 85% of all
crimes reported in the state in 2019.
When compared to the national average of 2,110 property crimes per 100,000 population, Arizona
is rated as having the fourteenth highest rate out of the fifty states.
In terms of crime rates, Globe is the state's most hazardous city.
The city's rate of 1,830 violent crimes per 100,000 population is more than four times
the state average.
The state has the sixth-highest incarceration rate in the country, with 740 adults behind
bars for every 100,000 people in the state's adult population.
Maryland Comparatively to the rest of the country,
Maryland has a higher rate of violent crime at 19% of all crimes.
With a rate of 454 for every 100,000 residents, the state has one of the highest crime rates
in the country.
This compares to the national average of 379 for every 100,000 residents.
In 2019, police in Maryland received reports of 27,456 violent crimes.
Most of the state's violent crime takes place in the state's larger cities.
For instance, in 2018, Baltimore was the site of 39% of all violent offenses reported in
the state.
When compared to other American cities, Baltimore's 1,833.4 violent crime events per 100,000 residents
make it the most hazardous in the state and among the most dangerous in the country.
There you have it.
It's now time to hear from you.
Which state do you consider the most dangerous in the U.S.