How Safe Is Your City? Crime Hotspots in America's Largest Cities

Name: How Safe Is Your City? Crime Hotspots in America's Largest Cities
Item: How Safe Is Your City? Crime Hotspots in America's Largest Cities
Author: Andre Pardillo

By Andre Pardillo

Edited by Megan Hull

Updated: November 1, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

FBI data reveals that despite a 2% decrease in the national violent crime rate in 2022, property crimes went up during the same period. Notably, motor vehicle theft rates surged by over 10%. Incidents of larceny, which includes shoplifting, also saw a significant 7% increase.

To determine the most prevalent areas in the U.S. for specific crimes, MoneyGeek analyzed recent FBI crime data for 295 cities with populations over 100,000. We found that cities in the South and Midwest report some of the highest crime rates for violent crimes. Alternatively, Western cities experience the highest rates of property crimes, such as larceny, motor vehicle theft and burglary.

KEY FINDINGS:

Memphis, Tennessee, had the highest per capita rate of aggravated assault among medium to large cities in 2022, with 1,942 reported cases for every 100,000 people. Memphis also ranked in the worst five cities for robbery, larceny and motor vehicle theft.
The South and Midwest regions are home to four cities with the highest per capita robbery rates: Baltimore, Cleveland, Minneapolis and Memphis, Tennessee.
Salt Lake City had the highest larceny rate at 4,910 incidents per 100,000 residents, more than triple the national larceny rate of 1,402 incidents per capita.
Tacoma, Washington, had the highest motor vehicle theft rate at 2,694 incidents per capita, more than eight times higher than the national rate of 283.

Violent Crime Hotspots in Medium-to-Large Cities

The FBI defines violent crime as offenses involving force or threat of force. MoneyGeek’s analysis focused on the two most common types of violent crime: aggravated assault and robbery. Memphis, Tennessee, reported the highest per capita rate of aggravated assault, while Oakland, California, had the highest rate of robbery.

High Crime Rates for Robbery and Aggravated Assault in Southern and Midwestern Cities

The South and Midwest regions of the U.S. are home to the cities with the worst robbery and aggravated assault rates. Memphis, Tennessee, holds the highest rate of aggravated assault — with 1,942 cases for every 100,000 people — while Detroit records 1,642, placing it firmly as the second-worst. Notably, these cities are among the largest by population, ranking No.28 and 29 in the U.S. The worst five cities also include Little Rock, Arkansas; Birmingham, Alabama; and Rockford, Illinois, each with over 1,100 aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents.

Oakland, California, had the highest robbery rate, with 639 incidents per 100,000 residents. Baltimore follows closely with 556. Other cities with high robbery rates include Cleveland, Minneapolis and Memphis, Tennessee — all recording over 370 incidents per 100,000 residents. These five cities also rank within the top 60 for population size in the U.S.

Five Cities With the Highest Rates of Robbery and Aggravated Assault

Cities With the Most Aggravated Assault Offenses per 100,000 Residents

Memphis, TN: 1,942
Detroit, MI: 1,642
Little Rock, AR: 1,457
Birmingham, AL: 1,332
Rockford, IL: 1,194

Cities With the Most Robbery Offenses per 100,000 Residents

Oakland, CA: 639
Baltimore, MD: 556
Cleveland, OH: 426
Minneapolis, MN: 420
Memphis, TN: 372

Property Crime Hotspots Are Mostly in the West

The FBI categorizes burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft as property crimes. Incidents of theft involve taking money or property without using force or threatening the victim. Salt Lake City recorded the highest per capita rate for larceny; Tacoma, Washington, topped the list for vehicle theft, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, had the highest burglary rate. Of the 20 worst cities for property crime per capita, 14 are located in the West.

Cities With the Highest Larceny Rates per Capita

Among cities with the highest per capita larceny offenses, Salt Lake City led with 4,910 per 100,000 residents, followed closely by Tacoma, Washington, with 4,758. San Francisco, Memphis, Tennessee, and Spokane, Washington, were also in the top five — each with larceny offenses exceeding 4,000 reports per 100,000 residents.

Cities With the Highest per Capita Larceny Rates

	City	Larceny Offenses Per 100,000 Residents	Total Larceny Offenses
1.	Salt Lake City, UT	4,910	9,887
2.	Tacoma, WA	4,758	10,422
3.	San Francisco, CA	4,646	35,530
4.	Memphis, TN	4,454	27,837
5.	Spokane, WA	4,178	9,579

Worst Cities for Motor Vehicle Theft

With 2,694 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents and a total of 5,901 incidents, Tacoma, Washington, led the nation in vehicle theft rates. St. Louis ranked second with 2,550 thefts per 100,000 residents and 7,294 total incidents. Denver; Oakland, California; and Memphis, Tennessee, followed with rates above 1,747 thefts per 100,000 people.

Cities With the Highest per Capita Rates for Motor Vehicle Theft

	City	Motor Vehicle Theft Offenses Per 100,000 Residents	Total Motor Vehicle Theft Offenses
1.	Tacoma, WA	2,694	5,901
2.	St. Louis, MO	2,550	7,294
3.	Denver, CO	2,155	15,201
4.	Oakland, CA	1,797	7,697
5.	Memphis, TN	1,748	10,924

Burglary Hotspots in US Cities

The Western U.S. claims four out of the worst five cities for burglary, but the highest burglary rate was found in the South’s Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 1,414 incidents per 100,000 residents. Seattle followed with 1,201, while Pueblo, Colorado; Kent, Washington; and Las Cruces, New Mexico, each had rates exceeding 1,113 per 100,000 people.

Cities With the Highest Burglary Rates per Capita

	City	Burglary Offenses Per 100,000 Residents	Total Burglary Offenses
1.	Baton Rouge, LA	1,414	3,109
2.	Seattle, WA	1,201	8,765
3.	Pueblo, CO	1,186	1,336
4.	Kent, WA	1,161	1,545
5.	Las Cruces, NM	1,113	1,270

SECURING YOUR FINANCES AGAINST CRIME

In 2022, the per capita cost of crime in U.S. cities reached $2,221. This figure climbed to $3,325 in larger cities with populations over 300,000, as reported in MoneyGeek’s safest cities study. A high-quality homeowners insurance policy can help you replace your property in the event of a burglary.

For those on a tight budget, affordable home insurance options are available. Residents of high-crime areas may face higher insurance rates, so estimating your potential costs with a home insurance cost calculator can help you anticipate what you’ll pay for a policy. Additionally, consider affordable safe cities for stretching your income further.

Methodology

To uncover the worst crime hotspots in the U.S., MoneyGeek analyzed 2022 FBI crime data for 295 cities, focusing on the most common types of violent and property crimes. Our analysis specifically targeted robbery and aggravated assault for violent crimes and burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft for property crimes. We also took into account the population of each city to calculate crime rates per 100,000 residents, excluding those from the analysis that didn’t meet this population threshold.

Full Dataset

Our data shows the most dangerous cities in the U.S. for different crimes, identifying hotspots for specific subtypes of both violent and property crime. The cities with the highest crime rates per 100,000 people are highlighted.

The data that informed our story can be found below. Each statistic represents the number of incidents of that crime per 100,000 people.

City	Robbery	Aggravated Assault	Burglary	Larceny- Theft	Motor Vehicle Theft
Abilene, TX	66	312	356	1,481	158
Akron, OH	83	609	546	2,400	482
Albuquerque, NM	295	1,002	813	2,931	1,052
Alexandria, VA	68	109	103	1,629	220
Amarillo, TX	99	555	578	2,430	462
Amherst Town, NY	36	102	136	1,444	140
Anaheim, CA	110	616	491	1,756	522
Anchorage, AK	153	816	412	1,961	390
Ann Arbor, MI	32	234	215	1,379	123
Antioch, CA	139	435	378	1,273	560
Arlington, TX	70	420	261	1,947	316
Arvada, CO	47	182	356	2,013	663
Athens-Clarke County, GA	52	421	331	2,032	269
Atlanta, GA	143	632	371	2,711	666
Aurora, CO	211	777	464	2,030	1,735
Austin, TX	97	381	499	2,536	555
Bakersfield, CA	161	345	773	2,020	1,179
Baltimore, MD	556	901	584	2,093	600
Baton Rouge, LA	155	783	1,414	3,714	724
Beaumont, TX	232	738	876	2,681	326
Bellevue, WA	70	73	534	2,923	329
Bend, OR	26	95	161	1,268	157
Berkeley, CA	254	245	902	4,014	728
Billings, MT	122	720	572	3,065	680
Birmingham, AL	245	1,332	779	2,472	922
Boise, ID	19	149	119	973	111
Boston, MA	121	464	190	1,427	185
Boulder, CO	48	268	457	2,229	314
Bridgeport, CT	187	177	204	650	387
Brockton, MA	59	510	263	1,018	449
Broken Arrow, OK	10	112	226	1,196	188
Brownsville, TX	67	326	211	1,525	100
Buckeye, AZ	6	131	128	805	105
Buffalo, NY	193	479	480	2,178	552
Burbank, CA	80	209	269	2,170	285
Cambridge, MA	82	288	238	1,884	119
Carlsbad, CA	42	142	256	1,355	161
Carmel, IN	5	41	46	692	69
Carrollton, TX	37	135	203	1,298	160
Cary, NC	16	57	168	859	79
Cedar Rapids, IA	41	262	442	2,296	309
Centennial, CO	15	168	306	1,358	446
Chandler, AZ	26	119	170	1,481	157
Charleston, SC	48	286	150	1,409	330
Charlotte, NC	145	562	429	2,549	397
Chattanooga, TN	119	914	584	3,893	745
Chesapeake, VA	41	338	161	1,689	160
Chicago, IL	337	128	288	2,046	799
Chico, CA	59	437	219	1,184	259
Chula Vista, CA	106	230	187	732	358
Cincinnati, OH	208	526	610	2,487	653
Clarksville, TN	39	400	294	1,452	253
Clearwater, FL	51	269	210	1,583	107
Cleveland, OH	426	1,023	826	2,399	1,092
Clovis, CA	30	129	152	1,433	149
College Station, TX	13	117	206	1,566	153
Colorado Springs, CO	75	467	551	2,289	560
Columbia, MO	51	341	310	1,945	359
Columbia, SC	73	484	359	2,186	311
Columbus, GA	77	518	308	1,757	286
Columbus, OH	141	185	473	2,208	804
Concord, CA	144	467	418	1,926	456
Concord, NC	28	58	75	787	122
Corona, CA	65	126	396	1,602	404
Corpus Christi, TX	112	591	501	2,354	266
Costa Mesa, CA	127	402	492	2,717	348
Dallas, TX	166	562	528	2,245	1,040
Davenport, IA	97	505	656	2,348	477
Dayton, OH	189	809	977	2,258	1,050
Dearborn, MI	49	203	139	1,371	410
Denton, TX	29	179	292	1,803	287
Denver, CO	184	765	733	3,540	2,155
Detroit, MI	223	1,642	770	2,201	1,507
Downey, CA	178	244	258	1,480	913
Durham, NC	205	417	511	2,502	304
Edinburg, TX	56	211	218	1,913	82
Edison Township, NJ	38	118	178	1,366	147
El Cajon, CA	112	330	253	1,029	327
El Monte, CA	146	204	423	946	501
El Paso, TX	39	227	143	1,028	208
Elgin, IL	27	83	95	583	73
Elizabeth, NJ	170	272	224	1,810	518
Elk Grove, CA	40	149	146	1,060	106
Escondido, CA	97	219	277	1,134	384
Eugene, OR	75	230	458	2,518	439
Evansville, IN	60	566	565	2,809	393
Everett, WA	99	284	667	2,784	900
Fairfield, CA	150	283	300	1,800	446
Fargo, ND	91	409	842	2,769	537
Fayetteville, NC	116	802	621	2,575	261
Fishers, IN	7	54	38	652	60
Fontana, CA	85	166	209	793	284
Fort Collins, CO	27	259	245	2,079	283
Fort Wayne, IN	71	139	221	1,940	226
Fort Worth, TX	73	357	421	1,944	375
Fremont, CA	69	121	446	1,886	540
Fresno, CA	176	634	728	2,148	573
Frisco, TX	11	72	96	1,184	58
Fullerton, CA	107	228	533	1,706	415
Garden Grove, CA	87	189	384	1,463	345
Garland, TX	82	131	379	1,745	438
Gilbert, AZ	11	78	100	842	76
Glendale, AZ	80	395	378	2,421	441
Glendale, CA	69	72	258	1,349	219
Goodyear, AZ	26	131	260	1,464	136
Grand Prairie, TX	34	144	152	1,488	248
Grand Rapids, MI	136	739	278	1,980	748
Greeley, CO	86	435	343	1,903	916
Green Bay, WI	28	330	235	1,327	163
Greensboro, NC	156	624	556	2,817	412
Gresham, OR	118	258	401	1,514	1,030
Hampton, VA	62	161	197	2,439	269
Hartford, CT	106	414	289	1,673	516
Hayward, CA	154	162	321	1,552	1,028
Henderson, NV	72	200	292	1,359	268
Hesperia, CA	100	455	317	801	290
High Point, NC	95	419	459	1,959	273
Hillsboro, OR	59	179	299	1,953	315
Honolulu, HI	84	137	264	1,850	465
Houston, TX	306	767	656	3,164	762
Huntington Beach, CA	55	162	254	1,731	257
Huntsville, AL	28	240	280	1,073	153
Independence, MO	75	351	368	2,190	751
Indianapolis, IN	183	757	542	2,307	528
Inglewood, CA	285	311	303	1,525	1,071
Irvine, CA	13	49	267	1,119	93
Irving, TX	65	210	294	1,849	388
Jersey City, NJ	32	170	22	1,131	231
Joliet, IL	35	421	122	797	100
Jurupa Valley, CA	74	238	289	1,641	794
Kansas City, MO	220	1,155	567	2,952	1,196
Kent, WA	157	240	1,161	2,857	1,510
Killeen, TX	53	427	351	1,133	263
Knoxville, TN	92	656	449	2,968	490
Lafayette, LA	82	364	656	3,372	360
Lakewood Township, NJ	18	59	107	468	72
Lakewood, CO	182	553	693	3,285	1,346
Lancaster, CA	200	610	451	789	635
Lansing, MI	131	1,046	514	1,596	580
Laredo, TX	51	235	157	1,020	108
Las Cruces, NM	53	490	1,113	3,442	785
Las Vegas, NV	97	347	560	1,721	637
League City, TX	11	64	160	1,014	111
Lee's Summit, MO	11	99	149	1,653	295
Lewisville, TX	38	189	204	1,686	315
Lexington, KY	70	135	342	1,992	382
Lincoln, NE	49	248	299	2,257	286
Little Rock, AR	213	1,457	956	3,858	534
Long Beach, CA	158	338	478	1,435	686
Longmont, CO	29	283	315	2,114	393
Los Angeles, CA	240	530	394	1,645	669
Lowell, MA	64	316	217	1,356	174
Lubbock, TX	132	808	856	2,819	461
Lynn, MA	90	521	155	866	169
Madison, WI	42	225	342	1,805	249
Manchester, NH	76	288	197	2,077	215
McAllen, TX	29	124	109	1,799	43
McKinney, TX	12	78	101	848	89
Memphis, TN	372	1,942	964	4,454	1,748
Menifee, CA	29	230	150	972	251
Meridian, ID	9	100	64	527	40
Mesa, AZ	61	314	214	1,348	208
Mesquite, TX	91	331	488	2,457	704
Midland, TX	32	396	222	1,467	221
Milwaukee, WI	281	1,114	397	1,429	1,681
Minneapolis, MN	420	709	605	3,201	1,456
Mobile, AL	56	801	450	2,307	256
Modesto, CA	133	573	266	1,776	361
Moreno Valley, CA	112	243	298	1,350	392
Murfreesboro, TN	36	399	180	1,707	224
Murrieta, CA	38	210	210	838	197
Nampa, ID	10	243	126	1,010	132
Naperville, IL	9	15	64	714	36
Nashville, TN	180	853	511	2,874	440
New Bedford, MA	109	464	195	1,180	184
New Braunfels, TX	19	141	167	1,081	165
New Haven, CT	178	330	290	2,239	573
New Orleans, LA	281	972	496	3,009	1,135
New York, NY	212	495	177	1,795	170
Newark, NJ	154	320	176	943	701
Newport News, VA	96	465	183	1,867	251
Norfolk, VA	129	505	234	3,839	799
Norman, OK	29	212	353	2,118	282
North Charleston, SC	191	654	474	3,737	594
North Las Vegas, NV	128	238	291	837	646
Oakland, CA	639	777	629	4,049	1,797
Oceanside, CA	101	346	288	1,437	282
Odessa, TX	58	396	324	1,481	262
Oklahoma City, OK	93	467	553	2,078	428
Olathe, KS	19	165	163	882	162
Omaha, NE	69	424	260	2,514	694
Ontario, CA	83	178	363	1,252	514
Orlando, FL	137	616	450	3,174	405
Overland Park, KS	22	169	291	1,810	293
Palmdale, CA	122	400	273	888	389
Pasadena, CA	88	269	407	1,629	251
Pasadena, TX	86	454	407	1,958	437
Pearland, TX	26	55	130	1,447	132
Peoria, AZ	27	135	187	1,071	123
Peoria, IL	109	964	614	1,979	545
Philadelphia, PA	370	587	417	3,090	815
Phoenix, AZ	196	549	383	2,053	466
Plano, TX	30	97	235	1,481	180
Pomona, CA	168	358	532	1,813	672
Port St. Lucie, FL	13	91	74	650	38
Portland, OR	203	477	760	3,841	1,723
Providence, RI	72	230	204	1,950	378
Provo, UT	12	95	139	1,140	120
Pueblo, CO	321	1,111	1,186	3,689	1,515
Quincy, MA	32	330	195	804	91
Raleigh, NC	93	360	256	1,823	255
Rancho Cucamonga, CA	63	285	410	1,448	159
Reno, NV	110	357	407	1,750	399
Renton, WA	136	205	646	2,676	1,307
Rialto, CA	145	295	367	2,043	492
Richardson, TX	52	78	243	1,731	298
Richmond, CA	209	629	219	1,591	900
Richmond, VA	97	232	345	2,751	337
Rio Rancho, NM	38	369	191	1,287	194
Riverside, CA	136	332	489	2,206	546
Rochester, MN	26	139	228	1,526	118
Rochester, NY	227	440	443	2,489	649
Rockford, IL	138	1,194	427	1,684	525
Roseville, CA	57	80	183	1,526	176
Round Rock, TX	33	97	130	2,039	134
Sacramento, CA	236	620	526	1,961	681
Salem, OR	97	356	417	2,543	662
Salinas, CA	151	306	210	1,045	422
Salt Lake City, UT	205	578	654	4,910	860
San Antonio, TX	116	645	637	3,588	844
San Bernardino, CA	303	800	559	1,621	775
San Diego, CA	93	303	239	1,096	482
San Francisco, CA	310	339	778	4,646	822
San Jose, CA	132	298	406	1,569	676
Sandy Springs, GA	27	84	174	1,178	143
Santa Clara, CA	68	216	509	2,675	413
Santa Clarita, CA	40	105	164	764	164
Santa Maria, CA	191	383	359	1,373	1,043
Santa Rosa, CA	56	204	249	887	223
Seattle, WA	240	548	1,201	3,568	951
Shreveport, LA	128	581	703	2,707	380
Simi Valley, CA	14	62	139	630	83
Sioux Falls, SD	70	435	369	2,174	540
South Fulton, GA	87	906	258	1,814	567
Sparks, NV	93	242	254	1,436	321
Spokane Valley, WA	66	219	549	2,989	525
Spokane, WA	135	445	772	4,178	786
Springfield, IL	131	548	808	2,986	450
Springfield, MA	171	629	373	1,670	326
Springfield, MO	182	1,114	806	3,427	677
St. George, UT	8	116	91	881	121
St. Louis, MO	281	1,069	806	3,898	2,550
St. Paul, MN	149	518	542	2,957	1,149
St. Petersburg, FL	78	506	299	2,038	326
Stamford, CT	54	120	105	938	126
Sterling Heights, MI	17	158	62	913	193
Stockton, CA	303	784	544	1,742	458
Sugar Land, TX	31	48	123	1,386	106
Sunnyvale, CA	56	133	418	1,770	269
Surprise, AZ	23	79	132	1,175	97
Syracuse, NY	198	627	807	1,816	429
Tacoma, WA	341	1,183	1,087	4,758	2,694
Tampa, FL	81	371	194	1,298	182
Temecula, CA	58	87	392	1,705	278
Tempe, AZ	95	402	496	3,416	422
Thornton, CO	64	123	262	2,382	839
Thousand Oaks, CA	22	28	127	895	84
Toledo, OH	185	870	564	2,084	433
Topeka, KS	93	813	566	2,581	561
Torrance, CA	100	140	332	1,793	515
Tulsa, OK	115	710	875	2,632	765
Tuscaloosa, AL	59	540	352	2,283	248
Tyler, TX	40	400	253	1,880	195
Vacaville, CA	62	208	214	1,443	199
Vallejo, CA	291	592	729	2,592	910
Vancouver, WA	152	409	699	3,428	1,449
Ventura, CA	64	263	318	1,680	186
Victorville, CA	159	720	421	996	395
Virginia Beach, VA	30	41	77	1,359	175
Visalia, CA	90	351	271	1,680	423
Waco, TX	75	475	532	2,427	270
Warren, MI	41	386	215	1,108	335
Washington, D.C.	324	351	201	2,719	565
Waterbury, CT	141	194	314	2,029	531
West Covina, CA	114	255	327	1,591	390
West Jordan, UT	29	207	174	1,745	236
West Valley, UT	70	306	304	2,107	458
Westminster, CO	82	206	397	2,772	1,299
Wichita Falls, TX	51	299	499	2,078	291
Wichita, KS	77	777	428	2,697	399
Wilmington, NC	93	364	394	2,245	227
Winston-Salem, NC	112	1,017	715	2,813	366
Woodbridge Township, NJ	45	132	134	1,462	168
Worcester, MA	80	497	337	1,166	165
Yonkers, NY	99	201	114	679	123

About Andre Pardillo

Andre Pardillo is a data journalist with several years of experience in the investment industry. He has worked as a financial and advisory data analyst for companies including Nasdaq and CTS Global, and has contributed to various data journalism projects, covering topics such as personal finance, mental health and human rights violations.

Pardillo holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in economics from the Ateneo de Manila University.

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sources

Federal Bureau of Investigation. "FBI Releases 2022 Crime in the Nation Statistics." Accessed October 10, 2024.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Violent Crime Definition." Accessed October 10, 2024.