You’ve probably seen the headlines. Maybe you’ve even seen those viral TikToks of shoplifters walking out of stores with arms full of gear, or news clips of "street takeovers" in California. It feels like things are getting wilder, right? Well, honestly, the data tells a much weirder, more nuanced story than the 6 o'clock news usually does.
If we're talking about the highest crime rates in the US, we have to look at 2024 and 2025 data, because the "post-pandemic surge" everyone was terrified of has actually started to deflate. But—and it's a big but—it’s not deflating everywhere.
👉 See also: Effects of the American Revolution: What Most People Get Wrong
The Cities Leading the Pack (For All the Wrong Reasons)
When we look at the raw numbers from the FBI’s 2024 "Reported Crimes in the Nation" and mid-year 2025 updates from the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ), a few names keep popping up. Memphis. Detroit. St. Louis. Baltimore.
Memphis is currently in a league of its own. It’s sitting at the top of almost every "bad" list. We’re talking about a violent crime rate of roughly 2,501 per 100,000 residents. To put that in perspective, the national average is way, way lower—around 360-380. So, if you're in Memphis, the statistical likelihood of encountering a violent incident is nearly seven times the national baseline.
But then you have places like Oakland, California. Oakland is a fascinating, if tragic, case study. While homicides in many big cities dropped double-digits in 2024 (the national murder rate plummeted by 14.9%), Oakland became a hotspot for property crime. It led medium-sized cities with a property crime rate of over 7,200 per 100,000 people. If you've got a car in Oakland, the "bipping" (car break-in) culture is more than just a meme; it's a daily reality.
The Violent Crime Standouts
- Memphis, TN: Leads in aggravated assault and motor vehicle theft.
- St. Louis, MO: Consistently top-tier for murder rates, though numbers are dipping slightly.
- Little Rock, AR: Saw a massive 39% homicide increase in early 2025, bucking the national trend.
- New Orleans, LA: Still struggling with one of the highest murder rates per capita, despite overall violent crime dropping.
Why "Most Dangerous" Lists Are Sorta Bullsh*t
The FBI actually hates it when people like me write articles about the highest crime rates in the US using their data to rank cities. Seriously. They have a long-standing policy against it. Why? Because crime isn't just about "bad people." It’s about how many kids live in the area, whether the local economy is in the toilet, and even the weather.
Take a city like Tukwila, Washington. If you look at the stats, Tukwila looks like a war zone. It has a larceny-theft rate of over 11,000 per 100,000 people. But wait—Tukwila only has about 20,000 residents. It’s home to a massive shopping mall (Southcenter) and a lot of retail hubs. Thousands of people flock there to shop and, unfortunately, shoplift. When you calculate the crime rate based on the small permanent population but include all the crimes committed against the massive daily influx of visitors, the numbers get skewed.
🔗 Read more: Texas Flooding and Trump: What Really Happened with the Federal Response
You’ve also got to consider reporting. In some cities, people just stop calling the police for "minor" things like a smashed car window because they know nobody is coming. If it’s not reported, it’s not in the FBI data. This means the "safest" cities might just be the ones where people have given up on the system.
The 2025 Divergence: A Tale of Two Trends
Nationwide, we are actually seeing historic declines. 2024 saw the lowest property and violent crime rates since the late 1960s in many categories. That sounds great, but it doesn't feel great if you live in a place like Birmingham or Little Rock.
We’re seeing what experts call "divergence." In the first half of 2025, 24 out of 29 major cities studied by the CCJ saw homicides fall. Baltimore, once the poster child for urban decay, saw a staggering 56% decrease in murders compared to its 2019 levels. That’s a massive win for community violence intervention programs.
But then there’s the "Retail Crime" and "Auto Theft" problem. While murders are down, motor vehicle thefts are still 25% higher than they were before the pandemic. If you own a Kia or a Hyundai, you already know why. The "Kia Boyz" trend—which exploited a security flaw in those cars—is still rippling through the data, particularly in the Midwest and South.
States Where You’re Most at Risk
It’s not just about cities. State-level data from 2025 shows a familiar pattern in the "Deep South" and parts of the Mountain West.
- Louisiana: Frequent "winner" for highest violent crime, mostly driven by New Orleans and Shreveport.
- New Mexico: High property crime and aggravated assault rates, especially around Albuquerque.
- Arkansas: Little Rock and West Memphis drive this state into the top five consistently.
- Tennessee: Memphis is the heavy hitter here, but Nashville’s growth has brought its own set of property crime spikes.
Montana is the surprise entry for many. People think of Big Sky Country as peaceful, but it actually has elevated rates of violent offenses. Experts like those at the Vera Institute suggest this is often linked to high rates of substance use and the sheer distance between law enforcement outposts in rural areas. Response times in rural Montana can be over an hour. If a crime happens, you’re often on your own.
The Misconception of the "Urban Hellscape"
There is a massive political narrative that big blue cities are "burning." It’s a great talking point, but it's largely inaccurate. In 2024, cities with populations over 1 million actually saw the largest declines in murders—down over 19%. The most dangerous places in America, on a per capita basis, are often mid-sized cities (250k–500k population) like Flint, Michigan, or St. Louis, where the tax base has eroded and the police departments are chronically understaffed.
What Should You Actually Do?
If you're looking at these highest crime rates in the US because you're planning a move or just worried about your neighborhood, don't panic. Statistics are a "macro" view of a "micro" problem. Crime is almost always hyper-local. In a "dangerous" city, 90% of the violent crime might happen on just four or five specific street corners.
👉 See also: Kevin Jennings Lambda Legal: The Truth About His Impact and Legacy
Here is the expert-level advice for staying safe in 2026:
- Check "Neighborhood" Data, Not City Data: Use tools like City-Data or local police heat maps. A city can have a high rate, but your specific zip code might be safer than a rural town.
- Invest in "Target Hardening": Since property crime (especially car theft) is the one metric not falling as fast, basic stuff matters. Steering wheel locks for Kias/Hyundais, motion-sensor lights, and not leaving a single bag in view in your car.
- Follow the "Clearance Rate": If you want to know how effective a city's safety is, look at the "clearance rate"—the percentage of crimes the police actually solve. In 2024, the national murder clearance rate was about 61%. If your city's rate is below 40%, that's a red flag for systemic issues.
- Acknowledge the "Gray" Areas: Understand that shoplifting and carjackings are often driven by organized groups now, not just "crimes of poverty." This requires different safety mindsets—being aware of your surroundings in parking lots is more important now than it was ten years ago.
The reality of crime in America is that we are getting safer overall, but the "safety gap" between the most and least dangerous areas is widening. Stay informed by looking at the specific trends in your backyard rather than the national shouting matches.