The United States is made up of 50 unique states, each with its own unique characteristics. Some states have surprisingly high crime rates on a state level, but may have specific towns and cities that account for much of the negative crime data. Crime rates can vary by type, ranging from violent crime to property crime such as theft, shoplifting, and car break-ins.

In this article, we will explore the most dangerous states in the US, taking into account both violent crime and property crime statistics. Provided below is the methodology used for this list.

20 Most Dangerous States in the US

1) Louisiana
2) Mississippi
3) Arkansas
4) Texas
5) Alabama
6) Oklahoma
7) Florida
8) Missouri
9) South Carolina
10) Tennessee
11) Montana
12) Kansas
13) South Dakota
14) Colorado
15) Ohio
16) Georgia
17) Nebraska
18) West Virginia
19) Illinois
20) Nevada

1) Louisiana

Louisiana has the highest violent crime rate in the United States with 564 violent crimes per 100,000 people as of 2021. This rate is significantly higher than the national average, indicating a serious concern regarding public safety in the state. The state also has a high poverty rate at 19.6%, which often correlates with higher crime rates.

Despite a decrease in property crimes over the last two decades, Louisiana experienced a sharp increase in violent crimes, particularly murders and aggravated assaults, around 2020. There have been efforts to reform the criminal justice system, focusing on reducing the number of nonviolent offenders in prisons and increasing the duration of sentences for serious violent offenders.

2) Mississippi

Mississippi, despite having the highest poverty rate among states at 19.7%, exhibits a lower incidence of violent crime compared to most of the nation. The state’s violent crime rate stands at 4.54 incidents per 1000 residents, slightly higher than the national average.

However, certain areas like Woodville Heights experience significantly higher violent crime rates. Conversely, cities like Madison are noted for their safety. Concerns about gun violence are prevalent, similar to the national average. Homicide rates in Mississippi saw a significant rise from 2017 to 2020, primarily driven by increases in Jackson.

3) Arkansas

Arkansas’s crime situation in 2023 presents a complex picture. The state has the highest reported crime rate in the U.S., with 6,207 incidents per 100,000 people on average. This high crime rate includes a mix of violent and property crimes. Violent crime in Arkansas constitutes a significant portion of the overall crime, with aggravated assault being the most prevalent type of violent crime.

In fact, 81% of all violent crimes in Arkansas are aggravated assaults, a figure that’s 9 percentage points higher than the national average. Overall, the crime situation in Arkansas reflects a variety of challenges, including high rates of violent and property crimes, concerns about personal safety and gun violence, and issues related to law enforcement and community relations.

4) Texas

In Texas, the crime situation in 2023 presents a mixed picture. The state experienced a slight increase in violent crime, with the rate rising from 4.5 to 4.6 incidents per 1,000 people. However, there was a decline in property crime rates, decreasing from 22.5 to 21.9 incidents per 1,000 people. Texans have shown a heightened concern about violent crime, with a 12 percentage point increase compared to the previous year.

This concern is reflected in the 65% of Texans who worry about gun violence, a number significantly higher than the national average. Texas saw 50 mass shooting incidents, a slight decrease from the previous year, but still ranks 11th in states with the most mass shootings. The state’s residents are also more concerned about property crime than the average American, which may be motivating them to invest more in property protection measures. Popular protection methods include security cameras and firearms.

5) Alabama

Alabama’s crime situation reflects a mix of concerns and trends. The state’s violent crime rate is notably higher than the national average, with 8.15 incidents per 1000 residents, compared to the national average of 4 incidents per 1000 residents. Property crime in Alabama also exceeds the national average, recorded at 29.26 incidents per 1000 residents.

Interestingly, while property crime complaints have decreased by 26% year-over-year, reports of gun violence have seen a dramatic increase, more than quadrupling from 6% to 19%. Despite this, Alabama reports fewer rapes than the national average, with rape accounting for only 7% of all violent crimes in the state. Aggravated assault is a significant concern, making up 79% of all violent crimes in Alabama, a figure that is 9 percentage points more than the national average.

6) Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, the crime situation in 2023 presents some concerning trends. The state’s violent crime rate is higher than the national average, standing at 4.63 incidents per 1000 residents, as compared to the national average of 4 incidents per 1000 residents. The property crime rate in Oklahoma is also considerably higher than the national average, with 31.83 incidents per 1000 residents.

Interestingly, while personal experiences with violent crime have decreased in the past year, concerns about crime overall remain significant. Violent crime rates in Oklahoma have seen an increase of 5.6% since the last year, a rise that is somewhat more than the 4.9% national increase. Despite this, the rate of murder in Oklahoma is about the same as the national average, making it one of the less prevalent violent crimes in the state.

7) Florida

In Florida, the crime situation has been marked by a significant decline, leading to the state achieving a 50-year low in crime rates. This trend reflects a decrease in both violent and property crimes, including a reduction in domestic violence cases. However, it’s important to note that these statistics are influenced by the ongoing transition in crime data reporting systems.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has reported that the state’s crime rate dropped by 8.3% in 2021 compared to 2020. This decrease encompasses a broad range of crimes, with both violent and property crimes showing a downward trend. This data is based on the Summary Reporting System, a methodology used since 1971, which tracks monthly counts of crimes known to law enforcement but only considers the most serious offense in an incident.

8) Missouri

In Missouri, the crime rates for 2023 indicate a higher incidence of violent and property crimes compared to the national average. The violent crime rate in Missouri stands at 5.77 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the national average of 4 incidents per 1,000 residents.

Similarly, the property crime rate in Missouri is also considerably higher, recorded at 30.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, in stark contrast to the national average of 20 incidents per 1,000 residents. These figures suggest that while Missouri shares common crime trends with many other states, it experiences a higher rate of both violent and property crimes​.

9) South Carolina

South Carolina’s violent crime rate is higher than the national average, standing at 5.49 incidents per 1,000 residents compared to the national average of 4 incidents per 1,000 residents. This includes a range of violent crimes such as murder, rape, assault, robbery, and kidnapping. Specifically, the murder rate in South Carolina is 0.11 per 1,000 residents, which is significantly higher than the national average of 0.07, indicating a 57% higher rate than the national average​​.

Regarding property crime, South Carolina also records a higher rate than the national average, with 31.9 incidents per 1,000 residents compared to the national average of 20 incidents per 1,000 residents. This includes crimes such as burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft​​. However, it’s important to note that over a 20-year period, there has been a general downward trend in both violent and property crime in South Carolina. This suggests that despite the current rates being higher than the national average, there has been some progress in reducing crime over the long term​.

10) Tennessee

In Tennessee, the crime rates for 2023 show a general decrease in both violent and non-violent crimes. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported a reduction in most categories of violent crime in 2022, with only crimes against property witnessing a slight increase. Notable decreases included murders down by 14.55%, rapes down by 10.61%, and kidnappings or abductions down by 11.98%.

However, property crimes such as identity theft, motor vehicle theft, and extortion or blackmail saw significant increases. Despite these improvements, Tennessee’s violent crime rate remains higher than the national average, with aggravated assault being the most frequent violent crime in the state. This rate is about 62% higher than the national average. Additionally, the property crime rate in Tennessee has shown a decline, but it is still 27% higher than the national average

11) Montana

Montana is facing challenges with its crime rates, which are higher than the national average. The state’s violent crime rate stands at 5.06 incidents per 1000 residents, exceeding the national average of 4 incidents per 1000 residents. Property crime is also a significant concern, with Montana’s rate recorded at 29.11 incidents per 1000 residents, surpassing the national average of 20 incidents per 1000 residents.

Montanans have experienced an increase in property crime, with 24% of residents reporting personal experiences with such crimes in the recent reporting year, a notable rise from 17% the year before. Despite this, Montanans are more concerned about property crime than violent crime. However, the concern for property crime in Montana is still less than the national average.

12) Kansas

In Kansas, the crime statistics for 2023 reveal several key trends. The rate of violent crimes per 1,000 persons has seen an increase of 5% from the previous year, reaching 4.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. Notably, aggravated assault constitutes 82% of all violent crimes in Kansas, which is the highest rate in the country and 12 percentage points above the national average. Larceny and theft account for 74% of all property crimes in the state, which is slightly higher than the national average of 71%.

Despite experiencing general property crime more often, Kansas residents are more concerned about parcel theft than violent crime or gun violence. Additionally, domestic violence played a role in between 25% and 30% of homicides in previous years, but this figure rose to 17.6% in 2020. The murder rate in Kansas City decreased by 24% over the last year, a trend not observed in other cities. Guns are the preferred personal defense method, accounting for 12% of all purchases in Kansas.

13) South Dakota

The crime rates in South Dakota for 2023 indicate some concerns in both violent and property crimes. The state’s violent crime rate is slightly higher than the national average, standing at 4.46 incidents per 1,000 residents compared to the national average of 4 incidents per 1,000 residents. This includes a higher rate of rape crimes compared to the national average. However, the murder crime rate in South Dakota is lower than the national average.

Regarding property crimes, South Dakota’s rate is also higher than the national average, recorded at 23.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, compared to the national average of 20 incidents per 1,000 residents. Despite these statistics, the overall attitude towards personal and property safety in the state seems relatively positive, with a notable decrease in violent crime rates in the last year and the safest cities in South Dakota exhibiting lower crime rates compared to state and national averages.

14) Colorado

In Colorado, the crime rates for 2023 present a mixed picture. The state has experienced a notable increase in violent crime, with the rate rising to 4.8 incidents per 1,000 people, which is higher than the national average and marks a 14% increase from the previous year. This rate places Colorado as having the ninth-highest violent crime rate in the nation. Among these violent crimes, rape constitutes a significant proportion, being higher than the national average. Additionally, Coloradans have reported a 58% year-over-year increase in violent crime experiences, indicating a growing concern among residents.

Property crime also presents a significant challenge in Colorado, with the state experiencing the highest property crime rate in the nation during 2023, recorded at 31.4 property crimes per 1,000 people. This rate represents an 11% increase from the previous year and is notably higher than the national average. Motor vehicle theft, in particular, comprises a large portion of property crimes in Colorado, being the second-highest rate in the country behind California. However, there’s been a reported decrease in property crime encounters among Colorado residents.

15) Ohio

Ohio’s crime situation in 2023 shows some varying trends. The violent crime rate in Ohio is slightly lower than the national average, with approximately 1 violent crime occurring for every 254 people. The rate stands at 3.94 incidents per 1000 residents, compared to the national average of 4 incidents per 1000 residents. However, Ohio’s property crime rate is higher than the national average, recorded at 25.24 incidents per 1000 residents against the national average of 20 incidents per 1000 residents​​​​.

The state experienced a significant increase in homicides between 2019 and 2020, with a 40% increase in homicide rates per 100,000 residents, marking the highest rise in the previous 35 years. In 2020, the U.S. murder rate increased by 30%, reaching its highest level in decades, with Ohio’s murder rate being 4.6 killings per 100,000 people. This was 204% greater than the national average of 5 murders per 100,000 people​​.

16) Georgia

Georgia’s violent crime rate is higher than the national average, with approximately 1 violent crime for every 194 people, translating to 5.14 incidents per 1000 residents. This is compared to the national average of 4 incidents per 1000 residents. The property crime rate in Georgia is also higher than the national average, recorded at 22.85 incidents per 1000 residents, against the national average of 20 incidents per 1000 residents​​.

Despite these figures, some areas in Georgia have achieved significantly lower crime rates. For example, the city of Milton managed both violent and property crime rates well below the national average in recent years​​. However, overall, the state faces significant challenges with crime. Georgia reported 892 murders last year, ranking fourth-highest in the US for this type of crime. It also ranks fifth in the nation for most robberies and aggravated assaults​​.

17) Nebraska

The crime situation in Nebraska in 2023 shows some distinctive trends. The state has a slightly higher violent crime rate than the national average, with about 1 violent crime occurring for every 230 people, translating to 4.34 incidents per 1000 residents. Similarly, the property crime rate in Nebraska is a bit above the national average, recorded at 20.85 incidents per 1000 residents compared to the national average of 20 incidents per 1000 residents​​.

Despite these figures, Nebraska has seen a general downward trend in crime over the past 20 years, with violent crime increasing and property crime decreasing. In 2019, the state’s violent crime rate was lower than the national average by 20.69%, and the property crime rate was lower than the national average by 3.35%​​. The most popular form of property protection among Nebraskans is firearms, followed by security cameras​​.

18) West Virginia

West Virginia’s violent crime rate has seen an increase, climbing from 3.2 incidents per 1,000 people to 3.6, which is an 11% gain. Despite this rise, the overall crime rate in West Virginia indicates a downward trend over the past 20 years. The property crime rate, specifically, has decreased significantly, by 29% since 2010. This drop in property crime is noteworthy, given that the typical property crime rate in West Virginia is 20.04 incidents per 1,000 persons, lower than the 10-year national average of 25.61 incidents per 1,000 people.

Notably, fewer West Virginians feel secure in their state than residents of other states, with 52% against the national average of 55%, even though general concerns about crime and safety are lower. This suggests a nuanced view of crime perception versus reality in the state​.

19) Illinois

Illinois has witnessed an increase in its violent crime rate, reaching 426 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is approximately 47% higher annually. This surge in violent crime has also been accompanied by a notable rise in daily fear among residents, with concerns about violent crime increasing by 36%. Specifically, gun violence remains a significant issue, with 83% of Illinois residents expressing a general fear of it, a figure 30% higher than the national average. Chicago, a major city in Illinois, has struggled with high levels of gun violence, including a notable increase in expressway shootings​​.

Despite these concerns, property crime in Illinois has followed a different trajectory, with experiences of property crime remaining constant year over year at 23%, higher than the U.S. average of 18%. Interestingly, only 56% of respondents in Illinois use some form of property protection, even though concerns about property crime are higher than average. Security cameras are the most-used form of property protection in the state​.

20) Nevada

In Nevada, the crime situation as of 2023 has shown some improvements but still presents challenges. The state’s violent crime rate is higher than the national average, standing at 4.6 incidents per 1000 residents compared to the national average of 4 incidents per 1000 residents. However, there’s been a general downward trend in crime over the past 20 years. Specifically, Nevada’s crime rate decreased by over 7% from previous years, and specific crime categories like rape, robberies, and all property crimes have seen significant decreases.

Interestingly, theft-related crimes constitute 63% of all property crimes in Nevada, a bit lower than the 71% national average. Despite the decrease in crime rates, concerns among Nevadans about property crime remain high. Around 49% of Nevadans worry about becoming a victim of property crime, and 17% of survey respondents do not use any security measures to protect their property. The most popular form of property protection in Nevada is security systems, used by 42% of residents.

Methodology: Crime Per Capita

Evaluating crime rates on a per capita basis versus a total (aggregate) basis can yield contrasting pictures of crime prevalence across US states. A per capita assessment, which calculates the number of crimes relative to the population, offers a proportionate understanding, making comparisons among states fairer.

On the other hand, total crime figures may misrepresent crime severity in densely populated states, as higher aggregate numbers might be due to larger population sizes rather than a genuine reflection of safety. Thus, per capita metrics are often deemed more insightful for comparing crime rates.

Final Considerations

Analyzing the data from the FBI Uniform Crime Report, it’s evident that violent and property crimes remain a pressing concern in several states across the nation. Dangerous states in America, especially within the Southern and Western regions, tend to showcase violent crime rates that surpass the national average. Whether it’s sexual assault, aggravated assault, or even drunk driving arrests, these states unfortunately stand out due to their high violent crime rates.

However, one must remember that crime rates vary from state to state, and a single dimension like the state’s violent crime rate doesn’t encapsulate the full picture of a dangerous state. While some states might have high violent crime rates, they may also suffer from poor health outcomes, vehicle theft, or even the threat of natural disasters. It’s crucial for residents and potential visitors to be aware and informed, ensuring they can safely navigate the most dangerous states and understand the nuances between violent crimes and other threats.

Conclusion

The issue of safety is a major concern for many Americans, particularly in the most dangerous states in the US. While violent crime rates in the US is a key concern, other factors such as workplace safety, residential safety, and financial safety are also important. Emergency preparedness is crucial for personal and residential safety, and road safety and motor vehicle theft are also important considerations. Law enforcement employees play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of residents, and the highest murder rate can often be found in the most dangerous cities.

However, it’s not all bad news, as some cities have achieved the lowest violent crime rate, showing that it’s possible to make progress in improving safety. It’s important for individuals and communities to be aware of the risks and take steps to mitigate them, whether it’s by installing home security systems, supporting law enforcement efforts, or advocating for stronger emergency preparedness measures.