The FBI’s annual report “Crime in the United States” for 2018 offers a detailed view of public safety challenges in many of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas.
According to the report, violent crime fell by 3.3 percent from 2017 to 2018. The U.S. Attorney General’s office credits part of the national decline to Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program launched in 2002 that directs federal resources to metro areas to combat violent crime.
In the FBI’s statistics, violent crime includes murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault — offenses that involve force or the threat of force.
It is important to note that the FBI’s report is built from data voluntarily submitted by law enforcement agencies; not every agency reported every category of crime, and some jurisdictions did not submit data at all.
For many cities on the list, violent crime is concentrated in poorer, historically disadvantaged neighborhoods that lack adequate investment and services. The opioid epidemic, closely linked to increases in crime and homelessness, also worsens public safety in many communities — costing the United States an estimated $179 billion in 2018 alone. Methamphetamine use is especially high in parts of the Midwest and South and correlates with violent crime in those regions. Firearm-related violence remains a pressing and often unresolved problem nationwide.
Another factor to consider is differences in reporting across crime types. Rape, for example, is widely underreported compared with homicide or armed robbery, so official counts likely understate the true scale of sexual violence. That raises an important question often overlooked in discussions of dangerous cities: where in the U.S. are women at greatest risk?
Below is a comparative look at the 37 U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of 200,000 or more that reported the highest violent crime rates per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018, based on FBI data.
1. Memphis, Tennessee–Mississippi–Arkansas
The metropolitan area of Memphis experienced a violent crime rate of 1,168.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. Getty Images
Population: 1,343,002
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 1,142.5
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 17.2
Memphis saw a drop in violent crime from 2017 to 2018: murders fell from 291 to 231, and reported rapes declined from 796 to 680. Persistent issues include gun violence, poverty and substance abuse. The metro area has an overall poverty rate of 26.9 percent, while child poverty in some neighborhoods reaches about 44.9 percent.
2. Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska has been called the “rape capital” of America. In 2017, 391 rapes were reported in the city of Anchorage. Getty Images
Population: 309,917
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 1,263.6
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 8.4
Anchorage reported 620 rapes in 2018, up from 391 the prior year, giving a high reported rape rate of about 200 per 100,000 people. Contributing factors include high rates of alcohol abuse, poverty and substance use disorders that disproportionately affect indigenous communities.
3. Albuquerque, New Mexico
In Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city, murder hit a 20-year high in 2017. Getty Images
Population: 915,468
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 1,084.7
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 9.5
Crime levels in Albuquerque were broadly stable between 2017 and 2018, with a modest rise in the murder rate. New Mexico has seen high property crime rates and among the highest violent crime rates per capita in the nation. Local authorities have called for more resources to address rising violence.
4. Lubbock, Texas
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Population: 319,795
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 829.3
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 4.4
Lubbock has a notably high reported rape rate, around 82.2 per 100,000, and a poverty rate near 19.8 percent. City leaders have promoted economic development and innovation, with Texas Tech University a major employer and driver of local initiatives.
5. Wichita, Kansas
Wichita’s location at the intersection of I-35 and US 54 puts it at the crossroads of two major drug trafficking routes. Getty Images
Population: 638,135
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 826
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 7.7
Wichita lost residents from 2017 to 2018 even as its violent crime and murder rates rose. Its position at the crossroads of major highways contributes to drug distribution activity. The metro’s poverty rate remains elevated at about 16.9 percent.
6. Stockton–Lodi, California
Stockton is the 13th largest city in California, with a population of 308,348. Getty Images
Population: 748,303
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 795.1
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 6.9
Stockton’s violent crime declined from 2017 to 2018, and its murder rate fell more substantially. The city has experimented with innovative anti-poverty measures, including a basic income pilot launched in 2019. Despite improvements, about a quarter of residents live below the poverty line and crime rates remain above national averages.
7. Florence, South Carolina
Florence Conventions and Visitors Bureau / Wikimedia Commons
Population: 205,828
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 748.2
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 16.0
Florence recorded increases in homicide, sexual battery and aggravated assault statewide from 2017 to 2018 while robbery declined. The city’s poverty rate is relatively high at about 17.4 percent.
8. Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois’s poverty rate of 22.7 percent is well above the national average of 12.3 percent. Getty Images
Population: 335,289
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 742.6
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 10.4
Rockford’s violent crime rate fell from 2017 to 2018, but the murder rate rose sharply. The metro’s poverty level, around 22–23 percent, is well above the national average.
9. Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway, Arkansas
In the Little Rock metro area in 2017, 87 people were murdered and there were 453 reported rapes. Getty Images
Population: 742,751
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 738.1
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 9.2
Little Rock’s violent crime and homicide rates decreased slightly in 2018 even as population grew. However, Arkansas has experienced rising crime trends over recent decades and Little Rock’s poverty rate, around 18.8 percent, remains higher than the national average.
10. Monroe, Louisiana
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Population: 202,029
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 724.6
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 5.4
Monroe faces extreme poverty in many neighborhoods, with a city poverty rate around 34.8 percent. Eleven out of 44 neighborhoods are deeply affected by economic hardship, contributing to higher rates of violent crime and other social challenges.
11. Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, Maryland
In 2017, there were 413 murders and 1,048 rapes reported in the Baltimore metro area. Getty Images
Population: 2,799,376
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 720.8
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 13.3
Baltimore’s reputation for high violent crime persists, often tied to gang activity and entrenched social inequities. Violent crime and homicide counts declined in 2018 compared with previous years, but the city still experienced more than 300 homicides in 2018.
12. Gainesville, Florida
Population: 327,771
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 713.3
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 5.2
Home to the University of Florida, Gainesville reports a high rape rate — about 95.5 per 100,000 — and a citywide poverty rate near 23.1 percent. Disparities between neighborhoods drive much of the area’s crime patterns.
13. Corpus Christi, Texas
In 2017, there were 30 murders and 289 reported rapes in Corpus Christi. Getty Images
Population: 430,731
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 699.3
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 7.4
Corpus Christi reported hundreds of rapes and a large number of aggravated assaults in 2017; those trends continued into 2018. Local officials emphasize prevention and enforcement to reduce interpersonal violence.
14. Flint, Michigan
Flint is one of the most dangerous cities for women, too, with a reported rape rate of 72 per 100,000 persons. Getty Images
Population: 405,750
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 683.2
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 9.4
Flint’s economic decline and the public water crisis since 2014 have deepened social stressors for residents. The city consistently ranks among the nation’s poorest and reports a high rape rate, which rose between 2017 and 2018.
15. Amarillo, Texas
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Population: 266,043
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 660.4
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 4.9
New to the list in 2018, Amarillo reported a high rape rate — about 88.3 per 100,000 — with 235 reported rapes that year. The city’s poverty rate is roughly 16.4 percent.
16. Indianapolis–Carmel–Anderson, Indiana
There were 164 murders and 923 reported rapes in the Indianapolis metro area in 2017. Getty Images
Population: 2,048,700
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 641.5
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 9.3
In 2018 the Indianapolis City-County Council declared gun violence a public health crisis. While violent crime declined overall, the murder rate increased slightly from the previous year.
17. Milwaukee–Waukesha–West Allis, Wisconsin
In 2017, 124 people were murdered and 644 rapes were reported in the Milwaukee metro area. Getty Images
Population: 1,579,729
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 609.7
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 7.2
Milwaukee recorded 99 murders and 489 rapes in 2018. The metro’s median household income and a poverty rate near 27.4 percent reflect significant economic challenges linked to crime concentrations.
18. Shreveport–Bossier City, Louisiana
In 2017, the metro area experienced a reported 1,792 aggravated assaults and 598 robberies. Getty Images
Population: 397,965
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 602.8
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 14.3
Shreveport saw a modest decrease in violent crime from 2017 to 2018 but still reported dozens of homicides and many sexual assaults. Louisiana’s statewide poverty rate is high, contributing to broader public safety concerns and high incarceration rates.
19. Nashville–Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, Tennessee
The Nashville metro area experienced a violent crime rate of 624.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. Getty Images
Population: 1,913,148
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 599.1
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 7.8
Nashville’s population grew while its violent crime rate fell slightly; the homicide rate remained stable. The metro’s poverty rate is around 12.8 percent.
20. Fresno, California
Among California’s six most populous cities, Fresno has the highest rate of families in poverty. Getty Images
Population: 989,980
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 595.3
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 5.5
Fresno faces deep economic challenges: the city’s poverty rate exceeds 28 percent and more than one in five households receive public assistance. These conditions align with persistent crime and low wages across the county.
21. Kalamazoo–Portage, Michigan
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Population: 265,316
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 592.5
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 3.8
Kalamazoo reports a high rape rate — about 89 per 100,000 — and has an elevated poverty rate near 31 percent, significantly higher than the statewide average.
22. Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield’s reported rape rate is 34.4 per 100,000 persons. Getty Images
Population: 893,851
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 591.7
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 11.3
Bakersfield’s violence is fueled by gang activity, domestic violence and drug-related crime. The metro sits in California’s Central Valley, where economic stresses and substance abuse are persistent drivers of crime.
23. Modesto, California
Gang violence is a major issue in California’s Central Valley, which includes the Modesto metropolitan area. Getty Images
Population: 548,464
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 576.2
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 7.3
Modesto’s violent crime fell modestly from 2017 to 2018 while its murder rate rose. Gang-related violence, especially affecting Latino youth, remains a significant issue in the region. The metro’s poverty rate is about 17 percent.
24. Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia’s rape rate is 45 reported rapes per 100,000 persons. Getty Images
Population: 833,205
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 567.9
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 7.3
Columbia reports elevated rates of sexual assault and violent crime concentrated in poorer neighborhoods; the metro’s poverty rate is about 22.3 percent.
25. Merced, California
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Population: 272,901
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 567.2
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 3.3
Merced, a gateway to Yosemite National Park, faces high poverty levels (about 23 percent) and a reported rape rate of roughly 27 per 100,000.
26. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Methamphetamine and opioid use has had a massive impact on Oklahoma. Getty Images
Population: 994,764
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 564.8
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 7.9
Oklahoma has one of the highest incarceration rates in the country. Tulsa County’s poverty rate is about 14.4 percent, while the city reports higher local poverty near 20 percent. Substance abuse and economic distress contribute to the region’s crime levels.
27. New Orleans–Metairie, Louisiana
The I-10 corridor runs through New Orleans, making it a stop on a major transit route for trafficking in persons and drugs. Getty Images
Population: 1,275,532
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 563.8
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 15.5
New Orleans saw a decline in homicides from 2017 to 2018. The city and state have high poverty rates and elevated reported rape rates. Its location along the I-10 corridor contributes to trafficking and related criminal activity.
28. Springfield, Missouri
The area has an extremely high rape rate of 93.1 reported rapes per 100,000 persons. Getty Images
Population: 465,708
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 562.6
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 5.4
Springfield’s location on the I-44 corridor makes it a transport hub linked to trafficking, and the metro reports a very high rape rate and elevated poverty levels.
29. Tallahassee, Florida
A shooting at a yoga studio in November 2018 again shone a light on gun violence in Florida. Getty Images
Population: 384,355
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 558.9
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 7.0
Tallahassee recorded high levels of sexual assault and gun violence in 2018. The university town reported 213 rapes and 16 homicides that year.
30. Beaumont–Port Arthur, Texas
The metro area features a poverty rate of 22.9 percent. Getty Images
Population: 398,704
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 554
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 7.8
Beaumont and Port Arthur historically depended on the oil industry and have experienced economic decline and population loss. The metro’s poverty rate is elevated and its position along I-10 aligns it with major trafficking routes.
31. Lake Charles, Louisiana
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Population: 208,685
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 547.7
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 5.8
Lake Charles reports a high rape rate and a city poverty rate around 22.9 percent, reflecting broader economic struggles in the region.
32. Detroit–Warren–Dearborn, Michigan
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Population: 4,325,220
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 535.1
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 8.0
For some broader reporting areas that include adjacent jurisdictions like Wayne County, violent crime and murder rates are much higher. In those combined regions, reported violent crime and rape rates rise substantially compared with the core metro figures.
33. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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Population: 852,689
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 531.5
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 14.9
Baton Rouge reports elevated robbery and homicide rates; the metro’s sexual assault and robbery statistics reflect concentrated criminal activity in some neighborhoods.
34. Chico, California
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Population: 228,880
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 530.4
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 4.4
Chico’s reported rates of robbery and rape are notable, with robbery near 77.8 per 100,000 and a rape rate around 66.4 per 100,000.
35. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
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Population: 1,397,950
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 529.5
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 5.2
Oklahoma City reports elevated sexual assault and robbery rates statewide; the metro’s figures reflect ongoing challenges with violent crime driven by economic and substance-use factors.
36. Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama is on the I-10 corridor, a major U.S. drug and human trafficking highway. Getty Images
Population: 430,335
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 526.6
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 8.6
Mobile’s population grew in 2018 while its homicide rate fell sharply; the metro’s violent crime rate also declined. Its location on the I-10 corridor exposes the area to trafficking networks, and Alabama’s statewide poverty rate is high.
37. Chattanooga, Tennessee–Georgia
Chattanooga’s poverty rate stands at 22.9 percent, the lowest number the area has seen in the past decade. Getty Images
Population: 560,236
Violent crime rate (per 100,000): 525.5
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (per 100,000): 5.2
Chattanooga’s poverty rate has recently fallen to about 20.7 percent thanks to job growth and economic improvement. The metro reports a rape rate of roughly 37.3 per 100,000.
These rankings illustrate that high violent crime rates are often linked to concentrated poverty, substance abuse, and inadequate local resources. Differences in reporting practices, underreporting of certain crimes and variations in geographic coverage also affect how the statistics portray safety in each metro area. Understanding the local drivers of crime — such as trafficking routes, economic decline, gang activity and public health crises — is essential for developing effective policies to improve safety and community well-being.