The United States has grave homicide statistics, and it’s only getting worse. Compared to our developed country peers, the U.S. had a homicide rate of nearly 8.0 per 100,000 people in 2020. The next highest developed nation had a homicide rate of just over 1.0 per 100,000 residents.
Firearm homicides are particularly brutal, accounting for almost 21,000 yearly deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That means only about 5,000 annual homicide deaths in America weren’t at the hands of firearms.
Determining Rankings
World Population Review used data inspired by Wallethub to determine the most dangerous cities in the U.S. by homicide rates. All reported data are per 100,000 residents.
1. Louisiana
Homicide Rate: 12.4 per 100,000 residents.
Louisiana has many great qualities, but its homicide rate isn’t among them. The Pelican State earns the gut-wrenching streak of having the highest murder rate in America for over 30 years.
2. Missouri
Homicide Rate: 9.8 per 100,000 residents.
Missouri has an astoundingly high homicide problem, largely because of its plethora of gang violence. Heroin use is high in Missouri, causing some people to lash out in ways they normally wouldn’t.
3. Nevada
Homicide Rate: 9.1 per 100,000 residents.
Las Vegas has one of the biggest homicide rates in the United States, pushing Nevada high on this list as one of the most homicide-prone American states.
4. Maryland
Homicide Rate: 9.0 per 100,000 residents
Illegal drug trade is among the major driving forces of homicides in Maryland. Baltimore is one of the most dangerous cities in the state in great part because of it.
5. Arkansas
Homicide Rate: 8.6 per 100,000 residents.
Many Arkansas residents struggle with poor financial conditions. That, coupled with drugs and social and economic changes since the pandemic, has led to a rise in homicide rates.
6. Alaska
Homicide Rate: 8.4 per 100,000 residents.
Many Alaskan residents live far from law enforcement, which some theorize makes it easier for them to get away with murder. A marginalized Alaska Natives community is also likely a contributing factor to the state’s high homicide rate.
7. Alabama
Homicide Rate: 8.3 per 100,000 residents.
Alabama has some of the highest gun ownership rates in the U.S. They also have among the most relaxed gun laws. This, coupled with drug use, could be contributing factors in Alabama ranking number seven on this list.
8. Mississippi
Homicide Rate: 8.2 per 100,000 residents.
Mississippi has a major homicide problem, with Jackson being a big driver of it. As with Alabama, gun use and ownership are high in Mississippi, making it easier for gun-related homicides to happen.
9. Illinois
Homicide Rate: 7.8 per 100,000 residents.
Illinois is no stranger to homicides, with Chicago leading the pack. Although Chicago experienced the fewest homicides in 2022 since before the pandemic, it still had the fourth most homicides since 1999.
10. South Carolina
Homicide Rate: 7.8 per 100,000 residents.
Low-income communities are prevalent in South Carolina, as are drug use and trafficking. In 2022, South Carolina made news as having the highest murder rates the state had seen in three decades.
11. Tennessee
Homicide Rate: 7.8 per 100,000 residents.
Violent crime is a major issue in Tennessee, though the areas where homicides are the highest tend to be concentrated. Chattanooga and the outer Memphis area have some of the worst crime in the state.
12. New Mexico
Homicide Rate: 7.1 per 100,000 residents.
Poverty is an issue in New Mexico, with many jobs offering salaries that aren’t a suitable living wage. Some people blame de-policing as a reason that violent crime has been increasing in cities like Albuquerque.
13. Georgia
Homicide Rate: 6.7 per 100,000 residents.
Georgia has had a new round of homicide issues since the COVID-19 pandemic. A combination of lockdowns, a rise in gun sales, and protests are some of the many contributing factors to Georgia’s relatively high homicide rate.
14. Oklahoma
Homicide Rate: 6.2 per 100,000 residents.
Oklahoma has a moderately high homicide rate. Cities like Shawnee, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City contribute to these unwanted numbers.
15. Ohio
Homicide Rate: 6.1 per 100,000 residents.
Ohio has many drug and crime problems in its cities. Canton and Cleveland are notable contributors to homicide rates, although like anywhere in the U.S., homicides aren’t limited to city residents.
16. Indiana
Homicide Rate: 6.0 per 100,000 residents.
Even though Indiana state as a whole suffers from relatively few homicides compared to the top ten on this list, Indianapolis has made the news for having a higher intentional murder rate than cities like Chicago.
17. Arizona
Homicide Rate: 5.9 per 100,000 residents.
Arizona is the first state on this list to drop below 6.0 homicides per 100,000 residents, making it fit closely with America’s national homicide average. Nevertheless, crimes in Arizona are rising, with the second-highest rate of violent crimes in 2020 in a decade.
18. Kentucky
Homicide Rate: 5.9 per 100,000 residents.
Kentucky is yet another state with middle-of-the-road homicide rates. Louisville, Mayfield, and Pikeville are often the areas where homicides are most concentrated.
19. North Carolina
Homicide Rate: 5.8 per 100,000 residents.
Like so many states, unemployment, poverty, and gang violence are some of the contributing factors to North Carolina’s homicide rate. Lumberton, NC, is one of the worst offenders, with a staggering crime rate of 95 per 1,000 residents.
20. Pennsylvania
Homicide Rate: 5.8 per 100,000 residents.
Pennsylvania falls among the many states with an average homicide rate. McKees Rocks, Darby, and Chester are some of the most dangerous cities in this state.
21. Michigan
Homicide Rate: 5.7 per 100,000 residents.
Michigan State views homicides as a significant public health concern for its residents, with reports of homicide rates being higher between individuals 15 to 34 years old. Research has also shown that Michigan had a disproportionate gender homicide rate, with male victims being almost five times more common than females.
22. Delaware
Homicide Rate: 5.6 per 100,000 residents.
Between 2019 and 2020, Delaware’s murder rate increased by almost 30%. Although such increases were common at the heart of the pandemic, homicide is still an issue in Delaware, with Wilmington and Dewey Beach being some of the most dangerous regions.
23. Kansas
Homicide Rate: 5.5 per 100,000 residents.
Unemployment and drug use are some of the contributing factors to homicide in Kansas. Independence, Coffeyville, and Newton are among the cities where residents need to take extra care.
24. Virginia
Homicide Rate: 5.3 per 100,000 residents.
Homicide rates are moderate in Virginia, with poverty and drug violence being some of the common causes of murder. Parts of Richmond, Portsmouth, and Emporia have some of the most crime-ridden areas in the state.
25. Florida
Homicide Rate: 5.0 per 100,000 residents.
Despite it being legal to carry a firearm in Florida without a permit, this state doesn’t suffer from extreme homicide rates. Nevertheless, people exploring Tallahassee, Miami, and Florida City should practice heightened alert.
26. Texas
Homicide Rate: 5.0 per 100,000 residents.
Texas is tied with Florida for its homicide rates. Areas in Texas that have the highest number of homicides tend to correspond with high unemployment rates, people making minimum wage, and drugs.
27. West Virginia
Homicide Rate: 4.7 per 100,000 residents.
West Virginia is the first state on this list that falls below 5.0 homicides per 100,000 residents. Although this still puts it at around the national average, the recent largest methamphetamine bust in West Virginia’s history indicates that higher homicide rates could be on the way.
28. California
Homicide Rate: 4.6 per 100,000 residents.
California’s ridiculously high cost of living has pushed countless residents to the street. Gang violence is one of the biggest reasons for the state’s homicide rate, though it’s primarily concentrated in cities.
29. Colorado
Homicide Rate: 3.9 per 100,000 residents.
Colorado doesn’t have a massive homicide issue. But it’s still a problem nonetheless. Aurora and Pueblo are some of the most dangerous cities in Colorado.
30. Montana
Homicide Rate: 3.9 per 100,000 residents.
Montana shares Colorado’s homicide ranking. Billings is a city well-known for its high crime, including homicides.
31. New Jersey
Homicide Rate: 3.6 per 100,000 residents.
New Jersey doesn’t have the massive homicide rates of the top ten states on this list. However, 52% of the 368 deaths from gun wounds in 2019 were due to homicide.
32. Iowa
Homicide Rate: 3.3 per 100,000 residents.
Iowa’s homicide rate is on the lower end for states in the U.S. Keokuk is a notoriously dangerous city.
33. Wisconsin
Homicide Rate: 3.2 per 100,000 residents.
The Badger State isn’t rife with homicides. However, it’s home to Milwaukee and Beloit, both cities with a less-than-ideal reputation for unsafe districts.
34. Washington
Homicide Rate: 3.1 per 100,000 residents.
Washington residents enjoy relatively safe streets compared to much of the U.S. Of the homicides that occur, many are sparked by drug use or trafficking.
35. South Dakota
Homicide Rate: 2.9 per 100,000 residents.
We’re moving into the two-range for homicide rates. Since South Dakota is a state that doesn’t require a permit to carry guns, many of the homicides that happen involve these weapons.
36. Connecticut
Homicide Rate: 2.8 per 100,000 residents.
Connecticut’s future is bright, for its violent crime has been declining for over a decade. We may soon see Connecticut lower on this list.
37. New York
Homicide Rate: 2.8 per 100,000 residents.
Unfortunately, New York can’t say the same about declining crime rates. Although it still ranks as having relatively few homicides, murders are rising. New York City is among the biggest offenders.
38. Hawaii
Homicide Rate: 2.7 per 100,000 residents.
Hawaii’s homicide rates aren’t appalling. Nevertheless, homicides and other forms of crime are often attributed to poverty, a low-quality education, and children raised by single parents.
39. Wyoming
Homicide Rate: 2.6 per 100,000 residents.
Wyoming doesn’t struggle with the massive homicide rates in other states. Nevertheless, residents can purchase firearms from a private individual without a background check or waiting period. That could contribute, in part, to the gun-related homicides Wyoming has.
40. Massachusetts
Homicide Rate: 2.5 per 100,000 residents.
Of the homicides that Massachusetts has, many people blame racial and economic disparity as the driving forces. Springfield and Holyoke are some of the cities where more crime occurs.
41. Oregon
Homicide Rate: 2.5 per 100,000 residents.
Gun violence is one of the leading contributors to the homicides that Oregon has. In Portland alone, gun-induced murders increased by 25% in recent years. Nevertheless, Oregon residents and visitors can enjoy many parts of the state with few concerns about their safety.
42. Utah
Homicide Rate: 2.4 per 100,000 residents.
Utah has a lower-than-average homicide rate for the United States. South Salt Lake City and Ogden are a couple of the relatively more dangerous places for people to visit.
43. Nebraska
Homicide Rate: 2.2 per 100,000 residents.
Nebraska has a low homicide rate. Of the homicides that occur, drug use and trafficking or difficult economic conditions are often to blame.
44. Vermont
Homicide Rate: 2.2 per 100,000 residents.
Vermont shares Nebraska’s homicide ranking, and it also has similar homicide instigators. Unfortunately, drive-by shootings and random firings have become increasingly common in Vermont. Time will tell if it keeps its 44th ranking.
45. Minnesota
Homicide Rate: 2.0 per 100,000 residents.
Minnesota is a state where residents and travelers have a low chance of falling victim to homicide. That said, gun-fueled homicides have been increasing in the state, with gun sales augmenting by 180% in the last decade.
46. Idaho
Homicide Rate: 1.9 per 100,000 residents.
Less than two people per 100,000 residents become the victim of a homicide. It’s a refreshing number, though it’s still necessary to practice increased caution in certain more dangerous areas, such as Garden City and Pocatello.
47. Rhode Island
Homicide Rate: 1.9 per 100,000 residents.
Rhode Island has the same homicide rate as Idaho. Of the homicides that happen, poverty and drugs are leading factors.
48. Maine
Homicide Rate: 1.7 per 100,000 residents.
Maine has a very low homicide rate, making it the top three most safe states in the U.S. in terms of homicides. Residents and travelers to Maine can enjoy dining on seafood with little worry about drive-by shootings and other issues many states face.
49. North Dakota
Homicide Rate: 1.3 per 100,000 residents.
North Dakota is one of the least populated US states and has a low homicide rate. Although this state doesn’t make it to the top of many people’s travel bucket lists, it offers three national parks and many outdoor activities.
50. New Hampshire
Homicide Rate: 1.0 per 100,000 residents.
New Hampshire has a refreshingly measly one homicide per 100,000 residents. Of course, one homicide is one too many. However, this is an excellent statistic in a country where the handling of violent crime is a major voting issue during elections.
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This article was produced and syndicated by A Piece of Travel.
