Which city is the most dangerous in the US? While there’s no definitive answer, experts at personal finance company MoneyGeek have analyzed 292 urban hubs with populations over 100,000 to discover the US cities with the highest crime rates.
They combined the most recent crime statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation with academic research to rank cities by the societal cost of crime per capita (per person). The 2025 report also reveals the rates of violent crimes and property crimes per 100,000 residents in each city.
Click through the gallery to discover the 15 most dangerous cities in the US...
Starting the list is the city known as the ‘birthplace of aviation’ and the hometown of the pioneering Wright Brothers. The city on the Miami River is also home to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and the National Museum of the US Air Force.
However, the stats reveal it’s among the most crime-ridden US cities. The violent crime rate was 1,105 incidents per 100,000 people, with 4,708 property crimes. The crime cost per capita was $5,514 – compared with $2,178 for the country as a whole.
Often referred to as ‘Steel City’ due to its steel-producing past, Pueblo located south of Denver on the Arkansas River is famed for its Historic Arkansas Riverwalk. Visitors also come here to enjoy a range of outdoor activities.
Sadly, it ranks at number 14 on the list, with a crime cost per capita of $5,897. The city has a violent crime rate of 1,474 and a property crime rate of 5,536 per 100,000 residents, according to the MoneyGeek report.
Located on Lake Michigan’s western shore in Wisconsin, Milwaukee has a population of more than 500,000. It draws travelers with its breweries and restaurants, museums, and the charming Riverwalk.
While there are plenty of reasons to visit, Milwaukee ranks as one of the country’s most dangerous cities, with a crime cost of $6,205 per capita. Violent crime figures were at 1,438 per 100,000 people, while property crime was 2,698 incidents per 100,000 people.
Visitors flock to the vibrant city of Shreveport to enjoy great Southern cooking, buzzing casinos and live music. It also hosts a diverse range of festivals throughout the year.
On the downside, Shreveport earns itself a place on the list of most dangerous cities – despite a relatively low violent crime rate of 744. The property crime rate was 4,475 per 100,000 people, while the crime cost per capita was $6,316.
The next entry on the list is the nation’s capital. Home to the National Mall, Lincoln Memorial and 17 Smithsonian museums – among many other cultural sites – the city is a magnet for tourists from around the world.
However, DC comes in at number 11, according to the report, with a crime cost per capita of $6,357. The violent crime rate was 1,047, while the property crime rate reached 4,158 per 100,000 residents.
The top 10 starts with the capital of Arkansas, a city synonymous with the 42nd US president, Bill Clinton, who lived here as the state's attorney general and governor. As well as the Clinton Presidential Center, highlights include the vibrant River Market District and nearby Pinnacle Mountain.
Yet the city also struggles with crime. According to the report, the city’s crime cost per capita was $6,956. Meanwhile, the violent crime rate and property crime rate were 1,801 and 5,427 per 100,000, respectively.
This Missouri city is known for its thriving jazz scene and barbecue culture, not to mention ranking second only to Rome for the number of fountains – Kansas City has 200.
However, the city is also hit hard by crime. Violent crimes were at 1,478 per 100,000 people, while property crime reached 4,958 incidents, according to the MoneyGeek report. The cost of crime per person was $7,081.
The port city of Baltimore offers scenic waterfront views, tasty seafood, and characterful historic neighborhoods.
But Baltimore also ranks as the eighth most dangerous city in the US. It had a high violent crime rate of 1,572 per 100,000 residents, while the figure for property crime was 4,278 incidents. The crime cost was $7,542 per capita.
Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as well as an array of museums and walkable neighborhoods. It also boasts a beautiful location right on Lake Erie.
On the downside, the report reveals its crime cost per capita was $7,700, with violent and property crime rates of 1,703 and 4,813 per 100,000 residents, respectively.
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‘Motor City’ became the automobile capital of the world in the early 20th century and, later, the home of Motown Records. But Detroit also lands at number four in the MoneyGeek analysis.
The crime cost to the city was found to have reached $8,636. The rate of violent felonies was at 2,052, with property crimes at 4,734 per 100,000 people.
Ranking at number five on the list is Oakland, which has been dubbed 'San Francisco's Brooklyn' for its maritime history and creative food and wine scene.
Unfortunately, it had a violent crime rate of 3,641 incidents per 100,000 residents and an equally high property crime rate of 10,117 – the most of any city analyzed for the report. Its crime cost per capita was $9,285.
New Orleans is known for jazz, Creole cuisine, and its thriving French Quarter – not to mention the annual Mardi Gras. Sadly, the famous city on the Mississippi River ranks high on the list of America’s most dangerous cities.
It had a crime cost of $9,375 per capita. The violent crime rate was at 1,361 per 100,000 residents, while the property crime rate was at 5,090 per 100,000 residents.
St Louis on the Mississippi River is famed for its blues music scene and iconic Gateway Arch – America’s tallest monument often called ‘the gateway to the West’.
But the data also puts the city in the top three most dangerous in the US, with a crime cost per capita of $9,752. The violent crime rate was 1,445 per 100,000 residents, while the property crime rate was a steep 6,400 per 100,000 people.
A focal point for the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, Birmingham is also a hub for arts and culture, public parks, and great food.
Unfortunately, the most recent violent crime rate was 1,549 per 100,000 residents, with the property crime rate reaching 4,565 incidents. The crime cost per capita was $10,397, according to MoneyGeek.
Memphis bursts with thriving nightlife, standout barbecue joints, and Southern charm. The city is famous for its live blues music scene centered on Beale Street, as well as landmarks like Graceland and Sun Records.
But it also ranks as the most dangerous city in the US, according to the MoneyGeek report, with the highest crime cost per capita – $11,582. The number of violent crimes was 2,612, with property crime at 8,603 incidents per 100,000 people.
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