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The most dangerous cities in America, ranked

By Elisha Fieldstadt

Updated on: November 9, 2020 / 1:27 PM EST / CBS News

In 2019, FBI data show there were an estimated 366.7 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in the United States. The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program classifies murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault as violent crimes.

These were the 50 American cities with the highest rates of violent crime in 2019.

50. Rochester, New York

In 2019, there were 748 violent crimes per 100,000 people in Rochester.

49. West Palm Beach, Florida

This South Florida city saw 762 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2019.

48. Columbia, South Carolina

There were 775 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in Columbia.

47. Springfield, Illinois

The FBI reports that there were 777 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2019.

46. Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport saw 780 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

There were 35 murders in this city in 2019, more than three times the national population-adjusted rate.

44 (TIE). Syracuse, New York

This city in upstate New York reported 793 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

44 (TIE). Pompano Beach, Florida

There were 793 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in Pompano Beach.

Here, Clinton Jones holds a portrait of his late son Corey Jones, who was shot to death by former police officer Nouman Raja. Raja was convicted of manslaughter and attempted first-degree murder in the case.

43. Corpus Christi, Texas

There were 794 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2019.

42. Modesto, California

Modesto reported 812 violent crimes per 100,000 people.

The aggravated assault rate in Modesto was more than double the national rate.

41. Greensboro, North Carolina

There were 819 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in Greensboro, according to FBI data.

39 (TIE). Cincinnati, Ohio

For every 100,000 residents in Cincinnati, there were 845 violent crimes in 2019. The rate of rapes in Cincinnati was more than double the national rate.

39 (TIE). Vallejo, California

Vallejo reported 845 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

38. Hartford, Connecticut

The violent crime rate in Hartford is 858 per 100,000 residents.

There were 21 people murdered there in 2019.

37. Indianapolis, Indiana

There were 887 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in Indianapolis.

36. New Haven, Connecticut

The violent crime rate in New Haven was 895 per 100,000 residents.

35. Akron, Ohio

Akron reported 901 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

The robbery rate in Akron was more than double the national rate in 2019.

34. Springfield, Massachusetts

There were 905 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2019, including 20 murders.

Here, anti-gun-violence activists protest outside of the Smith and Wesson headquarters in Springfield.

33. Minneapolis, Minnesota

The violent crime rate in Minneapolis is 926 per 100,000 residents.

There were 46 murders in 2019.

32. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baton Rouge reported 936 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

31. Chicago, Illinois

The violent crime rate in Chicago is 943 per 100,000 residents. 

30. Toledo, Ohio

There were 952 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2019.

29. Dayton, Ohio

Dayton reported 962 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

28. North Charleston, South Carolina

There were 966 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2019.

Former North Charleston police officer Michael Slager, seen here, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for the 2015 shooting death of Walter Scott, an unarmed Black man who was shot in the back during a traffic stop.

27. Washington D.C.

The nation's capital reported 977 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

26. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa officials reported 987 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

25. Buffalo, New York

There were 991 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in Buffalo.

24. Lubbock, Texas

There were 1,008 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2019. 

There were 268 rapes in 2019; that's more than double the population-adjusted national rate.

23. Odessa, Texas

Odessa saw 1,038 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

In 2019, seven people were killed and 22 injured during a shooting rampage in Odessa and Midland that began with a traffic stop. Law enforcement officials said the shooter was also killed.

22. Peoria, Illinois

There were 1,044 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in Peoria.

21. Beaumont, Texas

The violent crime rate in Beaumont is 1,047 per 100,000 residents. 

In 2019, 19 people were murdered there.

20. Chattanooga, Tennessee

The violent crime rate in Chattanooga is 1,070 per 100,000 residents.

The city saw a 1.2% increase in violent crime between 2018 and 2019.

19. Houston, Texas

Texas' most populous city is also its most dangerous. The violent crime rate is 1,072 incidents per 100,000 residents.

18. Nashville, Tennessee

The rate of violent crime in Nashville is 1,073 per 100,000 residents. 

In 2019, FBI data said 83 people were murdered there.

17. Lansing, Michigan

The violent crime rate in Lansing is 1,104 per 100,000 residents.

Twelve murders were reported in the city in 2019. 

16. Wichita, Kansas

Wichita reported 1,141 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2019.

15. New Orleans, Louisiana

The violent crime rate in New Orleans is 1,145 per 100,000 residents.

There were 121 murders within the city limits in 2019.

14. Rockford, Illinois

The violent crime rate in Rockford, in northern Illinois, is 1,174 per 100,000 residents. 

Fourteen people were murdered in that city in 2019. 

13. Anchorage, Alaska

The violent crime rate in Anchorage is 1,245 per 100,000 residents.

12. Oakland, California

The violent crime rate in Oakland is 1,272 crimes per 100,000 residents.

There were 78 murders in the city in 2019. 

11. San Bernardino, California

The violent crime rate in San Bernardino is 1,319 per 100,000 residents.

In 2019, 46 people in the city were murdered.

10. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The violent crime rate in Milwaukee is 1,332 incidents per 100,000 residents. 

9. Albuquerque, New Mexico

The violent crime rate in Albuquerque is 1,352 per 100,000 residents. 

There were 84 people murdered there in 2019.

8. Stockton, California

The violent crime rate in Stockton is 1,397 per 100,000 residents. 

In 2019, there were 34 murders there.

6 (TIE). Cleveland, Ohio

The violent crime rate in Cleveland is 1,517 per 100,000 residents.

6 (TIE). Little Rock, Arkansas

The violent crime rate in Little Rock is 1,517 per 100,000 residents. 

The aggravated assault rate in this city was nearly five times the national rate.

5. Springfield, Missouri

The violent crime rate in Springfield is 1,519 per 100,000 residents.

There were 356 rapes there in 2019. That's nearly five times the national rate.

4. Baltimore, Maryland

The violent crime rate in Baltimore is 1,859 per 100,000 people. 

In 2019, 348 people in Baltimore were murdered.

3. Memphis, Tennessee

The violent crime rate in Memphis is 1,901 per 100,000 residents. 

In 2019, 190 people were murdered there.

2. St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis has a violent crime rate of 1,927 per 100,000 people.

In 2019, 194 people were murdered in that city.

1. Detroit, Michigan

Detroit overtook St. Louis as the nation's new most dangerous city. Detroit's violent crime rate is 1,965 incidents per 100,000 residents.

In 2019, 275 people were murdered.

First published on March 14, 2018 / 3:12 PM EDT

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