What are the top 10 worst states to live in crime?
Asked by: Prof. Emilia Tromp | Last update: April 19, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (2 votes)
Based on recent data for violent crime rates per capita, the top 10 most dangerous states generally include Alaska, New Mexico, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, California, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, and South Carolina, with Alaska and New Mexico consistently topping the list due to high violent crime incidents relative to their population. Louisiana, New Mexico, and Arkansas frequently appear due to high rates in assaults, homicides, and other violent offenses.
What are the top 10 states with the highest crime rate?
The states with the highest crime rates, particularly violent crime, consistently include Alaska, New Mexico, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana, often followed by states like Missouri, Alabama, South Carolina, Colorado, and Washington, though rankings shift slightly depending on whether violent crime, property crime, or overall danger metrics are used, with data from 2024/2025 showing strong showings for Alaska and New Mexico at the top.
Which state is no. 1 in crime?
Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while some analyses also point to Louisiana for high murder rates or overall danger, though rankings vary slightly depending on whether violent crime, property crime, or general safety metrics are used, with data from 2024 and 2025 consistently showing Alaska and New Mexico leading in violent offenses.
What is the unsafest state to live in?
There's no single "most dangerous" state, as it depends on the criteria, but Louisiana and New Mexico consistently rank high due to high violent crime rates (homicides, assaults). Other states like Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alaska also frequently appear on lists for high violent crime, while factors like road safety (Mississippi, Louisiana) and economic insecurity (Louisiana, Mississippi) add to overall risk scores.
What are the top 10 worst US cities for crime?
The top 10 most dangerous cities in America often feature Memphis, Detroit, Baltimore, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Oakland, with rankings varying slightly by source, but consistently showing high violent crime rates, according to reports from late 2024 and 2025 by entities like U.S. News, Security.org, and WalletHub. Other cities frequently appearing include Birmingham (AL), Kansas City (MO), Cleveland (OH), and Albuquerque (NM), based on metrics like total crime and violent crime rates per capita.
Worst US States to Live In (And Why People Are Leaving)
What US city has the most murders?
While rankings vary slightly by report year (2024/2025 data), cities like St. Louis (Missouri), Memphis (Tennessee), New Orleans (Louisiana), Baltimore (Maryland), and Jackson (Mississippi) consistently appear at the top for the highest murder rates per capita, with Jackson often cited with extremely high rates (e.g., 77.8 per 100k in 2024 data), and St. Louis also frequently holding the highest spot among major cities.
What are the 10 safest cities in the US?
The top 10 safest cities in the U.S. vary by study, but recent rankings highlight Warwick, RI, Overland Park, KS, and Burlington, VT, as top contenders by WalletHub (2025) for overall safety, while SmartAsset (2025) noted San Jose, CA, Los Angeles, CA, and Fort Worth, TX, among the safest large cities, focusing on low violent crime, property crime, and traffic fatalities, demonstrating different metrics lead to varied lists.
What are the top 5 states for murders?
Based on recent data (around 2023-2024), the U.S. states with the highest murder rates (per capita) consistently include Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, New Mexico, and Tennessee, with other states like Alaska, South Carolina, and Missouri also frequently appearing at the top, while the District of Columbia often has the highest rate overall.
What is not the safest state to live in?
Based on recent analyses, Louisiana is frequently cited as the least safe state due to high murder rates and overall poor safety scores, with Mississippi, Texas, Florida, and Arkansas also ranking low in overall safety. Other states with high violent crime rates often include Alaska, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Arkansas, though rankings vary slightly depending on the specific metrics used (e.g., crime, financial security, natural disasters).
What is the happiest state to live in?
Hawaii is the happiest state in America for the second year in a row. Hawaii landed the top spot on WalletHub's list with an overall score of 65.50. It ranked third for emotional and physical well-being, 16th for work environment and 13th for community and environment.
What is a good crime index?
The Index is based on the crime rate per 1,000 population for all crimes in a specific neighborhood or city. A crime index of 80 means a neighborhood is safer than 80% of the neighborhoods in America, and a 50 means the neighborhood is safer than 50% of the neighborhoods in America.
How is crime rate calculated by state?
Crime rate – A crime rate describes the number of crimes reported to law enforcement agencies for every 100,000 persons within a population. A crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population. The result is then multiplied by 100,000.
What is the crime rate in Wyoming?
Crime rates in Wyoming, especially violent crime rates, are among the lowest in the country. In 2022, Wyoming ranked 46th in violent crime rate, at 201.9 per 100,000, a five-year low and down from 223.8 in 2021.
Which state is top in crime rate?
Alaska and New Mexico consistently rank highest for violent crime rates in the U.S., with Alaska often leading for overall violent crime and New Mexico having high rates of specific offenses like aggravated assault, followed closely by states such as Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana, though rankings vary slightly by data source and specific crime type.
Who commits the most violent crimes?
Among known risk factors for being convicted of a violent crime, male sex is the most prominent; men commit about 90 % of violent crimes [1, 3]. Substance abuse carries an increased risk for violent crime, both among offenders [11] and in general population samples [12–14].
What is the toughest state to live in?
There's no single "hardest" state, but studies frequently rank New Mexico, Louisiana, and Arkansas as the toughest due to high poverty, poor education, and crime rates, while Tennessee and Alabama are flagged for quality-of-life issues like crime or lack of inclusivity, and Alaska presents extreme costs and remoteness, making the "hardest" state subjective and dependent on what challenges one finds most difficult.
What state is #1 in safety?
While rankings vary slightly by source, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts consistently rank as the top three safest states in the U.S., according to recent reports from sources like WalletHub and U.S. News, often leading in low crime, financial security, and strong emergency preparedness. Vermont often appears at #1 overall, excelling in neighborhood safety and financial stability, while New Hampshire is frequently cited for its extremely low violent crime rates, and Massachusetts shines in family and health safety metrics.
What is the #1 crime state in America?
Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while some analyses also point to Louisiana for high murder rates or overall danger, though rankings vary slightly depending on whether violent crime, property crime, or general safety metrics are used, with data from 2024 and 2025 consistently showing Alaska and New Mexico leading in violent offenses.
What is the top 10 deadliest city in the US?
The top 10 most dangerous cities in America often feature Memphis, Detroit, Baltimore, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Oakland, with rankings varying slightly by source, but consistently showing high violent crime rates, according to reports from late 2024 and 2025 by entities like U.S. News, Security.org, and WalletHub. Other cities frequently appearing include Birmingham (AL), Kansas City (MO), Cleveland (OH), and Albuquerque (NM), based on metrics like total crime and violent crime rates per capita.
What state has the highest death rate?
Mississippi and West Virginia consistently rank among U.S. states with the highest death rates, often followed by other Southern states like Alabama, Kentucky, and Louisiana, according to data from the CDC and other sources, with factors like poverty, access to healthcare, and chronic diseases contributing to these higher rates, though specific rankings can vary slightly by year and data source.
Where do most murders happen?
In the 2023 homicide report, New Orleans was estimated to have a 2023 homicide rate of 53.8, which placed the city at the top of the list; New Orleans was also the #1 city in the 2022 homicide report.
What is the #1 safest state?
Vermont takes the top spot overall, bolstered by first-place finishes in both financial safety and road safety. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine all rank in the top five, reflecting strong public institutions, lower violent crime rates, and robust emergency preparedness.
What is the #1 best place to live in the US?
There's no single "#1 best place" as it's subjective, but Johns Creek, Georgia was named the top U.S. city to live in by U.S. News for 2025-2026 due to its excellent job market, high quality of life, and safety, while Fremont, California topped WalletHub's happiness index for 2025, highlighting factors like emotional well-being. Other top contenders often cited include suburbs in Texas, North Carolina, and Indiana, and cities like Pittsburgh and Boulder, depending on priorities like affordability, outdoor access, or career opportunities.
Is it safe to walk alone at night?
First and foremost, it's important to stay vigilant if you're walking alone at night. Being aware of your surroundings is essential for your personal safety, so put your phone in your pocket and keep your ears free of headphones.