Updated April 2026 · FBI UCR 2023

Murder Rates by City (2023)

Intentional homicide rates per 100,000 residents

Per-capita murder rates from FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data, with the U.S. national average of 5.7/100K shown alongside every city. Of 248 U.S. cities tracked here, 165 report rates above the national average and 83 below.

Murder Robbery Aggravated Assault Burglary Larceny-Theft Vehicle Theft

What the FBI Counts as Murder

In the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program, "murder" specifically means murder and nonnegligent manslaughter — the willful killing of a human being. Negligent manslaughter, justifiable homicide, suicide, and traffic fatalities are excluded. Murder is the rarest of the FBI Part I offenses, the most reliably reported (because cases almost always reach police), and the most stable measurement across reporting systems. That makes it the single most useful per-capita rate for cross-city comparison even though it represents a tiny share of total crime.

National Pattern for Murder

The U.S. national murder rate is 5.7 per 100,000 residents — small in absolute terms compared to other Part I offenses, but the most consequential individual category. Murder rates rose nationally during 2020-2021 and have largely retreated since. Cities at the high end of the distribution often concentrate murder in a small number of neighborhoods; the city-wide rate is rarely the rate in any specific district. For relocation decisions, neighborhood-level homicide data from local police or the Bureau of Justice Statistics is a better complement than the city-wide figure alone.

How to Read Murder Rates by City

For relocation comparisons, treat murder rates as the single most reliable cross-city signal because reporting completeness is uniform — almost every case reaches police. But also pair them with neighborhood data: the city rate rarely reflects the rate on any specific block.

City-level rates always smooth over neighborhood-level variation. A useful complement is your local police department's open-data portal, which usually publishes district- or beat-level offense counts. The FBI Crime Data Explorer is the canonical source for the figures shown below; the Bureau of Justice Statistics publishes additional context on the share of murder that goes unreported to police.

Cohort Ranked by Murder Rate

#	City	Population	Murder/100K	vs National	Safety Score
1	San Diego, CA	1.4M	22.1	+288%	C
2	Little Rock, AR	203K	21.9	+284%	D
3	Montgomery, AL	201K	21.7	+281%	D
4	Winston-Salem, NC	250K	21	+268%	C
5	McKinney, TX	195K	20	+251%	D
6	Alexandria, VA	159K	20	+251%	D
7	Amarillo, TX	200K	19.8	+247%	C
8	Concord, CA	129K	19.6	+244%	D
9	Independence, MO	123K	19.6	+244%	D
10	Pembroke Pines, FL	171K	19.5	+242%	C
11	Fort Worth, TX	919K	19.3	+239%	D
12	Lubbock, TX	264K	19	+233%	C
13	Palmdale, CA	169K	19	+233%	C
14	Roseville, CA	148K	18.9	+232%	C
15	San Bernardino, CA	222K	18.8	+230%	C
16	Joliet, IL	150K	18.7	+228%	C
17	Garland, TX	246K	18.5	+225%	D
18	Newport News, VA	186K	18.4	+223%	C
19	Ann Arbor, MI	124K	18.1	+218%	C
20	Lakewood, NJ	135K	18.1	+218%	C
21	Springfield, MO	169K	17.9	+214%	C
22	Evansville, IN	117K	17.5	+207%	C
23	Tallahassee, FL	196K	17.3	+204%	C
24	Meridian, ID	118K	17.2	+202%	B
25	Yonkers, NY	212K	16.9	+196%	C
26	Kansas City, MO	508K	16.8	+195%	C
27	Cheyenne, WY	65K	16.6	+191%	C
28	Lansing, MI	113K	16.5	+189%	D
29	Madison, WI	270K	16.4	+188%	C
30	Clarksville, TN	167K	16.2	+184%	C
31	Spokane, WA	229K	16	+181%	C
32	Victorville, CA	135K	15.8	+177%	C
33	Tampa, FL	400K	15.7	+175%	C
34	Warwick, RI	83K	15.5	+172%	B
35	Eugene, OR	177K	15.3	+168%	C
36	Clovis, CA	120K	15	+163%	C
37	Atlanta, GA	499K	14.8	+160%	D
38	Colorado Springs, CO	479K	14.2	+149%	D
39	Santa Clarita, CA	229K	14.2	+149%	D
40	Escondido, CA	151K	14	+146%	B
41	Miramar, FL	135K	13.9	+144%	C
42	Akron, OH	190K	13.7	+140%	B
43	Salem, OR	179K	13.6	+139%	D
44	Murrieta, CA	113K	13.6	+139%	D
45	Sparks, NV	108K	13.5	+137%	D
46	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	178K	13.4	+135%	B
47	St. Petersburg, FL	258K	13.4	+135%	C
48	Broken Arrow, OK	114K	13.4	+135%	D
49	Cedar Rapids, IA	138K	13.4	+135%	D
50	Springfield, MA	156K	13.4	+135%	D
51	Columbia, MO	126K	13.3	+133%	D
52	Paterson, NJ	160K	13.3	+133%	D
53	Hampton, VA	137K	13.3	+133%	D
54	Pomona, CA	151K	13.1	+130%	B
55	Beaumont, TX	115K	13	+128%	B
56	Tucson, AZ	543K	12.7	+123%	B
57	Fresno, CA	542K	12.7	+123%	D
58	Virginia Beach, VA	459K	12.4	+118%	C
59	Norfolk, VA	238K	12.4	+118%	C
60	Phoenix, AZ	1.7M	12.3	+116%	C
61	Oceanside, CA	176K	12	+111%	C
62	Sacramento, CA	525K	12	+111%	C
63	Santa Ana, CA	309K	12	+111%	D
64	Chandler, AZ	276K	12	+111%	D
65	San Antonio, TX	1.5M	11.9	+109%	C
66	Abilene, TX	124K	11.9	+109%	C
67	Macon, GA	157K	11.9	+109%	C
68	Norman, OK	128K	11.8	+107%	C
69	Nashville, TN	689K	11.7	+105%	B
70	Oxnard, CA	202K	11.7	+105%	D
71	Cleveland, OH	373K	11.6	+104%	C
72	Jersey City, NJ	292K	11.5	+102%	C
73	Reno, NV	264K	11.3	+98%	C
74	Chicago, IL	2.7M	11.2	+96%	B
75	Henderson, NV	320K	11.1	+95%	B
76	Charlotte, NC	875K	11	+93%	C
77	Round Rock, TX	133K	11	+93%	C
78	Cincinnati, OH	309K	10.9	+91%	B
79	North Las Vegas, NV	263K	10.9	+91%	C
80	Philadelphia, PA	1.6M	10.8	+89%	B
81	Plano, TX	285K	10.6	+86%	C
82	Ontario, CA	175K	10.6	+86%	C
83	Manchester, NH	116K	10.6	+86%	C
84	Baton Rouge, LA	228K	10.4	+82%	B
85	Lakeland, FL	113K	10.3	+81%	B
86	Orlando, FL	308K	10.2	+79%	B
87	Rockford, IL	149K	10.1	+77%	C
88	Bellevue, WA	152K	10	+75%	C
89	Bakersfield, CA	403K	9.9	+74%	B
90	West Jordan, UT	117K	9.9	+74%	C
91	Long Beach, CA	467K	9.7	+70%	C
92	St. Louis, MO	302K	9.7	+70%	C
93	Charleston, WV	47K	9.7	+70%	C
94	Carrollton, TX	133K	9.6	+68%	C
95	Gainesville, FL	141K	9.5	+67%	C
96	Elk Grove, CA	176K	9.4	+65%	C
97	Arvada, CO	124K	9.3	+63%	B
98	Boulder, CO	106K	9.3	+63%	B
99	Oakland, CA	433K	9.3	+63%	C
100	Frisco, TX	201K	9.3	+63%	C
101	Washington, DC	690K	9.2	+61%	C
102	New Haven, CT	134K	8.8	+54%	C
103	Los Angeles, CA	4.0M	8.8	+54%	C
104	San Francisco, CA	874K	8.7	+53%	C
105	Toledo, OH	271K	8.7	+53%	C
106	Fremont, CA	231K	8.6	+51%	C
107	Memphis, TN	633K	8.5	+49%	B
108	Augusta, GA	202K	8.5	+49%	C
109	Las Vegas, NV	647K	8.2	+44%	B
110	Shreveport, LA	188K	8.2	+44%	C
111	Newark, NJ	312K	8.1	+42%	C
112	Lakewood, CO	156K	8.1	+42%	C
113	Centennial, CO	108K	8	+40%	C
114	Dallas, TX	1.3M	8	+40%	D
115	Richmond, VA	227K	7.9	+39%	B
116	Jacksonville, FL	955K	7.6	+33%	D
117	Mesa, AZ	504K	7.6	+33%	D
118	Buffalo, NY	278K	7.6	+33%	D
119	Grand Rapids, MI	199K	7.5	+32%	C
120	Huntsville, AL	215K	7.4	+30%	B
121	Salt Lake City, UT	200K	7.4	+30%	C
122	Overland Park, KS	197K	7.3	+28%	C
123	Indianapolis, IN	888K	7.3	+28%	C
124	Milwaukee, WI	577K	7.2	+26%	B
125	Lewisville, TX	112K	7.2	+26%	B
126	Raleigh, NC	468K	7.2	+26%	D
127	Greensboro, NC	299K	7.2	+26%	D
128	New Orleans, LA	384K	7.2	+26%	D
129	Brownsville, TX	187K	7.1	+25%	B
130	Clearwater, FL	117K	7.1	+25%	C
131	Seattle, WA	749K	7.1	+25%	C
132	Fontana, CA	215K	7.1	+25%	D
133	Bend, OR	99K	7	+23%	B
134	Hialeah, FL	223K	6.9	+21%	B
135	Corona, CA	157K	6.8	+19%	D
136	Simi Valley, CA	127K	6.8	+19%	D
137	Topeka, KS	127K	6.7	+18%	B
138	Thornton, CO	142K	6.7	+18%	D
139	Savannah, GA	148K	6.6	+16%	B
140	Surprise, AZ	142K	6.6	+16%	B
141	Chesapeake, VA	249K	6.6	+16%	C
142	Thousand Oaks, CA	127K	6.6	+16%	D
143	Albuquerque, NM	565K	6.5	+14%	D
144	Denver, CO	716K	6.5	+14%	D
145	Scottsdale, AZ	241K	6.4	+12%	B
146	Portland, OR	653K	6.3	+11%	B
147	Waco, TX	138K	6.3	+11%	B
148	Killeen, TX	153K	6.3	+11%	B
149	Hayward, CA	163K	6.3	+11%	C
150	Cape Coral, FL	194K	6.3	+11%	C
151	Bismarck, ND	74K	6.2	+9%	B
152	Wichita, KS	398K	6.2	+9%	D
153	Corpus Christi, TX	318K	6.2	+9%	D
154	Lancaster, CA	174K	6.1	+7%	B
155	Bangor, ME	32K	6.1	+7%	D
156	Gilbert, AZ	268K	6.1	+7%	D
157	Nampa, ID	100K	6	+5%	B
158	Tyler, TX	106K	6	+5%	C
159	Garden Grove, CA	173K	5.9	+4%	B
160	Federal Way, WA	101K	5.9	+4%	C
161	Baltimore, MD	586K	5.9	+4%	C
162	Hartford, CT	121K	5.8	+2%	B
163	League City, TX	115K	5.8	+2%	B
164	Providence, RI	191K	5.8	+2%	C
165	Sioux Falls, SD	193K	5.8	+2%	C
166	Birmingham, AL	201K	5.7	0%	A
167	Bridgeport, CT	149K	5.7	0%	B
168	Fishers, IN	101K	5.7	0%	B
169	Anaheim, CA	350K	5.7	0%	C
170	Fort Wayne, IN	264K	5.7	0%	C
171	Columbia, SC	137K	5.6	-2%	C
172	Pittsburgh, PA	303K	5.6	-2%	C
173	Wilmington, NC	115K	5.5	-4%	A
174	Sunnyvale, CA	156K	5.5	-4%	C
175	Honolulu, HI	351K	5.3	-7%	C
176	Pasadena, CA	139K	5.2	-9%	A
177	Columbus, OH	906K	5.2	-9%	B
178	Casper, WY	59K	5.2	-9%	C
179	Westminster, CO	116K	5.1	-11%	B
180	Midland, TX	138K	4.9	-14%	C
181	Chula Vista, CA	275K	4.8	-16%	B
182	Glendale, AZ	248K	4.8	-16%	B
183	Aurora, CO	386K	4.8	-16%	B
184	Pearland, TX	126K	4.8	-16%	B
185	Santa Rosa, CA	178K	4.8	-16%	B
186	Port St. Lucie, FL	205K	4.6	-19%	B
187	Murfreesboro, TN	153K	4.6	-19%	B
188	Tuscaloosa, AL	100K	4.6	-19%	C
189	Miami, FL	442K	4.5	-21%	B
190	Naperville, IL	150K	4.4	-23%	B
191	Palm Bay, FL	120K	4.4	-23%	B
192	Billings, MT	117K	4.4	-23%	B
193	Cary, NC	175K	4.4	-23%	B
194	Edmond, OK	100K	4.4	-23%	B
195	Denton, TX	148K	4.4	-23%	B
196	Pasadena, TX	152K	4.3	-25%	B
197	Tempe, AZ	181K	4.2	-26%	B
198	Coral Springs, FL	134K	4.2	-26%	B
199	Irving, TX	257K	4.2	-26%	C
200	Sterling Heights, MI	134K	4.1	-28%	B
201	Tacoma, WA	219K	4.1	-28%	C
202	Green Bay, WI	107K	4	-30%	B
203	El Paso, TX	679K	4	-30%	B
204	Durham, NC	284K	4	-30%	C
205	Arlington, TX	394K	3.9	-32%	B
206	Boise, ID	236K	3.9	-32%	C
207	Omaha, NE	486K	3.8	-33%	B
208	Burlington, VT	45K	3.7	-35%	B
209	Tulsa, OK	413K	3.7	-35%	B
210	Peoria, AZ	191K	3.7	-35%	B
211	Provo, UT	115K	3.7	-35%	B
212	New York, NY	8.3M	3.6	-37%	C
213	Vallejo, CA	122K	3.5	-39%	A
214	Visalia, CA	141K	3.5	-39%	A
215	Dayton, OH	138K	3.5	-39%	B
216	Louisville, KY	629K	3.4	-40%	C
217	Knoxville, TN	191K	3.3	-42%	B
218	West Palm Beach, FL	117K	3.2	-44%	B
219	Lexington, KY	323K	3.2	-44%	C
220	Lincoln, NE	291K	3.2	-44%	C
221	Oklahoma City, OK	681K	3.2	-44%	C
222	Boston, MA	676K	3.1	-46%	C
223	Austin, TX	979K	3	-47%	C
224	Moreno Valley, CA	212K	2.9	-49%	C
225	Chattanooga, TN	181K	2.8	-51%	B
226	Torrance, CA	144K	2.6	-54%	C
227	San Jose, CA	1.0M	2.5	-56%	B
228	Laredo, TX	255K	2.5	-56%	B
229	Charleston, SC	150K	2.5	-56%	B
230	Minneapolis, MN	430K	2.4	-58%	B
231	Worcester, MA	207K	2.4	-58%	B
232	Riverside, CA	315K	2.4	-58%	B
233	Irvine, CA	308K	2.4	-58%	B
234	Rapid City, SD	78K	2.4	-58%	B
235	Stockton, CA	321K	2.3	-60%	B
236	Fayetteville, NC	209K	2.3	-60%	B
237	Houston, TX	2.3M	2.2	-61%	B
238	Springfield, IL	114K	2.2	-61%	B
239	Mobile, AL	187K	2.2	-61%	B
240	Anchorage, AK	291K	2.1	-63%	B
241	Des Moines, IA	214K	2.1	-63%	B
242	Rochester, NY	211K	2.1	-63%	B
243	College Station, TX	121K	2.1	-63%	B
244	Fargo, ND	126K	2.1	-63%	B
245	Modesto, CA	218K	1.9	-67%	A
246	Jackson, MS	154K	1.9	-67%	B
247	Peoria, IL	113K	1.9	-67%	B
248	Pueblo, CO	112K	1.7	-70%	A

All rates per 100,000 residents. National average: 5.7/100K. Source: FBI UCR 2023, accessed via the FBI Crime Data Explorer.

How Murder Fits Into the Safety Context Score

The Safety Context Score combines three FBI UCR signals: per-capita violent crime versus the U.S. average (40%), per-capita property crime versus the U.S. average (30%), and the direction of the 5-year trend (30%). Murder is part of the violent crime composite, so a city's murder rate flows into one of the two crime-rate components alongside the other offenses in that group. Read the full methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the FBI count as murder?

What is the national average murder rate?

The U.S. national murder rate is 5.7 per 100,000 residents according to the most recent FBI UCR estimates. 165 of the 248 cities tracked here report rates above that average; 83 report rates below it. The U.S. rate itself is computed from the FBI's annual estimates that adjust for non-reporting agencies.

Why use per-capita rates instead of total murder counts?

Total counts unfairly penalize larger cities. A city of two million residents reporting more total murder incidents than a city of 50,000 is almost always safer per resident, but the raw count makes the larger city look worse. Per 100,000 residents — the FBI's standard unit — is the only fair basis for cross-city comparison.

How does murder fit into the Safety Context Score?

Murder is part of the violent crime composite, which contributes 40% of the Safety Context Score. Violent crime — murder, robbery, and aggravated assault combined — is weighted more than property crime because the per-incident impact is much higher. The 5-year trend direction contributes a further 30% to the score.

Where can I verify these numbers?

Every figure traces back to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program, accessible at the FBI Crime Data Explorer (cde.ucr.cjis.gov). Population denominators come from U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (bjs.ojp.gov) publishes complementary unreported-crime context through the National Crime Victimization Survey. The data is public domain.

Violent Crime →Property Crime →Safest Cities →Methodology →

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reporting Program (2023), accessed via the FBI Crime Data Explorer. Population denominators from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program. Reporting context from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Public domain.

Last refreshed 2026-04-06 · All rates per 100,000 residents.