Cities Where Crime Is Rising (2023)
These cities have seen the largest increases in per-capita crime rates over the past 5 years. A rising trend does not mean a city is "dangerous" — many cities on this list still have below-average crime rates overall.
Context matters: A city can have rising crime and still be safer than the national average. For example, a city with a violent crime rate of 200 per 100,000 (well below the national average of 363.8) may appear on this list if its rate was 150 five years ago. The trend is concerning, but the overall level is still low. Always check both the rate and the trend.
Cities With Fastest Rising Crime Rates
| # | City | Population | Violent/100K | Property/100K | 5-Year Change | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Federal Way, WA | 101K | 297.2 | 1,288 | +9.0% | C |
| 2 | Chesapeake, VA | 249K | 328.5 | 1,424 | +9.0% | C |
| 3 | New York, NY | 8.3M | 359.8 | 1,981 | +9.0% | C |
| 4 | Garland, TX | 246K | 615 | 1,616 | +9.0% | D |
| 5 | Wichita, KS | 398K | 615 | 2,386 | +9.0% | D |
| 6 | Corpus Christi, TX | 318K | 615 | 2,386 | +9.0% | D |
| 7 | Buffalo, NY | 278K | 758.3 | 2,097 | +9.0% | D |
| 8 | Lexington, KY | 323K | 322.8 | 1,405 | +8.0% | C |
| 9 | Lincoln, NE | 291K | 322.8 | 1,405 | +8.0% | C |
| 10 | New Haven, CT | 134K | 292 | 1,619 | +8.0% | C |
| 11 | Casper, WY | 59K | 261.3 | 1,760 | +8.0% | C |
| 12 | Long Beach, CA | 467K | 322.8 | 1,789 | +8.0% | C |
| 13 | St. Louis, MO | 302K | 322.8 | 1,789 | +8.0% | C |
| 14 | Sioux Falls, SD | 193K | 292 | 1,967 | +8.0% | C |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | 749K | 353.5 | 2,381 | +8.0% | C |
| 16 | Round Rock, TX | 133K | 551.2 | 1,445 | +8.0% | C |
| 17 | Bangor, ME | 32K | 609.2 | 1,371 | +8.0% | D |
| 18 | Lansing, MI | 113K | 551.2 | 2,141 | +8.0% | D |
| 19 | Gilbert, AZ | 268K | 609.3 | 1,982 | +8.0% | D |
| 20 | Salem, OR | 179K | 680.9 | 2,228 | +8.0% | D |
| 21 | Murrieta, CA | 113K | 680.9 | 2,228 | +8.0% | D |
| 22 | Sparks, NV | 108K | 675.7 | 1,863 | +7.0% | D |
| 23 | Corona, CA | 157K | 675.7 | 2,211 | +7.0% | D |
| 24 | Simi Valley, CA | 127K | 675.7 | 2,211 | +7.0% | D |
| 25 | Columbia, SC | 137K | 281.7 | 1,236 | +6.0% | C |
| 26 | Louisville, KY | 629K | 341 | 1,918 | +6.0% | C |
| 27 | Oakland, CA | 433K | 311.3 | 2,136 | +6.0% | C |
| 28 | Frisco, TX | 201K | 311.3 | 2,136 | +6.0% | C |
| 29 | Shreveport, LA | 188K | 411.3 | 2,019 | +6.0% | C |
| 30 | Charleston, WV | 47K | 483.9 | 1,573 | +6.0% | C |
| 31 | Clarksville, TN | 167K | 540.9 | 1,410 | +6.0% | C |
| 32 | Santa Ana, CA | 309K | 597.8 | 1,943 | +6.0% | D |
| 33 | Chandler, AZ | 276K | 597.8 | 1,943 | +6.0% | D |
| 34 | Broken Arrow, OK | 114K | 670.5 | 1,497 | +6.0% | D |
| 35 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 138K | 670.5 | 1,497 | +6.0% | D |
| 36 | Springfield, MA | 156K | 670.5 | 1,497 | +6.0% | D |
| 37 | Atlanta, GA | 499K | 741.1 | 1,655 | +6.0% | D |
| 38 | Denver, CO | 716K | 654.7 | 2,550 | +6.0% | D |
| 39 | Chattanooga, TN | 181K | 276.5 | 1,219 | +5.0% | B |
| 40 | Sunnyvale, CA | 156K | 276.5 | 1,915 | +5.0% | C |
| 41 | Thornton, CO | 142K | 665.3 | 1,480 | +5.0% | D |
| 42 | McKinney, TX | 195K | 665.3 | 1,828 | +5.0% | D |
| 43 | Alexandria, VA | 159K | 665.3 | 1,828 | +5.0% | D |
| 44 | Albuquerque, NM | 565K | 648.5 | 2,107 | +5.0% | D |
| 45 | Columbia, MO | 126K | 665.3 | 2,176 | +5.0% | D |
| 46 | Paterson, NJ | 160K | 665.3 | 2,176 | +5.0% | D |
| 47 | Hampton, VA | 137K | 665.3 | 2,176 | +5.0% | D |
| 48 | Lakewood, CO | 156K | 271.3 | 2,246 | +4.0% | C |
| 49 | Ontario, CA | 175K | 530.5 | 2,071 | +4.0% | C |
| 50 | Manchester, NH | 116K | 530.5 | 2,071 | +4.0% | C |
| 51 | Oxnard, CA | 202K | 586.4 | 2,290 | +4.0% | D |
| 52 | Fort Worth, TX | 919K | 642.2 | 2,086 | +4.0% | D |
| 53 | Little Rock, AR | 203K | 729.6 | 1,616 | +4.0% | D |
| 54 | Thousand Oaks, CA | 127K | 660.1 | 2,158 | +4.0% | D |
| 55 | Dallas, TX | 1.3M | 799.1 | 2,613 | +4.0% | D |
| 56 | Rapid City, SD | 78K | 238.1 | 1,371 | +3.0% | B |
| 57 | Centennial, CO | 108K | 266.1 | 1,880 | +3.0% | C |
| 58 | Abilene, TX | 124K | 395.7 | 1,619 | +3.0% | C |
| 59 | Macon, GA | 157K | 395.7 | 1,619 | +3.0% | C |
| 60 | Victorville, CA | 135K | 525.3 | 1,358 | +3.0% | C |
| 61 | Toledo, OH | 271K | 437.4 | 2,174 | +3.0% | C |
| 62 | Cleveland, OH | 373K | 580.6 | 1,885 | +3.0% | C |
| 63 | Fresno, CA | 542K | 635.9 | 2,065 | +3.0% | D |
| 64 | Concord, CA | 129K | 654.9 | 2,141 | +3.0% | D |
| 65 | Independence, MO | 123K | 654.9 | 2,141 | +3.0% | D |
| 66 | New Orleans, LA | 384K | 723.9 | 1,982 | +3.0% | D |
| 67 | Montgomery, AL | 201K | 723.9 | 2,366 | +3.0% | D |
| 68 | Bend, OR | 99K | 233.5 | 1,355 | +2.0% | B |
| 69 | Torrance, CA | 144K | 260.9 | 2,211 | +2.0% | C |
| 70 | Moreno Valley, CA | 212K | 288.4 | 2,443 | +2.0% | C |
| 71 | Oklahoma City, OK | 681K | 315.9 | 2,676 | +2.0% | C |
| 72 | Fremont, CA | 231K | 431.6 | 1,770 | +2.0% | C |
| 73 | Jersey City, NJ | 292K | 574.9 | 1,481 | +2.0% | C |
| 74 | Pembroke Pines, FL | 171K | 649.7 | 1,776 | +2.0% | C |
| 75 | Raleigh, NC | 468K | 718.1 | 1,578 | +2.0% | D |
| 76 | Greensboro, NC | 299K | 718.1 | 1,578 | +2.0% | D |
| 77 | Westminster, CO | 116K | 255.8 | 1,497 | +1.0% | B |
| 78 | Boston, MA | 676K | 309.6 | 2,234 | +1.0% | C |
| 79 | Augusta, GA | 202K | 425.9 | 1,366 | +1.0% | C |
| 80 | Tuscaloosa, AL | 100K | 460.8 | 1,184 | +1.0% | C |
| 81 | Anaheim, CA | 350K | 569.2 | 1,462 | +1.0% | C |
| 82 | Fort Wayne, IN | 264K | 569.2 | 1,462 | +1.0% | C |
| 83 | Colorado Springs, CO | 479K | 712.4 | 1,943 | +1.0% | D |
| 84 | Santa Clarita, CA | 229K | 712.4 | 1,943 | +1.0% | D |
5-year change reflects overall crime rate trend from 2019 to 2023. Positive values indicate crime increased. All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.