Updated April 2026 · FBI UCR 2023 data

Violent Crime Rates by City (2023)

U.S. cities ranked by per-capita violent crime rate, including murder, robbery, and aggravated assault. The national average violent crime rate is 363.8 per 100,000 residents. Among the top 50 cities here, the average is materially higher, dominated by aggravated assault at 421.3 per 100,000.

What counts as violent crime. The FBI defines violent crime as four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. All involve force or the threat of force. Per-capita rates let you compare cities of any size fairly — a city with more total incidents may actually have a lower rate per resident.

The Sub-Components of "Violent Crime"

The composite violent-crime rate is dominated by aggravated assault, which makes up the largest share by frequency in nearly every U.S. city. Robbery — taking property by force or threat — is the second-largest component and tends to concentrate in commercial corridors and transit nodes. Murder is the smallest component by frequency but receives disproportionate attention because the harm is irreversible. Rape rates have changed materially with reporting and definitional updates over the past decade and are reported separately on the FBI Crime Data Explorer.

Across the top 50 cities on this list, the average sub-component rates are: aggravated assault 421.3 per 100,000, robbery 136.3, and murder 13.4. Comparing those to national averages — assault 246.4, robbery 73, and murder 5.7 — gives you a sense of which categories are driving the rankings. The Bureau of Justice Statistics publishes annual deep-dives on each component.

Highest Violent Crime Rates

#	City	Population	Violent/100K	Murder/100K	Robbery/100K	Assault/100K	Grade
1	Dallas, TX	1.3M	799.1	8	151.8	511.4	D
2	Jacksonville, FL	955K	761.4	7.6	175.1	441.6	D
3	Mesa, AZ	504K	761.4	7.6	175.1	441.6	D
4	Buffalo, NY	278K	758.3	7.6	182	485.3	D
5	Atlanta, GA	499K	741.1	14.8	155.6	415	D
6	San Diego, CA	1.4M	736.3	22.1	139.9	508	C
7	Indianapolis, IN	888K	730.1	7.3	131.4	423.5	C
8	Little Rock, AR	203K	729.6	21.9	138.6	503.4	D
9	New Orleans, LA	384K	723.9	7.2	130.3	419.9	D
10	Montgomery, AL	201K	723.9	21.7	130.3	456.1	D
11	Raleigh, NC	468K	718.1	7.2	122.1	481.1	D
12	Greensboro, NC	299K	718.1	7.2	122.1	481.1	D
13	Colorado Springs, CO	479K	712.4	14.2	114	398.9	D
14	Santa Clarita, CA	229K	712.4	14.2	114	398.9	D
15	Fontana, CA	215K	706.7	7.1	106	388.7	D
16	Winston-Salem, NC	250K	701	21	168.2	483.7	C
17	Salem, OR	179K	680.9	13.6	156.6	463	D
18	Murrieta, CA	113K	680.9	13.6	156.6	463	D
19	Sparks, NV	108K	675.7	13.5	148.7	418.9	D
20	Corona, CA	157K	675.7	6.8	148.7	452.7	D
21	Simi Valley, CA	127K	675.7	6.8	148.7	452.7	D
22	St. Petersburg, FL	258K	672.3	13.4	127.7	396.7	C
23	Broken Arrow, OK	114K	670.5	13.4	140.8	375.5	D
24	Cedar Rapids, IA	138K	670.5	13.4	140.8	375.5	D
25	Springfield, MA	156K	670.5	13.4	140.8	375.5	D
26	Thornton, CO	142K	665.3	6.7	133.1	365.9	D
27	McKinney, TX	195K	665.3	20	133.1	399.2	D
28	Alexandria, VA	159K	665.3	20	133.1	399.2	D
29	Columbia, MO	126K	665.3	13.3	133.1	432.4	D
30	Paterson, NJ	160K	665.3	13.3	133.1	432.4	D
31	Hampton, VA	137K	665.3	13.3	133.1	432.4	D
32	Amarillo, TX	200K	660.8	19.8	112.3	376.7	C
33	Thousand Oaks, CA	127K	660.1	6.6	125.4	422.5	D
34	Concord, CA	129K	654.9	19.6	117.9	412.6	D
35	Independence, MO	123K	654.9	19.6	117.9	412.6	D
36	Denver, CO	716K	654.7	6.5	104.8	399.4	D
37	Pembroke Pines, FL	171K	649.7	19.5	110.4	370.3	C
38	Albuquerque, NM	565K	648.5	6.5	97.3	356.7	D
39	Fort Worth, TX	919K	642.2	19.3	154.1	443.1	D
40	Fresno, CA	542K	635.9	12.7	146.3	432.4	D
41	Hayward, CA	163K	634.2	6.3	152.2	405.9	C
42	Palmdale, CA	169K	634.2	19	152.2	437.6	C
43	Lubbock, TX	264K	632.2	19	139.1	360.4	C
44	Roseville, CA	148K	629	18.9	144.7	396.3	C
45	Cape Coral, FL	194K	629	6.3	144.7	364.8	C
46	San Bernardino, CA	222K	626.5	18.8	131.6	413.5	C
47	Joliet, IL	150K	623.8	18.7	137.2	355.6	C
48	Virginia Beach, VA	459K	620.7	12.4	124.1	403.5	C
49	Phoenix, AZ	1.7M	617.1	12.3	123.4	401.1	C
50	Garland, TX	246K	615	18.5	116.9	424.4	D
51	Wichita, KS	398K	615	6.2	116.9	393.6	D
52	Corpus Christi, TX	318K	615	6.2	116.9	393.6	D
53	Newport News, VA	186K	613.5	18.4	122.7	368.1	C
54	Gilbert, AZ	268K	609.3	6.1	109.7	353.4	D
55	Bangor, ME	32K	609.2	6.1	140.1	353.3	D
56	Tyler, TX	106K	603.1	6	108.6	349.8	C
57	Ann Arbor, MI	124K	603.1	18.1	108.6	380	C
58	Lakewood, NJ	135K	603.1	18.1	108.6	380	C
59	Sacramento, CA	525K	598.3	12	101.7	370.9	C
60	Springfield, MO	169K	597.9	17.9	101.6	340.8	C
61	Oceanside, CA	176K	597.9	12	101.6	370.7	C
62	Santa Ana, CA	309K	597.8	12	95.6	334.8	D
63	Chandler, AZ	276K	597.8	12	95.6	334.8	D
64	Baltimore, MD	586K	592	5.9	94.7	361.1	C
65	Garden Grove, CA	173K	587.5	5.9	88.1	323.1	B
66	Norman, OK	128K	587.5	11.8	88.1	381.9	C
67	Oxnard, CA	202K	586.4	11.7	140.7	346	D
68	Providence, RI	191K	582.4	5.8	139.8	372.7	C
69	Evansville, IN	117K	582.4	17.5	139.8	401.9	C
70	Cleveland, OH	373K	580.6	11.6	133.5	394.8	C
71	Tallahassee, FL	196K	577.2	17.3	132.8	363.6	C
72	Jersey City, NJ	292K	574.9	11.5	126.5	356.4	C
73	Meridian, ID	118K	572	17.2	125.8	326	B
74	Anaheim, CA	350K	569.2	5.7	119.5	347.2	C
75	Fort Wayne, IN	264K	569.2	5.7	119.5	347.2	C
76	Bridgeport, CT	149K	566.8	5.7	119	345.7	B
77	Fishers, IN	101K	566.8	5.7	119	345.7	B
78	Yonkers, NY	212K	563.4	16.9	112.7	338	C
79	Reno, NV	264K	563.4	11.3	112.7	366.2	C
80	Kansas City, MO	508K	560.6	16.8	117.7	370	C
81	Pittsburgh, PA	303K	557.7	5.6	106	356.9	C
82	Cheyenne, WY	65K	553.5	16.6	116.2	365.3	C
83	Round Rock, TX	133K	551.2	11	99.2	374.8	C
84	Lansing, MI	113K	551.2	16.5	99.2	347.3	D
85	Charlotte, NC	875K	548.1	11	104.1	323.4	C
86	Madison, WI	270K	546.2	16.4	92.9	311.3	C
87	North Las Vegas, NV	263K	546.2	10.9	92.9	338.6	C
88	Philadelphia, PA	1.6M	541.8	10.8	97.5	368.4	B
89	Clarksville, TN	167K	540.9	16.2	86.5	357	C
90	Honolulu, HI	351K	534.8	5.3	80.2	294.1	C
91	Spokane, WA	229K	534.8	16	80.2	320.9	C
92	Ontario, CA	175K	530.5	10.6	127.3	313	C
93	Manchester, NH	116K	530.5	10.6	127.3	313	C
94	Plano, TX	285K	529.1	10.6	127	312.2	C
95	Victorville, CA	135K	525.3	15.8	120.8	330.9	C
96	Tampa, FL	400K	523.3	15.7	120.4	329.7	C
97	Columbus, OH	906K	523	5.2	78.5	287.7	B
98	Warwick, RI	83K	516.4	15.5	118.8	325.3	B
99	Eugene, OR	177K	509.8	15.3	102	305.9	C
100	Rockford, IL	149K	504.6	10.1	95.9	297.7	C

Lowest Violent Crime Rates

Cities with the lowest per-capita violent crime rates among those with 25,000+ residents — useful as a counterpoint and as a calibration for what "low" looks like on this scale. Many of these cities are suburbs of major metros where the metro area as a whole has higher rates.

#	City	Population	Violent/100K	Murder/100K	Robbery/100K	Assault/100K	Grade
1	Pueblo, CO	112K	172.8	1.7	25.9	95	A
2	Pasadena, CA	139K	172.8	5.2	25.9	103.7	A
3	Vallejo, CA	122K	172.8	3.5	25.9	112.3	A
4	Visalia, CA	141K	172.8	3.5	25.9	112.3	A
5	Wilmington, NC	115K	183.2	5.5	31.1	104.4	A
6	Burlington, VT	45K	187.1	3.7	41.2	116	B
7	Modesto, CA	218K	191	1.9	28.7	105.1	A
8	Birmingham, AL	201K	191	5.7	28.7	114.6	A
9	Omaha, NE	486K	191	3.8	28.7	124.2	B
10	Jackson, MS	154K	193.5	1.9	36.8	123.8	B
11	Peoria, IL	113K	193.5	1.9	36.8	123.8	B
12	Hartford, CT	121K	193.5	5.8	36.8	133.5	B
13	League City, TX	115K	193.5	5.8	36.8	133.5	B
14	Nampa, ID	100K	198.7	6	39.7	119.2	B
15	Green Bay, WI	107K	198.7	4	39.7	129.2	B
16	Lancaster, CA	174K	203.9	6.1	42.8	134.6	B
17	Sterling Heights, MI	134K	203.9	4.1	42.8	114.2	B
18	Bismarck, ND	74K	205.6	6.2	32.9	135.7	B
19	Anchorage, AK	291K	208.2	2.1	37.5	120.8	B
20	Des Moines, IA	214K	208.2	2.1	37.5	120.8	B
21	Rochester, NY	211K	208.2	2.1	37.5	120.8	B
22	Tempe, AZ	181K	209.1	4.2	46	129.6	B
23	Coral Springs, FL	134K	209.1	4.2	46	129.6	B
24	College Station, TX	121K	209.1	2.1	46	140.1	B
25	Killeen, TX	153K	209.1	6.3	46	119.2	B
26	Portland, OR	653K	209.2	6.3	31.4	125.5	B
27	Scottsdale, AZ	241K	213.9	6.4	40.6	147.6	B
28	Fargo, ND	126K	214.3	2.1	49.3	124.3	B
29	Houston, TX	2.3M	215.5	2.2	34.5	131.5	B
30	Springfield, IL	114K	219.5	2.2	52.7	140.5	B
31	Savannah, GA	148K	219.5	6.6	52.7	151.5	B
32	Surprise, AZ	142K	219.5	6.6	52.7	151.5	B
33	Cary, NC	175K	219.5	4.4	52.7	129.5	B
34	Edmond, OK	100K	219.6	4.4	41.7	129.6	B
35	Mobile, AL	187K	224.6	2.2	33.7	123.5	B
36	Stockton, CA	321K	225.4	2.3	47.3	137.5	B
37	Fayetteville, NC	209K	225.4	2.3	47.3	137.5	B
38	Miami, FL	442K	225.4	4.5	47.3	126.2	B
39	Port St. Lucie, FL	205K	231.1	4.6	50.8	143.3	B
40	Bend, OR	99K	233.5	7	51.4	133.1	B
41	Brownsville, TX	187K	235	7.1	39.9	134	B
42	Riverside, CA	315K	236.8	2.4	54.5	137.3	B
43	Irvine, CA	308K	236.8	2.4	54.5	137.3	B
44	Rapid City, SD	78K	238.1	2.4	54.8	138.1	B
45	Lewisville, TX	112K	240.2	7.2	43.2	151.3	B
46	Milwaukee, WI	577K	240.6	7.2	48.1	144.4	B
47	Minneapolis, MN	430K	242.6	2.4	58.2	155.3	B
48	Worcester, MA	207K	242.6	2.4	58.2	155.3	B
49	Charleston, SC	150K	245.4	2.5	46.6	157.1	B
50	Laredo, TX	255K	248.3	2.5	37.2	136.6	B

National average: 363.8 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. Includes murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Source: FBI UCR via FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023.

How These Rates Are Computed

For each city, the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program publishes annual counts of murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault as reported by the local police agency. We sum the four counts and divide by U.S. Census population estimates, scaled to per-100,000 residents. Per-offense rates are also computed and surfaced in the table columns. Cities with reporting gaps in the most recent year are excluded from this rate-based ranking. Read the full methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "violent crime" include?

The FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program defines violent crime as four Part I offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. All involve force or the threat of force against a person. The composite "violent crime rate" sums all four offense categories per 100,000 residents. Within the violent crime category, aggravated assault typically accounts for the largest share — among the top 50 cities here, the average assault rate is 421.3 per 100,000, compared with 136.3 for robbery and 13.4 for murder.

Why use per-capita rates instead of total counts?

Per-capita rates per 100,000 residents make city-to-city comparisons fair. A city with twice the population will have roughly twice the crime even at identical underlying rates; raw counts unfairly penalize larger cities. The Bureau of Justice Statistics publishes population-adjusted rates as the standard in its annual reports, and the FBI Crime Data Explorer reports both counts and rates for transparency. The national violent-crime rate sits at 363.8 per 100,000.

Why is aggravated assault often the dominant component?

Across the top 50 cities on this list, aggravated assault averages 421.3 per 100,000 — meaningfully higher than the other violent-crime sub-categories. That pattern holds nationally too: the FBI reports show aggravated assault is the most-reported violent offense year over year, by a wide margin. Murder and robbery rates are smaller in absolute terms but receive disproportionate attention because the harm is more severe (murder) or because robbery is concentrated in commercial settings (robbery). The current top-50 dominant sub-offense is aggravated assault.

How are these rates trending nationally?

The Bureau of Justice Statistics publishes annual analyses of national violent-crime trends. The post-2020 period saw an uptick in some categories (homicide most notably) followed by partial reversal in 2022–2024. Trend direction varies by city — see the cities-getting-safer and cities-getting-worse pages for the cohorts on each trajectory. We refresh rate data when FBI UCR publishes a new annual release, typically once per year.

Where does the underlying data come from?

All violent-crime rates come from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, accessed via the FBI Crime Data Explorer (CDE). Per-offense counts (murder, robbery, aggravated assault, rape) are reported by individual police agencies and aggregated by the FBI; rates per 100,000 residents are computed using U.S. Census population estimates. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) publishes complementary methodology and victimization data via the National Crime Victimization Survey. All sources are U.S. government public domain.

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Sources: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program via FBI Crime Data Explorer (2023); Bureau of Justice Statistics ( bjs.ojp.gov). Public domain.

Last updated 2026-04-06 · 100 cities ranked. We never publish raw crime counts, never imply causation between demographics and crime, and never sensationalize the data.