24 Most Dangerous Small Towns in America
In the United States, crime rates have been falling over the past few decades, though there are many skeptics. The data show these figures are hard to verify, not least because up-to-date crime stats are hard to obtain from some states. A cursory glance at most social media channels will remind us that street crime is alive and well in some American cities.
Yet, little coverage is given to smaller towns; therefore, we have researched the most unsafe small towns in the country. We used available data from sources such as MoneyGeek, the FBI, and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), among others. We must add that violent or property crime is usually concentrated in certain districts of a town.
1. Monroe, Louisiana
Louisiana is one of the most dangerous states in the country, with Forbes ranking it third in violent crime overall. Small town Monroe is perhaps most famous for being where the first Coca-Cola bottling plant opened.
However, the town has a crime cost per capita (CCPC) of $8,902, making it the official most crime-ridden portion of any non-urban setting. Norada Real Estate puts Monroe in its top 10 “Worst Places to Live in the U.S.” Curiously, albeit somewhat cruelly, Monroe’s namesake in New Jersey is one of the safest small towns in the country.
2. Petersburg, Virginia
Sometimes, crime descriptions can be too shocking to print — this applies to a recent Petersburg torture and murder victim, Tahjmere Hopkins. Sadly, his death was only one of 17 killings reported in the town, which marks a Petersburg homicide record.
The County of Prince George’s website published recent testimonies from residents weary of the violence happening on their doorsteps. Community activist and barber shop owner Shahid Shabazz says, “It’s been going on way too long.”
3. Saginaw, Michigan
A Money Geek study reports Saginaw’s total cost of crime at $386,587, which is a staggering figure for a population of roughly 44,000. The town’s population peaked at nearly 70,000 in 1990, which may explain its misfortune.
Provincial crime watchdog website Ovogo gives a breakdown of how crime looks in Saginaw, and it is uncomfortable reading. Deadly attacks, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault are mentioned specifically. “In Saginaw, the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime is elevated,” reads the review.
4. Florence, South Carolina
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson made headlines early in 2024, talking about his state’s violent crime problem. He pleaded in a budget request meeting for a statewide “violent crimes reduction unit aimed at tackling a backlog of cases,” according to a WRDW report.
Sadly, towns like Florence (among others) are at the forefront of this crime wave. A marker for how the town is doing comes from Neighborhood Scout. The reality platform awards Florence a total crime index of 1/100.
5. Alexandria, Louisiana
The Pelican State makes the list again with Alexandria, following behind Monroe with a $7,955 CCPC score. This figure puts Alexandria’s total crime cost per year at an appalling $352,815 for its 45,000 residents.
An example of the violence one might experience in Alexandria arrived in 2023 with one weekend of startling public disorder. A 5 KALB report revealed the details of a brutal weekend. On one night alone in mid-May, three youths lost their lives resulting from “youth beef” infractions.
6. Pine Bluff, Arkansas
In August 2024, Pine Bluffs, Arkansas, experienced a horrific weekend of violence in which three people lost their lives. A stark reminder of how violence came with the profile of one gun violence victim — a six-year-old was shot and injured during this surge.
Pine Bluffs has an almost $300 million price to pay each year for the crime in the town. A school friend read a eulogy at the local church for one victim, 25-year-old Keyyontae Vignaude. “He was always one to light up the room [and] always came with good energy every time,” said his friend Cetiona Maxwell.
7. Portsmouth, Virginia
Virginia makes another appearance in the top 10 with Portsmouth. To exemplify the problems in this small town, a recent local news report states eleven people were slain in the past month — at the time of writing. A glance at Portsmouth’s recent crime history will yield unpleasant results, with a litany of youth gun incidents ending lives early.
In a WTVR CBS 6 interview with local youths on an outreach, one young resident gives his heartbreaking account of life in Portsmouth. “I can go to sleep and I hear gunshots. I’m like: ‘that’s just Portsmouth’,” says Zion Clifton. “I lost my best friend AJ to gun violence.”
8. Houma, Louisiana
The Pelican State strikes again; this time, it’s Houma making the grade. The town of approximately 31,000 residents must battle an ongoing violence problem. It costs taxpayers a whopping $226 million for crime annually.
While many local accounts say life in Houma is very good for those with the resources, for the less fortunate residents, it’s a different story. But for a run-down movie theater and bowling alley, youngsters have little to do. Perhaps this explains the gun violence rates, which present themselves in many news stories, such as one following a carnival parade in 2024.
9. Rocky Mount, North Carolina
North Carolina makes its first appearance, thanks to Rocky Mount, a small town with a high CCPC: $5,647, to be exact. Some estimates put this corner of the Tar Heel State at 138% of the national violent crime rate average.
Some locals, like blogger Patsy Prigden, say there is “nothing to do” in Rocky Mount, citing an incompetent local government, among other things, making life hard there. Katie Jane Fernelius wrote an op-ed for The Assembly in 2021, which mentions a tradition of “red-lining” in the town. Sadly, the remnants of yesteryear still affect certain demographics’ safety.
10. North Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is well documented as dangerous in some parts — double the state average, according to local law firm Lemley Law. Its neighbor across the Arkansas River, North Little Rock, may not have the same numbers on average. Yet, certain districts exceed the figure south of the river.
Cost of living experts at BestPlaces rate North Little Rock well above the national average for violent crime and property crime — double the rate in the latter’s case. Another article on NBC KARK highlights how life can be for some living there. Neighbors in one apartment complex complained of “unsafe conditions, including mold, drug trafficking and a lack of security.”
11. Fairbanks, Alaska
The town of Fairbanks is almost in the direct center of Alaska’s vast wilderness and started life as a trading outpost. Its location on the Chena River gave it access to other parts of the country, though even with today’s roads, it’s a long drive from anywhere.
Fairbanks has had a steep population decline in the last few decades, correlating with growing violent crime. The Freedom For All Americans organization describes Fairbanks’ total crime rate of 52.26 per 1,000 as “staggering.”
12. York, Pennsylvania
If one reads the York County website guide, one might think York is one of the upcoming places to live in the country. Some reports even show that York County is among the fastest-growing counties in Pennsylvania.
Statistically, York still has a violent crime problem, with a $5,177 CCPC and $232 million worth of crime damages per year. However, violent crime and gun-related gang crime have plummeted lately, according to the York Daily Record.
13. Atlantic City, New Jersey
It may sound like an epic metropolis, but Atlantic City’s population is barely 32,000 — the size of a large village in the United Kingdom. For this small populace, crime costs almost $200 million per year.
While crime figures are improving overall, a CCPC of $4,975 is notable. A recent Fox 5 New York feature covered a mayhem-fuelled Memorial Day incident involving drunken teens, ending in a stabbing.
14. Riviera Beach, Florida
Realty platform AreaVibes surveyed residents in the Riviera Beach area, asking how safe they felt walking at night. The response was a sad indictment of the town, with 77% of citizens saying they felt unsafe.
Nevertheless, the town’s crime rates have undergone a renaissance in recent times, with law enforcement initiatives cornering certain districts being successful. Maybe the Riviera Beach’s future looks better than its recent past.
15. Flint Township, Michigan
Flint City has become notorious in America, thanks in large part to alumnus Michael Moore. However, the name Flint is synonymous now with tainted drinking water. Funnily enough, Moore criticized President Obama for supposedly fake-drinking the tap water in a publicity stunt.
Sadly, Flint’s troubles extend to falling safety rates on its streets. While it isn’t the worst place in America or Michigan, a CCPC of $4,874 gives it top 15 status on this list. Michigan Today reports how a third of residents polled now feel unsafe there.
16. Youngstown, Ohio
Like many Rust Belt towns, Youngstown, Ohio suffers from population decline stemming from a post-industrial economy. World Population Review puts the population at 58,847 — almost a third of its peak in 1930.
Unlike any other town on this list, Youngstown was once known as “Bombtown” and “Murdertown” due to its Mafia activity. There were an apparent 82 bombings in total during the ’50s and ’60s. In more recent times, crime rates are finally falling.
17. Wilmington, Delaware
Delaware’s main city, Baltimore, has a reputation for certain no-go districts for visitors. Areas such as Hopkins-Middle East and West Baltimore may resemble what David Simon depicted in his HBO series, The Wire (2002).
Wilmington isn’t as large as its larger cousin, but its crime stats tell a similar story. WalletHub puts Wilmington’s home and community safety ranking far down its list of Safest Cities in America.
18. Phenix City, Alabama
The frustratingly named Phenix City in Alabama has a recent CCPC of $4,729, costing its roughly 38,000 residents $180 million in overall damages. Sadly, a search of the latest crimes affecting this corner of Dixie makes for unprintable reading.
What is the problem with Phenix City? Usually, high crime correlates with poor governance. A few years ago, the provincial newspaper The Muskogee Muckraker investigated Phenix City’s mismanagement of public funds. The result was an unreported loss in the eight-figure range — Phenix City Manager Wallace Hunter called the data “false information.”
19. Rock Island, Illinois
Illinois makes its debut on the list with Rock Island, which is incidentally neither a rock nor an island. However, it is definitely a place running on fumes and with no shortage of crime —
Rock Island’s CCPC of $4,658 confirms this. A shocking incident involving a 10-year-old boy’s gun death and his mother’s subsequent attempt to hide the body is just one story in recent times. A WQAD-8 feature captures the haunting moment his mother, name Sushi Staples, is arrested.
20. Trenton, New Jersey
This town on the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border pays one of the highest prices for its overall crime. A huge $416,441 of crime affects Trenton’s roughly 90,000-strong population each year.
Such a huge number puts Trenton in the top three-most crime-affected economies on the list. Furthermore, the rate is almost three times higher than the national average. Trenton is not a place to mess with.
21. Lawton, Oklahoma
OK makes its first entry with the ironically named Lawton, the location of possibly Oklahoma’s most dangerous small town. The latest figures show a $4,420 CCPC, which amounts to a sizable $404,863 crime bill.
The town in Comanche County at least has the benefit of house prices that are only half the national average. However, Lawton’s violent crime and property crime rate is double the national average.
22. Kalamazoo, Michigan
There are some ironies on the list, which may reflect some world-class publicity and marketing on the town’s behalf. Kaitlin Mulhere writes for Money that Kalamazoo is one of the top 50 best places to live in 2024.
However, this shining review of the town’s nightlife, culture, and heritage is juxtaposed with recent crime stats. Despite general falling crime rates, Kalamazoo experienced record homicides in 2023.
23. Dothan, Alabama
It isn’t easy to find negative reviews of life in Dothan, which makes little sense, considering its published crime statistics.
Moreover, the figures from 2021 to 2022 are eye-opening — a 405% rise in the crime rate. In certain parts of the town, life can be very hard. Most violent crime appears to be isolated and mainly gang-related.
24. Pontiac, Michigan
The town that inspired the name of an American automotive legend is our last entry on this list. There are several car analogies here: “This Pontiac is in need of an oil change.” Jokes aside, the Great Lake State has a CCPC of $4,226 that feeds a total crime cost of $256,007.
CrimeGrade gives most of the town an F-rating, bringing home some uncomfortable truths about the town. “Your chance of being a victim of crime in Pontiac may be as high as 1 in 4 in the southeast neighborhoods,” the review states.
