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Crime Trends in the US: Which 50 Cities Have the Most Dramatic Changes

crime-trends

Which US cities are getting more dangerous over time? Which are getting safer? The team at YLS tracked down FBI crime trends from 2006 to 2016 to determine which US cities have seen the sharpest increases and decreases in crime over the past ten years. Check out the below crime map to see how your city stacks up. Click on the legend below the map to toggle between safe and dangerous cities.

25 U.S. Cities Getting Safer25 U.S. Cities Getting More Dangerous

US Map

1 Salisbury, MD See stats
2 Riviera Beach, FL See stats
3 Norristown, PA See stats
4 Saginaw, MI See stats
5 Ypsilanti, MI See stats
6 Easton, PA See stats
7 Florence, SC See stats
8 Baton Rouge, LA See stats
9 Dallas, TX See stats
10 North Little Rock, AR See stats
11 Youngstown, OH See stats
12 Reading, PA See stats
13 Grand Rapids, MI See stats
14 Sacramento, CA See stats
15 East Orange, NJ See stats
16 Newport, KY See stats
17 Flagstaff, AZ See stats
18 Eloy, AZ See stats
19 Rochester, NY See stats
20 Casa Grande, Arizona See stats
21 Allentown, PA See stats
22 Conway, SC See stats
23 Charlotte-Mechlenburg, SC See stats
24 North Charleston, SC See stats
25 Columbus, OH See stats
1 Charleston, WV See stats
2 Cleveland Heights, OH See stats
3 Portland, TX See stats
4 Kyle, TX See stats
5 Port Lavaca, TX See stats
6 Lumberton, NC See stats
7 Elk City, OK See stats
8 Brown Deer, WI See stats
9 Sweet Water, TX See stats
10 Aiken, SC See stats
11 Burkburnett, TX See stats
12 Ormond Beach, OK See stats
13 Belton, MO See stats
14 Zachary, LA See stats
15 Pueblo, CO See stats
16 Central Point, OR See stats
17 South Charleston, WV See stats
18 Pineville, LA See stats
19 Jamestown, NY See stats
20 Rochester, NY See stats
21 Hamburg Town, NY See stats
22 Mitchell, SD See stats
23 Rapid City, SD See stats
24 Anchorage, AK See stats
25 lyndhurst, OH See stats
  • Dangerous Cities
  • Safest Cities
1 Salisbury, MD
  • Murder -1%
  • Robbery -50%
  • Assault -69%
  • Burglary -172%
  • Larceny -266%
  • Vehicle -34%
  • Arson -6%
2 Riviera Beach, FL
  • Murder -0.3%
  • Robbery -58%
  • Assault -69%
  • Burglary -222%
  • Larceny -200%
  • Vehicle -104%
  • Arson -4%
3 Norristown, PA
  • Murder -1%
  • Robbery -54%
  • Assault -67%
  • Burglary -89%
  • Larceny -227%
  • Vehicle -46%
  • Arson -3%
4 Saginaw, MI
  • Murder -2%
  • Robbery -34%
  • Assault -114%
  • Burglary -160%
  • Larceny -76%
  • Vehicle -47%
  • Arson -23%
5 Ypsilanti, MI
  • Murder -2%
  • Robbery -14%
  • Assault -41%
  • Burglary -110%
  • Larceny -181%
  • Vehicle -39%
  • Arson -3%
6 Easton, PA
  • Murder -1%
  • Robbery -8%
  • Assault -23%
  • Burglary -54%
  • Larceny -259%
  • Vehicle -64%
  • Arson -7%
7 Florence, SC
  • Murder -1%
  • Robbery -30%
  • Assault -27%
  • Burglary -39%
  • Larceny -273%
  • Vehicle -36%
  • Arson -6%
8 Baton Rouge, LA
  • Murder -0.7%
  • Robbery -14%
  • Assault -33%
  • Burglary -88%
  • Larceny -135%
  • Vehicle -40%
  • Arson -5%
9 Dallas, TX
  • Murder -0.2%
  • Robbery -21%
  • Assault -24%
  • Burglary -91%
  • Larceny -201%
  • Vehicle -54%
  • Arson -6%
10 North Little Rock, AR
  • Murder -0.6%
  • Robbery -23%
  • Assault -38%
  • Burglary -135%
  • Larceny -341%
  • Vehicle -34%
  • Arson -2%
11 Youngstown, OH
  • Murder -2%
  • Robbery -20%
  • Assault -32%
  • Burglary -100%
  • Larceny -61%
  • Vehicle -47%
  • Arson -17%
12 Reading, PA
  • Murder -0.1%
  • Robbery -31%
  • Assault -25%
  • Burglary -61%
  • Larceny -121%
  • Vehicle -129%
  • Arson -5%
13 Grand Rapids, MI
  • Murder -0.6%
  • Robbery -20%
  • Assault -15%
  • Burglary -87%
  • Larceny -195%
  • Vehicle -21%
  • Arson -3%
14 Sacramento, CA
  • Murder -0.4%
  • Robbery -25%
  • Assault -22%
  • Burglary -72%
  • Larceny -88%
  • Vehicle -99%
  • Arson -3%
15 East Orange, NJ
  • Murder -0.5%
  • Robbery -27%
  • Assault -10%
  • Burglary -55%
  • Larceny -108%
  • Vehicle -58%
  • Arson -6%
16 Newport, KY
  • Murder -0.6%
  • Robbery -23%
  • Assault -9%
  • Burglary -92%
  • Larceny -261%
  • Vehicle -50%
  • Arson -2%
17 Flagstaff, AZ
  • Murder -0.5%
  • Robbery -11%
  • Assault -19%
  • Burglary -48%
  • Larceny -203%
  • Vehicle -23%
  • Arson -7%
18 Eloy, AZ
  • Murder 0%
  • Robbery -26%
  • Assault -10%
  • Burglary -106%
  • Larceny -191%
  • Vehicle -34%
  • Arson -16%
19 Rochester, NY
  • Murder -0.3%
  • Robbery -31%
  • Assault -10%
  • Burglary -56%
  • Larceny -103%
  • Vehicle -82%
  • Arson -6%
20 Casa Grande, AZ
  • Murder 0.1%
  • Robbery -7%
  • Assault -14%
  • Burglary -239%
  • Larceny -236%
  • Vehicle -96%
  • Arson -3%
21 Allentown, PA
  • Murder -0.8%
  • Robbery -41%
  • Assault -14%
  • Burglary -78%
  • Larceny -188%
  • Vehicle -23%
  • Arson -2%
22 Conway, SC
  • Murder -0.8%
  • Robbery -19%
  • Assault -55%
  • Burglary -91%
  • Larceny -246%
  • Vehicle -6%
  • Arson -3%
23 Charlotte-Mechlenburg, NC
  • Murder -0.4%
  • Robbery -22%
  • Assault -9%
  • Burglary -115%
  • Larceny -98%
  • Vehicle -71%
  • Arson -2%
24 North Charleston, SC
  • Murder -0.3%
  • Robbery -36%
  • Assault -42%
  • Burglary -69%
  • Larceny -154%
  • Vehicle -67%
  • Arson -1%
25 Columbus, OH
  • Murder -0.4%
  • Robbery -25%
  • Assault -6%
  • Burglary -113%
  • Larceny -146%
  • Vehicle -46%
  • Arson -3%
1 Charleston, WV
  • Murder 2%
  • Robbery 9%
  • Assault 41%
  • Burglary 49%
  • Larceny 37%
  • Vehicle 16%
  • Arson 3%
2 Cleveland Heights, OH
  • Murder 0.5%
  • Robbery 14%
  • Assault 12%
  • Burglary 10%
  • Larceny 84%
  • Vehicle 4%
  • Arson 0.7%
3 Portland, TX
  • Murder 0.6%
  • Robbery 2%
  • Assault 0.8%
  • Burglary 14%
  • Larceny 99%
  • Vehicle 9%
  • Arson 0.6%
4 Kyle, TX
  • Murder 0.8%
  • Robbery 2%
  • Assault 14%
  • Burglary 9%
  • Larceny 67%
  • Vehicle 14%
  • Arson -0.3%
5 Port Lavaca, TX
  • Murder 2%
  • Robbery 3%
  • Assault 52%
  • Burglary 60%
  • Larceny 27%
  • Vehicle -6%
  • Arson 0.8%
6 Lumberton, NC
  • Murder 2%
  • Robbery 6%
  • Assault 55%
  • Burglary 135%
  • Larceny 159%
  • Vehicle -21%
  • Arson 6%
2 Elk City, OK
  • Murder 0.8%
  • Robbery 3%
  • Assault 3%
  • Burglary 35%
  • Larceny 20%
  • Vehicle 7%
  • Arson 0%
8 Brown Deer, WI
  • Murder 0.8%
  • Robbery 6%
  • Assault 13%
  • Burglary -13%
  • Larceny 61%
  • Vehicle 12%
  • Arson 0%
9 Sweet Water, TX
  • Murder 0.02%
  • Robbery 0.2%
  • Assault 12%
  • Burglary 52%
  • Larceny 115%
  • Vehicle 15%
  • Arson 0%
10 Aiken, SC
  • Murder -0.03%
  • Robbery 3%
  • Assault 18%
  • Burglary 20%
  • Larceny 112%
  • Vehicle 4%
  • Arson 1%
11 Burkburnett, TX
  • Murder 0%
  • Robbery 3%
  • Assault 34%
  • Burglary -1%
  • Larceny 144%
  • Vehicle 20%
  • Arson 0.9%
12 Ormond Beach, FL
  • Murder -0.3%
  • Robbery 5%
  • Assault 11%
  • Burglary 15%
  • Larceny 58%
  • Vehicle 19%
  • Arson 2%
13 Belton, MO
  • Murder 0.7%
  • Robbery 5%
  • Assault -2%
  • Burglary 26
  • Larceny 60%
  • Vehicle 16%
  • Arson -0.4%
14 Zachary, LA
  • Murder 0.6%
  • Robbery 2%
  • Assault 15%
  • Burglary 1%
  • Larceny 99%
  • Vehicle -3%
  • Arson 0%
21 Pueblo, CO
  • Murder 0.3%
  • Robbery 4%
  • Assault 23%
  • Burglary 26%
  • Larceny -8%
  • Vehicle 63%
  • Arson -0.8%
16 Central Point, OR
  • Murder 0%
  • Robbery 2%
  • Assault 14%
  • Burglary 2%
  • Larceny 79%
  • Vehicle 5%
  • Arson 2%
17 South Charleston, WV
  • Murder .8%
  • Robbery -4%
  • Assault 15%
  • Burglary 11%
  • Larceny 208%
  • Vehicle 7%
  • Arson 0.7%
18 Pineville, LA
  • Murder 0%
  • Robbery 3%
  • Assault 51%
  • Burglary -0.6%
  • Larceny 113%
  • Vehicle 3%
  • Arson 0.7%
19 Jamestown, NY
  • Murder 1.3%
  • Robbery 4%
  • Assault 7%
  • Burglary -12%
  • Larceny -31%
  • Vehicle 3%
  • Arson 2%
20 Rochester, NH
  • Murder 0.3%
  • Robbery 3%
  • Assault 11%
  • Burglary 7%
  • Larceny 98%
  • Vehicle -1%
  • Arson -0.7%
21 Hamburg Town, NY
  • Murder 0%
  • Robbery 2%
  • Assault 4%
  • Burglary 11%
  • Larceny 130%
  • Vehicle 2%
  • Arson 1%
22 Mitchell, SD
  • Murder 0%
  • Robbery 2%
  • Assault 37%
  • Burglary 28%
  • Larceny 72%
  • Vehicle 18%
  • Arson -0.08%
23 Rapid City, SD
  • Murder 0.3%
  • Robbery 5%
  • Assault 27%
  • Burglary -0.6%
  • Larceny 32%
  • Vehicle 17%
  • Arson -2%
24 Anchorage, AK
  • Murder 0.3%
  • Robbery 6%
  • Assault 5%
  • Burglary 5%
  • Larceny 47%
  • Vehicle 16%
  • Arson -2%
25 Lyndhurst, OH
  • Murder 0%
  • Robbery 4%
  • Assault 0.1%
  • Burglary 14%
  • Larceny 124%
  • Vehicle 4%
  • Arson 1%

SEE MORE

25 Cities Getting More Dangerous

These 25 cities have increased in all types of crime over the past decade. Charleston, WV, tops the list with double the arson counts from 2006 to 2016—even with a population decrease. In fact, nine of the bottom 25 cities have had a decrease in population, which means their crimes per capita have increased all the more dramatically.

  1. Charleston, West Virginia
  2. Cleveland Heights, Ohio
  3. Portland, Texas
  4. Kyle, Texas
  5. Port Lavaca, Texas
  6. Lumberton, North Carolina
  7. Elk City, Oklahoma
  8. Brown Deer, Wisconsin
  9. Sweetwater, Texas
  10. Aiken, South Carolina
  11. Burkburnett, Texas
  12. Ormond Beach, Florida
  13. Belton, Missouri
  14. Zachary, Louisiana
  15. Pueblo, Colorado
  16. Central Point, Oregon
  17. South Charleston, West Virginia
  18. Pineville, Louisiana
  19. Jamestown, New York
  20. Rochester, New Hampshire
  21. Hamburg Town, New York
  22. Mitchell, South Dakota
  23. Rapid City, South Dakota
  24. Anchorage, Alaska
  25. Lyndhurst, Ohio

25 Cities Getting Safer

These cities earned a spot in the Top 25 because they experienced the greatest decrease in criminal activity for the six types of crime we measured. The city with the most improvement from 2006 to 2016 is Salisbury, MD. It improved substantially in several areas, including a 100% decrease in arson and a 63% decrease in burglary.

  1. Salisbury, Maryland
  2. Riviera Beach, Florida
  3. Norristown, Pennsylvania
  4. Saginaw, Michigan
  5. Ypsilanti, Michigan
  6. Easton, Pennsylvania
  7. Florence, South Carolina
  8. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  9. Dallas, Texas
  10. North Little Rock, Arkansas
  11. Youngstown, Ohio
  12. Reading, Pennsylvania
  13. Grand Rapids, Michigan
  14. Sacramento, California
  15. East Orange, New Jersey
  16. Newport, Kentucky
  17. Flagstaff, Arizona
  18. Eloy, Arizona
  19. Rochester, New York
  20. Casa Grande, Arizona
  21. Allentown, Pennsylvania
  22. Conway, South Carolina
  23. Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina
  24. North Charleston, South Carolina
  25. Columbus, Ohio

Methodology

The YLS team looked at FBI statistics for US cities in 2006 and 2016 to determine the amount of reported crime in each city using seven data points: murder, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Cities were ranked based on their average numbers across the seven types of crime. Our team omitted rape numbers because the definition of rape changed between 2006 and 2016. We did not include cities that were missing any year or crime data, that had a population less than 10,000 in 2006 or 2016, or if there were changes in the state or local agency’s reporting practices. This report evaluated a total of 2,311 US cities.

Staying Safe in Your City

No matter how your city stacks up for crime, there are ways you can help keep your home and family safe. Installing a home security system is the perfect way to start.

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