Top 25 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in America

Even the most dangerous cities in America can have relatively safe neighborhoods. This is because there is more variation in crime within most cities than between cities. So where are the most dangerous neighborhoods in all of America? Think of the city you live in, or cities that you know, and how some areas are very safe, while other neighborhoods – maybe just minutes away – are ripped apart by violence. Using exclusive neighborhood crime data developed by NeighborhoodScout, based on data from all local law enforcement agencies in America, we report those specific neighborhoods in America that have the highest predicted rates of violent crime per 1,000 neighborhood residents. Violent crimes include murder, rape, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. There are more than 70,000 neighborhoods in America. This list is of the top 25 most dangerous neighborhoods of all. See our FAQ on how we rank the most dangerous neighborhoods

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Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 77.65 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 13

With a violent crime rate 19 times the national average, Baltimore’s N Monroe St / W Lanvale St neighborhood ranks as the #1 most dangerous neighborhood in the U.S.

The City of Baltimore is on a mission to revitalize its most distressed neighborhoods. For this neighborhood, the city’s immediate focus has been to demolish condemned and unsafe buildings. According to a Baltimore Sun article earlier this year, a resident was killed in 2016 by a decaying brick row home here when the building toppled on him while he sat in his car.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 75.23 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 13

Just twelve minutes northeast of downtown Indianapolis, the East 34th St / Sutherland Avenue neighborhood ranks as the second most dangerous neighborhood in America. The neighborhood climbed from 6th to 2nd most dangerous from last year’s research to this year. NeighborhoodScout crime forecasting predicts the violent crime rate in this neighborhood will likely increase 50% by 2023.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 74.35 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 13

Baltimore’s East Biddle St / North Broadway neighborhood sits northeast of the City Center. While incomes are rising nationwide, residents in this neighborhood have witnessed a -9.4% decline in household income over the past 5 years.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 73.81 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 14

Tulsa, Oklahoma’s North Lewis Ave / East 46th St North neighborhood is not only new to our Most Dangerous Neighborhoods list but this is the first time Tulsa has been represented on this list. The North Lewis Ave / East 46th St North neighborhood has seen its violent crime rate increase nearly 50% over the past 5 years to 73.81 per every 1,000 neighborhood residents.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 73.05 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 14

The East 38th St / Benton Blvd neighborhood of Kansas City, MO has seen a 9.10% population decline in the past 5 years – one of the highest population declines in the nation.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 72.23 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 14

The North Monroe St / Westwood Ave neighborhood is in west Baltimore, in an area of the city called Easterwood by locals. As part of Baltimore’s efforts to rebuild neighborhoods, some distressed buildings in the Easterwood area were demolished in 2016 and redeveloped into a park and playground.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 71.37 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 14

42.2% of homes in the North Indianapolis neighborhood are vacant. This is higher than the rate of vacancies in 97.6% of all U.S. neighborhoods.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 71.24 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 14

Without intervention, violent crime is forecast to continue to rise in the Texas Ave / South 8th St neighborhood of Monroe, LA, and is predicted to hit 10 times the national average by 2023.



Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 69.17 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 14

The Oxanna neighborhood in Anniston, Alabama is experiencing a declining population as well as a high violent crime rate. Media reports suggest that the population decline has been ongoing for a decade or more. According to The New York Times, Anniston residents won a $700 million class action lawsuit against Monsanto in 2003 for PCB contamination. The contamination is blamed for the abnormally high cancer rates among Anniston residents.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 66.52 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 15

The Eastern Ave / South Bethel St neighborhood of Baltimore is predominantly occupied by an affordable housing development called Perkins Homes. But life for neighborhood residents is about to change for the better. The city recently received a $30 million HUD grant to rebuild the development into mixed-income apartments with new parks, a new school, and other conveniences.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 65.64 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 15

The Noble St / W 18th St neighborhood is one of 2 Anniston, AL neighborhoods to make the most dangerous neighborhoods list for 2018, despite Anniston, Alabama being the smallest city represented here with only 22,122 residents. Not only does Anniston have a violent crime rate six times the state’s average, but the Noble St / West 18th St neighborhood’s violent crime rate is double that of Anniston’s.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 65.08 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 15

Though ranked this year as the 12th most dangerous neighborhood in America, Rockford’s Kishwaukee St / Grove St neighborhood has improved slightly from its eighth most dangerous ranking on NeighborhoodScout’s 2017 list.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 64.73 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 15

The Renwick St / Rogers St neighborhood is the 2nd most dangerous neighborhood in Monroe with a crime rate 11 times higher than the state of Louisiana’s violent crime rate.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 64.48 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 16

The Rockford, IL economy faced the same struggles as other rust belt cities in the latter half of the 20th century. Economic struggles often generate crime problems. In the Kishwaukee St / Harrison Ave neighborhood, unemployment is 5 times higher than national average. Currently, the violent crime rate here is 10 times the national average. Without intervention, NeighborhoodScout forecasts that violent crime in this neighborhood will increase to 18 times the national average by 2023.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 64.44 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 16

The 39.3% vacant housing rate is one of the Brush Creek Blvd / Prospect Ave neighborhood’s biggest challenges. The abandoned properties are unsafe for the neighborhood’s remaining residents, who are working with city officials to identify and demolish the most dangerous.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 61.51 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 16

The E 23rd St / Indiana Ave neighborhood stands out for having an average per capita income lower than 96.8% of the neighborhoods in the United States. Also of note, 67.4% of the children in this area live in poverty; a very high percentage compared to other neighborhoods in the nation.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 60.97 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 16

Baltimore, MD neighborhoods are no stranger to our Most Dangerous Neighborhoods list. The city itself ranks as the 11th most dangerous city in the U.S. in 2018. Like most cities, Baltimore has very safe neighborhoods as well. The Charlcote Rd / Millbrook Rd neighborhood, for instance, just north of the our #17 most dangerous neighborhood, has a 1.92 Violent Crime Rate – less than half the national average, and safer than many well-heeled suburban neighborhoods.



Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 60.80 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 16

Indianapolis, IN is the 29th Most Dangerous City in the U.S. according to NeighborhoodScout’s 2018 report, and the Massachusetts Ave / E 34th St neighborhood in Indianapolis ranks as the 18th most dangerous neighborhood in America for the 2nd consecutive year.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 60.32 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 17

San Antonio is the sole Southwestern city represented on our 2018 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods report. Many of the neighborhoods surrounding the San Antonio City Center have crime rates on par with the city’s average. But once you walk or drive slightly southwest of the City Center to the South Frio St / San Fernanado neighborhood, the rate of crime increases eight-fold above the city average. Once again, neighborhood matters.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 59.79 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 17

The Woodland Ave / East 40th St neighborhood has one of the highest concentrations of single parent households in America, with the majority of households lead by a single parent. The neighborhood is also in the top 1% for lowest per capita income in the U.S.

Not all of Cleveland is high crime. The safest neighborhood in Cleveland, the West Schaaf Road / Hinkley Ave area, is safer than most neighborhoods in America and only has a violent crime rate of 1.92 per 1,000 residents.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 59.50 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 17

The W Vliet St / N 24th St neighborhood in Milwaukee, WI is the northernmost neighborhood represented in this report. It is also the first time Milwaukee has had a neighborhood on the Most Dangerous Neighborhoods list. The area around W Vliet St / N 24th St neighborhood has seen widespread population decline over the last several years. NeighborhoodScout is forecasting a slight decline in both violent and property crime rates here over the next 5 years.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 58.99 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 17

This neighborhood’s median home value is currently just $52,578, yet this neighborhood has been witnessing a population decline in recent years. Crime doesn’t appear to be improving anytime soon in the Kinsman Rd / Minnie Ave neighborhood of Cleveland. NeighborhoodScout’s exclusive crime forecast predicts violent crime here to more than double over the next 5 years.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 58.21 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 17

Wilmington, Delaware, near Philadelphia, is the most northern city on the eastern seaboard to have a neighborhood in the most dangerous neighborhoods report. The North Walnut St / East 8th St neighborhood also came in at #23 on the 2017 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods report.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 57.24 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 17

The Independence Ave / Prospect Ave neighborhood of Kansas City, MO was ranked as the 2nd most dangerous neighborhood in America by NeighborhoodScout in 2017. It is good to see notable improvement here, but crime mitigation in Kansas City, MO is far from over. The city now has 4 neighborhoods ranked on this list (see also #16, 15 and 5) instead of just 1 in 2017.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000): 57.10 My Chances of Becoming a Victim Here: 1 in 18

Huntsville is a hub for high-tech, biotech, aerospace and military operations. The economy is thriving, population is growing, wages are trending upward and real estate is affordable and holding steady for the foreseeable future. That is, if you live in the right neighborhood.

Despite educational and economic opportunities nearby, the Cavalry Hill / Terry Heights neighborhood of Huntsville, Alabama (just west of the City Center) is plagued by unemployment that is 4 times the national average. Hard times have led to high crime in Cavalry Hill / Terry Heights, where residents have a 1 in 18 chance of being a victim of a violent crime such as murder, robbery, rape or assault.