Most Dangerous Cities in America - Murder Rates

This article ranks the most dangerous cities in America by annual murder rates per 1,000 inhabitants. For purposes of these rankings, "cities" are incorporated municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants, and "murder rates" are the sum of each city's murders and nonnegligent manslaughters divided by the population then multiplied by 1,000.

The murder rate rankings set out in this article include demographic information that the FBI deems significantly correlated with crime: population density, population age, median household income, educational attainment, and racial composition.

Compared to residents of the safest cities in America, inhabitants of the most dangerous cities are poorer, less educated, and more Black and Hispanic; however, the most dangerous cities are not necessarily younger or more densely populated.

To read the related articles "Most Dangerous Cities in America - Violent Crime Rates" and "Most Dangerous Cities in America - Robbery Rates," return to these respective links.

1. Most Dangerous Cities in America: New Orleans, Louisiana

Murder Rate - 0.52

Demographics:

Population - 336,425
Population Density - 1863 per sq mi
Median Age - 36.5
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $39,382
Percent high school graduate or higher - 83.9%
Racial Composition - Black (61.2%); White (29.8%); Hispanic (4.8%); Asian (3.0%); Two or more (0.8%); American Indian (0.1%); Other (0.3%)

2. Most Dangerous Cities in America: Gary, Indiana

Murder Rate - 0.51

Demographics:

Population - 95,219
Population Density - 1896 per sq mi
Median Age - 37.4
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $25,328
Percent high school graduate or higher - 82.2%
Racial Composition - Black (83.4%); White (10.1%); Hispanic (4.9%); Two or more (1.2%); American Indian (0.2%); Asian (0.1%); Other (0.1%); Pacific Islander (0.1%)

3. Most Dangerous Cities in America: Richmond, California

Murder Rate - 0.46

Demographics:

Population - 102,566
Population Density - 3374 per sq mi
Median Age - 35.1
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $35,937
Percent high school graduate or higher - 79.6%
Racial Composition - Hispanic (37.8%); Black (24.8%); White (17.5%); Asian (17.2%); Two or more (2.4%); Other (0.3%)

4. Most Dangerous Cities in America: Camden, New Jersey

Murder Rate - 0.43

Demographics:

Population - 78,980
Population Density - 8975 per sq mi
Median Age - 29.2
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $27.325
Percent high school graduate or higher - 62.4%
Racial Composition - Black (45.0%); Hispanic (43.7%); White (5.3%); Two or more races (3.1%); Asian (2.5%); American Indian (0.3%); Other (0.1%)

5. Most Dangerous Cities in America: East Chicago, Indiana

Murder Rate - 0.404

Demographics:

Population - 29,728
Population Density - 2477 per sq mi
Median Age - 29.5
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $30,174
Percent high school graduate or higher - 68.6%
Racial Composition - Hispanic (51.6%); Black (35.2%); White (12.1%); Two or more races (0.6%); American Indian (0.2%); Asian (0.2%); Other (0.08%); Pacific Islander (0.02%)

6. Most Dangerous Cities in America: St. Louis, Missouri

Murder Rate - 0.403

Demographics:

Population - 355,208
Population Density - 5738 per sq mi
Median Age - 34.6
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $41,878
Percent high school graduate or higher - 82.6%
Racial Composition - Black (47.5%); White (45.3%); Hispanic (3.1%); Asian (2.2%); Two or more (1.6%); American Indian (0.2%); Other (0.1%)

7. Most Dangerous Cities in America: Detroit, Michigan

Murder Rate - 0.402

Demographics:

Population - 908,441
Population Density - 6545 per sq mi
Median Age - 34.7
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $30,382
Percent high school graduate or higher - 77%
Racial Composition - Black (75.7%); White (13.3%); Hispanic (7.4%); Asian (1.7%); Two or more (1.5%); American Indian (0.2%); Other (0.2%)

8. Most Dangerous Cities in America: Compton, California

Murder Rate - 0.384

Demographics:

Population - 93,872
Population Density - 9294 per sq mi
Median Age - 26.7
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $30,508
Percent high school graduate or higher - 57.7%
Racial Composition - Hispanic (56.8%); Black (39.9%); White (1.0%); Pacific Islander (1.0%); Two or more races (0.8%); American Indian (0.2%); Asian (0.2%); Other (0.1%)

9. Most Dangerous Cities in America: Chester, Pennsylvania

Murder Rate - 0.383

Demographics:

Population - 36,529
Population Density - 7610 per sq mi
Median Age - 30.6
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $35,084
Percent high school graduate or higher - 75%
Racial Composition - Black (74.6%); White (17.9%); Hispanic (5.4%); Two or more (1.2%); Asian (0.6%); American Indian (0.2%); Other (0.2%); Pacific Islander (0.1%)

10. Most Dangerous Cities in America: Baltimore, Maryland

Murder Rate - 0.37

Demographics:

Population - 638,755
Population Density - 7905 per sq mi
Median Age - 34
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $40,304
Percent high school graduate or higher - 80.3%
Racial Composition - Black (62.1%); White (30.7%); Hispanic (3.1%); Asian (1.9%); Two or more (1.8%); American Indian (0.2%); Other (0.2%)

Source(s):

"Cities," City-Data.com
"Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000," U.S. Census Bureau
"2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates," U.S. Census Bureau
"2009 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates," U.S. Census Bureau
"Uniform Crime Reports," Federal Bureau of Investigation