To figure out which city had the highest murder rate, we first compiled data of cities with a population of over 200,000 residents according to the US Census.
Next, we tabulated homicide data from the FBI UCR and calculated the murder rate for each city.
Murder rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported murders by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Finally, we sorted the data and found the cities with the highest murder rate per 100,000 people.
The national average murder-rate in the United States is 6.5 per 100,000 people.
St. Louis had the highest murder rate on our list and is over 1300% greater than the national average!
Here are the top 15 cities you are most likely to get murdered in:
15. Washington, D.C. – Murder Rate – 28.58 per 100,00
(Photo: Benning Terrace Projects aka "Simple City")
- Population: 692,683
- Murders in 2020: 198
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 439.76%
14. Cincinnati, Ohio – Murder Rate – 29.7 per 100,00
(photo: West End)
- Population: 309,317
- Murders in 2020: 92
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 458%
13. San Bernardino, California – Murder Rate – 30.62 per 100,00
(photo: Downtown San Bernardino)
- Population: 222,101
- Murders in 2020: 68
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 471.03%
Check out our write-up for San Bernardino
12. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Murder Rate – 31.60 per 100,00
(photo: Kensington Ave)
- Population: 1,579,000
- Murders in 2020: 499
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 486.19%
Check out our write-up for Philadelphia
11. Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Murder Rate – 33.09 per 100,00
(photo: 27th and Auer Ave)
- Population: 577,222
- Murders in 2020: 191
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 509.07%
Check out our write-up for Milwaukee
10. Dayton, Ohio – Murder Rate – 34.15 per 100,00
(photo: Danner St and Stewart Ave)
- Population: 137,644
- Murders in 2020: 47
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 525.32%
9. Kansas City, Missouri – Murder Rate – 34.64 per 100,00
(photo: Prospect Ave)
- Population: 508,090
- Murders in 2020: 176
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 532.92%
8. Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Murder Rate – 43.96 per 100,00
(photo: Zion City)
- Population: 227,470
- Murders in 2020: 100
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 676.34%
7. Cleveland, Ohio – Murder Rate – 47.50 per 100,00
(photo: East Cleveland)
- Population: 372,624
- Murders in 2020: 177
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 730.78%
6. New Orleans, Louisiana – Murder Rate – 50.78 per 100,00
(photo: 7th Ward)
- Population: 383,997
- Murders in 2020: 195
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 781.26%
5. Detroit, Michigan – Murder Rate – 51.32 per 100,00
(photo: The 48204 zip code in Detroit is one of the most dangerous zip codes in the US)
- Population: 639,111
- Murders in 2020: 328
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 789.56%
Check out our write-up for Detroit
4. Memphis, Tennessee – Murder Rate – 52.44 per 100,00
(photo: Orange Mound)
- Population: 633,104
- Murders in 2020: 332
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 806.77%
Check out our write-up for Memphis
3. Baltimore, Maryland – Murder Rate – 58.20 per 100,00
(photo: West Lafayette Ave)
- Population: 575,584
- Murders in 2020: 335
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 895.41%
Check out our write-up for Baltimore
2. Birmingham, Alabama – Murder Rate – 60.78 per 100,00
(photo: Gate City)
- Population: 200,733
- Murders in 2020: 122
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 935.03%
1. St. Louis, Missouri – Murder Rate – 87.21 per 100,00
(photo: North St. Louis)
- Population: 301,578
- Murders in 2020: 263
- Percentage Higher Than National Average: 1341.66%
Check out our write-up for St. Louis
US Cities With The Highest Murder Rates
[table id=2 responsive=scroll /]
Leave a Reply