Top 10 most dangerous cities in Arizona

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Arizona, with its dramatic desert landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. The state is home to the Grand Canyon, one of the natural wonders of the world, and boasts a vibrant arts scene in cities like Phoenix and Tucson. The blend of Native American, Mexican, and Western influences is evident in the state's festivals, cuisine, and architecture. However, alongside its many attractions, Arizona also faces challenges related to safety. The most dangerous cities in Arizona are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, emphasizing areas where vigilance is necessary. Despite these concerns, Arizona's diverse landscapes and cultural vibrancy continue to make it a compelling place to live and visit.

Efforts to improve safety in Arizona's urban areas include enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs. These initiatives aim to reduce crime and foster a sense of security among residents. While the most dangerous cities in Arizona present significant challenges, they also highlight the importance of community-driven solutions and proactive measures. The state's commitment to addressing these issues is evident in various local government and non-profit organization efforts, which work towards creating safer environments. Ultimately, Arizona's appeal lies in its ability to offer both stunning natural beauty and a rich cultural tapestry, even as it navigates the complexities of urban safety.

Show Low Population: 11,280 827 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 121 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,883

Show Low, AZ holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Arizona with 827 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (737), robbery (8), rape (82) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 102% higher than the Arizona average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Phoenix Population: 1,658,422 785 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.15 chance of being a victim: 1 in 127 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,269

The second most dangerous city is Phoenix. With a population of 1,658,422 and a violent crime rate that is 92% higher than the Arizona average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Phoenix are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 785 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 127 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Eloy Population: 18,306 642 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 156 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,925

Home to 18,306 residents, Eloy, AZ ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Arizona. Unfortunately for residents of Eloy, crime is widespread, with more than 642 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.76 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 57% higher than the Arizona violent crime rate.

Glendale Population: 250,290 569 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.56 chance of being a victim: 1 in 176 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,452

With a violent crime rate that is 39% higher than the Arizona average, it's not hard to see why Glendale made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (82), assault (418), rape (62) and homicide (6). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Glendale more vulnerable to high crime.

Casa Grande Population: 57,318 530 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 189 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,606

The ongoing battle with crime in Casa Grande, AZ, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 530 and a 1 in 189 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Casa Grande has a violent crime rate that is 30% higher than the Arizona average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Casa Grande.

Apache Junction Population: 41,863 506 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.39 chance of being a victim: 1 in 198 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,156

Apache Junction, AZ comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 506 per 100,000 people, which is 24% higher than the Arizona average. Apache Junction has a population of 41,863, which translates to 1.39 crimes per day and 1 in 198 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Apache Junction which are much safer than others.

Tempe Population: 191,607 504 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.38 chance of being a victim: 1 in 198 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,074

A 1 in 198 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.38 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Tempe makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 504 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 23% higher than the Arizona average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (359), robbery (65), rape (73) and homicide (6).

Globe Population: 7,351 472 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.29 chance of being a victim: 1 in 212 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,469

Globe, AZ is another one of the most dangerous cities in Arizona and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 7,351 and a violent crime rate of 472 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 444 counts of assault, 28 counts of robbery, 0 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Globe violent crime rate is 15% higher than the Arizona average.

Page Population: 7,551 464 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 216 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,678

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Page, AZ comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Arizona with a violent crime rate of 464 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.27 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 216 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Avondale Population: 86,091 463 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 216 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,932

Rounding out our list at #10 is Avondale, AZ. With a population of 86,091 and a violent crime rate of 463 per 100,000 people (13% higher than the Arizona average), some parts of Avondale are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 311 counts of assault, 88 counts of robbery, 57 counts of rape and 6 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 216 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Arizona

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Show Low	11,280	827	2,883
2	Phoenix	1,658,422	785	3,269
3	Eloy	18,306	642	1,925
4	Glendale	250,290	569	3,452
5	Casa Grande	57,318	530	2,606
6	Apache Junction	41,863	506	2,156
7	Tempe	191,607	504	4,074
8	Globe	7,351	472	4,469
9	Page	7,551	464	5,678
10	Avondale	86,091	463	2,932
11	Yuma	97,428	460	1,925
12	Mesa	508,918	435	2,061
13	Bullhead City	40,808	433	2,495
14	Flagstaff	73,319	402	2,592
15	El Mirage	35,702	372	1,705
16	Payson	15,708	352	2,276
17	Prescott	43,463	351	1,794
18	Lake Havasu City	55,463	288	1,520
19	Prescott Valley	45,592	261	1,192
20	Maricopa	50,358	256	1,036
21	Kingman	30,433	253	3,071
22	Cottonwood	12,228	248	1,696
23	Coolidge	13,016	220	1,739
24	Sierra Vista	43,756	218	1,810
25	Peoria	172,109	212	1,504
26	Buckeye	74,467	184	1,017
27	Nogales	20,182	181	4,095
28	Chandler	257,076	174	1,618
29	Scottsdale	254,995	166	2,375
30	Goodyear	83,519	159	1,798
31	Bisbee	5,199	158	1,010
32	Camp Verde	11,241	136	1,660
33	Somerton	16,301	130	553
34	Litchfield Park	6,228	129	1,344
35	Sahuarita	30,679	127	1,028
36	Queen Creek	52,162	121	969
37	Gilbert	248,349	117	1,052
38	Surprise	139,007	100	1,350
39	Chino Valley	11,362	100	423
40	Florence	26,777	96	552
41	Marana	47,164	85	1,882
42	Wickenburg	7,708	74	1,401
43	San Luis	33,875	59	622
44	Oro Valley	45,303	57	1,198
45	Thatcher	5,122	36	545
46	Paradise Valley	14,502	24	1,329

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Arizona is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Arizona cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.