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.

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Tolleson Population: 7,340 1,008 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 99 Total Crimes / 100k: 10,167

Tolleson, AZ holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Arizona with 1,008 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (700), robbery (126), rape (182) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 139% 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.

Winslow Population: 9,505 813 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 123 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,449

The second most dangerous city is Winslow. With a population of 9,505 and a violent crime rate that is 93% higher than the Arizona average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Winslow are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 813 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 123 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Globe Population: 7,351 811 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.22 chance of being a victim: 1 in 123 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,219

Home to 7,351 residents, Globe, AZ ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Arizona. Unfortunately for residents of Globe, crime is widespread, with more than 811 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.22 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 92% higher than the Arizona violent crime rate.

Phoenix Population: 1,658,422 800 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in 125 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,125

With a violent crime rate that is 90% higher than the Arizona average, it's not hard to see why Phoenix made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (182), assault (545), rape (64) and homicide (8). 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 Phoenix more vulnerable to high crime.

Show Low Population: 11,280 737 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.02 chance of being a victim: 1 in 136 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,998

The ongoing battle with crime in Show Low, 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 737 and a 1 in 136 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Show Low has a violent crime rate that is 75% 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 Show Low.

Tucson Population: 545,340 589 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.61 chance of being a victim: 1 in 170 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,902

Tucson, AZ comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 589 per 100,000 people, which is 40% higher than the Arizona average. Tucson has a population of 545,340, which translates to 1.61 crimes per day and 1 in 170 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 Tucson which are much safer than others.

Page Population: 7,551 549 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 182 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,749

A 1 in 182 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.50 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Page makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 549 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 30% higher than the Arizona average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (467), robbery (14), rape (69) and homicide (0).

Glendale Population: 250,290 488 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.34 chance of being a victim: 1 in 205 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,159

Glendale, AZ is another one of the most dangerous cities in Arizona and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 250,290 and a violent crime rate of 488 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 358 counts of assault, 65 counts of robbery, 58 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. All told, the Glendale violent crime rate is 16% higher than the Arizona average.

Eloy Population: 18,306 485 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 206 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,455

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, Eloy, AZ comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Arizona with a violent crime rate of 485 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.33 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 206 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Mesa Population: 508,918 483 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.32 chance of being a victim: 1 in 207 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,947

Rounding out our list at #10 is Mesa, AZ. With a population of 508,918 and a violent crime rate of 483 per 100,000 people (14% higher than the Arizona average), some parts of Mesa are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 386 counts of assault, 50 counts of robbery, 44 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 207 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	Tolleson	7,340	1,008	10,167
2	Winslow	9,505	813	4,449
3	Globe	7,351	811	6,219
4	Phoenix	1,658,422	800	3,125
5	Show Low	11,280	737	2,998
6	Tucson	545,340	589	3,902
7	Page	7,551	549	5,749
8	Glendale	250,290	488	3,159
9	Eloy	18,306	485	1,455
10	Mesa	508,918	483	1,947
11	Tempe	191,607	470	3,364
12	Flagstaff	73,319	463	2,695
13	Bullhead City	40,808	455	2,648
14	Apache Junction	41,863	426	1,938
15	Yuma	97,428	424	1,671
16	Casa Grande	57,318	410	1,939
17	El Mirage	35,702	383	1,639
18	Avondale	86,091	370	2,611
19	Lake Havasu City	55,463	356	1,750
20	Prescott	43,463	335	1,452
21	Sedona	10,341	314	1,612
22	Snowflake	5,873	312	1,425
23	Coolidge	13,016	306	1,835
24	Payson	15,708	261	1,484
25	Peoria	172,109	255	1,460
26	Nogales	20,182	229	3,830
27	Prescott Valley	45,592	225	994
28	Maricopa	50,358	225	1,094
29	Cottonwood	12,228	223	1,391
30	Kingman	30,433	221	3,601
31	Sierra Vista	43,756	218	1,881
32	Camp Verde	11,241	183	1,318
33	Goodyear	83,519	182	1,645
34	Somerton	16,301	177	707
35	Buckeye	74,467	167	938
36	Scottsdale	254,995	153	2,028
37	Chandler	257,076	133	1,638
38	Gilbert	248,349	132	1,100
39	Florence	26,777	120	668
40	Queen Creek	52,162	120	941
41	Marana	47,164	116	1,466
42	Surprise	139,007	109	985
43	Wickenburg	7,708	108	971
44	Litchfield Park	6,228	102	1,046
45	Bisbee	5,199	100	737
46	Sahuarita	30,679	92	1,069
47	San Luis	33,875	88	636
48	Paradise Valley	14,502	80	1,069
49	Chino Valley	11,362	78	548
50	Douglas	16,292	78	1,647

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.