Top 10 most dangerous cities in Indiana

Indiana, a state known for its Midwestern charm and diverse cultural heritage, offers a variety of attractions. From the bustling city life of Indianapolis, home to the famous Indianapolis 500, to the serene beauty of the Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana provides a unique blend of urban and rural experiences. The state's history is rich with contributions to industry, sports, and education. However, despite its many positives, Indiana faces safety challenges in certain areas. The most dangerous cities in Indiana are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Indiana's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Indiana involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Indiana. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Indiana's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, economic opportunities, and natural beauty continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Elkhart Population: 52,657 1,066 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.92 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,917

Elkhart, IN holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Indiana with 1,066 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (869), robbery (106), rape (76) and homicide (15) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 248% higher than the Indiana 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.

Indianapolis Population: 869,387 1,028 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.82 chance of being a victim: 1 in 97 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,404

The second most dangerous city is Indianapolis. With a population of 869,387 and a violent crime rate that is 236% higher than the Indiana average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Indianapolis are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,028 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 97 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Evansville Population: 118,414 719 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 139 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,486

Home to 118,414 residents, Evansville, IN ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Indiana. Unfortunately for residents of Evansville, crime is widespread, with more than 719 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.97 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 135% higher than the Indiana violent crime rate.

Hammond Population: 76,141 670 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.84 chance of being a victim: 1 in 149 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,017

With a violent crime rate that is 119% higher than the Indiana average, it's not hard to see why Hammond made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (161), assault (453), rape (37) and homicide (20). 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 Hammond more vulnerable to high crime.

Lafayette Population: 72,556 594 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.63 chance of being a victim: 1 in 168 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,783

The ongoing battle with crime in Lafayette, IN, 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 594 and a 1 in 168 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Lafayette has a violent crime rate that is 94% higher than the Indiana 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 Lafayette.

Terre Haute Population: 60,690 581 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 172 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,326

Terre Haute, IN comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 581 per 100,000 people, which is 90% higher than the Indiana average. Terre Haute has a population of 60,690, which translates to 1.59 crimes per day and 1 in 172 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 Terre Haute which are much safer than others.

Kokomo Population: 58,066 512 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.40 chance of being a victim: 1 in 195 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,053

A 1 in 195 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.40 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Kokomo makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 512 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 67% higher than the Indiana average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (438), robbery (22), rape (47) and homicide (5).

Bloomington Population: 84,691 508 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.39 chance of being a victim: 1 in 197 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,846

Bloomington, IN is another one of the most dangerous cities in Indiana and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 84,691 and a violent crime rate of 508 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 354 counts of assault, 74 counts of robbery, 75 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. All told, the Bloomington violent crime rate is 66% higher than the Indiana average.

Anderson Population: 54,476 486 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 206 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,386

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, Anderson, IN comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Indiana with a violent crime rate of 486 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.

Muncie Population: 67,739 482 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.32 chance of being a victim: 1 in 207 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,200

Rounding out our list at #10 is Muncie, IN. With a population of 67,739 and a violent crime rate of 482 per 100,000 people (57% higher than the Indiana average), some parts of Muncie are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 366 counts of assault, 46 counts of robbery, 54 counts of rape and 17 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 Indiana

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Elkhart	52,657	1,066	3,917
2	Indianapolis	869,387	1,028	4,404
3	Evansville	118,414	719	4,486
4	Hammond	76,141	670	4,017
5	Lafayette	72,556	594	2,783
6	Terre Haute	60,690	581	5,326
7	Kokomo	58,066	512	2,053
8	Bloomington	84,691	508	2,846
9	Anderson	54,476	486	3,386
10	Muncie	67,739	482	3,200
11	Michigan City	31,191	421	4,118
12	New Albany	36,730	406	3,506
13	Hartford City	5,781	380	594
14	Shelbyville	18,918	359	1,883
15	Lawrence	49,020	326	2,307
16	Crawfordsville	16,088	316	1,587
17	Speedway	12,327	316	3,284
18	Beech Grove	15,148	312	2,986
19	Warsaw	15,757	307	2,294
20	Lebanon	16,317	288	1,232
21	Mishawaka	49,675	282	3,150
22	Mount Vernon	6,535	266	1,928
23	Fort Wayne	268,378	262	2,649
24	Goshen	34,586	251	3,006
25	Charlestown	8,290	248	1,261
26	Kendallville	9,365	246	1,743
27	Jeffersonville	47,932	235	1,892
28	Tell City	7,243	224	2,175
29	Jasper	15,681	222	749
30	La Porte	21,328	201	1,864
31	Marion	27,730	196	2,494
32	New Haven	15,934	196	1,375
33	Chesterton	13,884	193	594
34	Columbia City	9,115	180	1,017
35	Avon	18,056	166	2,553
36	Clarksville	21,825	160	4,376
37	Portage	36,524	159	1,301
38	Cumberland	5,840	157	3,788
39	Plainfield	34,224	152	1,929
40	Greenfield	22,561	146	1,301
41	North Vernon	7,167	139	2,386
42	Whitestown	8,842	134	1,150
43	Nappanee	7,138	131	1,094
44	Danville	10,380	119	970
45	Huntingburg	6,301	108	511
46	Seymour	19,780	107	1,868
47	Valparaiso	33,707	107	939
48	Griffith	16,198	105	1,061
49	Cedar Lake	12,830	105	524
50	West Lafayette	49,668	102	1,120

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Indiana 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 Indiana 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.