Top 10 most dangerous cities in Louisiana

Louisiana, known for its vibrant culture and rich history, offers a unique living experience. From the lively streets of New Orleans with its jazz music and Mardi Gras celebrations to the tranquil beauty of the bayous, Louisiana provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its cuisine, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Louisiana faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Louisiana are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Louisiana's cultural vibrancy and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Louisiana 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 Louisiana. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Louisiana's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural richness, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Monroe Population: 47,906 2,737 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 7.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 37 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,459

Monroe, LA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Louisiana with 2,737 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (2,432), robbery (228), rape (38) and homicide (38) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 335% higher than the Louisiana 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.

Opelousas Population: 16,687 2,182 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.98 chance of being a victim: 1 in 46 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,364

The second most dangerous city is Opelousas. With a population of 16,687 and a violent crime rate that is 247% higher than the Louisiana average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Opelousas are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 2,182 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 46 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Alexandria Population: 46,545 1,784 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 56 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,106

Home to 46,545 residents, Alexandria, LA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Louisiana. Unfortunately for residents of Alexandria, crime is widespread, with more than 1,784 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 4.89 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 184% higher than the Louisiana violent crime rate.

West Monroe Population: 12,431 1,719 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.71 chance of being a victim: 1 in 58 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,178

With a violent crime rate that is 174% higher than the Louisiana average, it's not hard to see why West Monroe made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (126), assault (1,396), rape (197) and homicide (0). 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 West Monroe more vulnerable to high crime.

Marksville Population: 5,376 1,693 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 59 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,669

The ongoing battle with crime in Marksville, LA, 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 1,693 and a 1 in 59 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Marksville has a violent crime rate that is 169% higher than the Louisiana 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 Marksville.

New Orleans Population: 391,249 1,444 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 69 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,085

New Orleans, LA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,444 per 100,000 people, which is 130% higher than the Louisiana average. New Orleans has a population of 391,249, which translates to 3.96 crimes per day and 1 in 69 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 New Orleans which are much safer than others.

Bogalusa Population: 11,658 1,377 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 73 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,822

A 1 in 73 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.77 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Bogalusa makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,377 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 119% higher than the Louisiana average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,204), robbery (38), rape (76) and homicide (57).

Hammond Population: 20,557 1,228 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.36 chance of being a victim: 1 in 81 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,814

Hammond, LA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Louisiana and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 20,557 and a violent crime rate of 1,228 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 1,079 counts of assault, 86 counts of robbery, 62 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Hammond violent crime rate is 95% higher than the Louisiana average.

Bastrop Population: 10,060 1,195 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 84 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,780

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, Bastrop, LA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Louisiana with a violent crime rate of 1,195 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 3.27 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 84 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Morgan City Population: 10,963 1,137 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.11 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,418

Rounding out our list at #10 is Morgan City, LA. With a population of 10,963 and a violent crime rate of 1,137 per 100,000 people (81% higher than the Louisiana average), some parts of Morgan City are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 935 counts of assault, 92 counts of robbery, 83 counts of rape and 28 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 88 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Louisiana

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Monroe	47,906	2,737	9,459
2	Opelousas	16,687	2,182	8,364
3	Alexandria	46,545	1,784	8,106
4	West Monroe	12,431	1,719	8,178
5	Marksville	5,376	1,693	6,669
6	New Orleans	391,249	1,444	6,085
7	Bogalusa	11,658	1,377	5,822
8	Hammond	20,557	1,228	7,814
9	Bastrop	10,060	1,195	5,780
10	Morgan City	10,963	1,137	4,418
11	Tallulah	6,722	1,121	1,607
12	Baton Rouge	222,191	1,028	6,880
13	Bossier City	68,286	1,008	5,677
14	Houma	33,053	830	4,911
15	Shreveport	189,890	811	4,601
16	Plaquemine	6,589	810	3,411
17	Ruston	21,987	802	4,604
18	Abbeville	12,167	775	2,908
19	Jennings	9,874	662	3,880
20	Patterson	5,844	651	1,303
21	Lake Charles	77,832	629	3,742
22	Ponchatoula	7,311	627	4,325
23	Walker	6,278	620	4,279
24	Gretna	17,746	599	4,223
25	Baker	13,233	545	2,788
26	Gonzales	10,932	490	7,328
27	Westwego	8,411	484	2,371
28	Lafayette	126,674	479	4,866
29	Thibodaux	14,565	468	3,475
30	Sulphur	20,122	429	4,142
31	DeRidder	10,955	403	1,954
32	Zachary	17,699	349	2,296
33	Broussard	12,248	305	2,567
34	Slidell	27,782	268	3,103
35	Covington	10,471	199	1,126
36	Mandeville	12,567	181	1,525
37	Harahan	9,293	170	1,031
38	Addis	5,635	148	645
39	Rayne	8,062	42	915

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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

Well Below nat. avg.
Below nat. avg.
Similar to nat. avg.
Above nat. avg.
Well above nat. avg.

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.