Top 10 most dangerous cities in Louisiana

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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.

Marksville Population: 5,376 2,209 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 6.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 45 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,837

Marksville, LA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Louisiana with 2,209 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (2,084), robbery (125), rape (0) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 303% 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.

Monroe Population: 47,906 2,104 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 48 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,152

The second most dangerous city is Monroe. With a population of 47,906 and a violent crime rate that is 284% higher than the Louisiana average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Monroe are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 2,104 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 48 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Alexandria Population: 46,545 1,972 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.40 chance of being a victim: 1 in 51 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,366

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 1,972 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 5.40 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 260% higher than the Louisiana violent crime rate.

Opelousas Population: 16,687 1,680 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.60 chance of being a victim: 1 in 60 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,442

With a violent crime rate that is 207% higher than the Louisiana average, it's not hard to see why Opelousas made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (137), assault (1,432), rape (59) and homicide (52). 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 Opelousas more vulnerable to high crime.

New Orleans Population: 391,249 1,361 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 73 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,451

The ongoing battle with crime in New Orleans, 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 1,361 and a 1 in 73 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), New Orleans has a violent crime rate that is 148% 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 New Orleans.

West Monroe Population: 12,431 1,359 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 74 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,254

West Monroe, LA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,359 per 100,000 people, which is 148% higher than the Louisiana average. West Monroe has a population of 12,431, which translates to 3.72 crimes per day and 1 in 74 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 West Monroe which are much safer than others.

Bogalusa Population: 11,658 1,231 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 81 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,348

A 1 in 81 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.37 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 1,231 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 125% higher than the Louisiana average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,056), robbery (68), rape (78) and homicide (29).

Jennings Population: 9,874 1,012 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 99 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,892

Jennings, LA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Louisiana and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 9,874 and a violent crime rate of 1,012 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 854 counts of assault, 116 counts of robbery, 42 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Jennings violent crime rate is 85% higher than the Louisiana average.

Baton Rouge Population: 222,191 1,004 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 100 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,530

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, Baton Rouge, LA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Louisiana with a violent crime rate of 1,004 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.75 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 100 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Bossier City Population: 68,286 911 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 110 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,481

Rounding out our list at #10 is Bossier City, LA. With a population of 68,286 and a violent crime rate of 911 per 100,000 people (66% higher than the Louisiana average), some parts of Bossier City are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 735 counts of assault, 69 counts of robbery, 94 counts of rape and 13 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 110 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	Marksville	5,376	2,209	7,837
2	Monroe	47,906	2,104	8,152
3	Alexandria	46,545	1,972	8,366
4	Opelousas	16,687	1,680	7,442
5	New Orleans	391,249	1,361	6,451
6	West Monroe	12,431	1,359	7,254
7	Bogalusa	11,658	1,231	5,348
8	Jennings	9,874	1,012	5,892
9	Baton Rouge	222,191	1,004	6,530
10	Bossier City	68,286	911	5,481
11	Plaquemine	6,589	893	3,896
12	Walker	6,278	876	4,647
13	Morgan City	10,963	834	4,196
14	Lafayette	126,674	818	5,421
15	Tallulah	6,722	810	1,155
16	Shreveport	189,890	744	5,219
17	Bastrop	10,060	737	4,989
18	Gonzales	10,932	676	5,718
19	Ruston	21,987	644	4,610
20	Lake Charles	77,832	636	3,575
21	Westwego	8,411	620	2,689
22	Houma	33,053	609	4,145
23	Ponchatoula	7,311	555	4,215
24	Gretna	17,746	473	4,203
25	Baker	13,233	390	2,176
26	Thibodaux	14,565	364	3,110
27	Zachary	17,699	342	2,571
28	Patterson	5,844	337	586
29	Kenner	66,759	323	3,528
30	Slidell	27,782	311	2,900
31	Sulphur	20,122	275	3,563
32	DeRidder	10,955	252	1,880
33	Broussard	12,248	172	2,132
34	Harahan	9,293	162	878
35	Covington	10,471	146	1,122
36	Mandeville	12,567	134	1,378
37	Rayne	8,062	43	1,180
38	Addis	5,635	26	486

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

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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.