Top 10 most dangerous cities in Maryland

Maryland, known for its rich history and diverse landscapes, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Baltimore to the scenic beauty of the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its seafood cuisine, historic sites, and vibrant festivals. However, despite its many positives, Maryland faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Maryland are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Maryland's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Maryland 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 Maryland. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Maryland'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.

Ocean City Population: 6,957 1,854 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.08 chance of being a victim: 1 in 54 Total Crimes / 100k: 12,664

Ocean City, MD holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Maryland with 1,854 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,308), robbery (273), rape (273) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 365% higher than the Maryland 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.

Baltimore Population: 602,274 1,553 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.25 chance of being a victim: 1 in 64 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,830

The second most dangerous city is Baltimore. With a population of 602,274 and a violent crime rate that is 290% higher than the Maryland average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Baltimore are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,553 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 64 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Salisbury Population: 32,850 1,095 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.00 chance of being a victim: 1 in 91 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,678

Home to 32,850 residents, Salisbury, MD ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Maryland. Unfortunately for residents of Salisbury, crime is widespread, with more than 1,095 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.00 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 175% higher than the Maryland violent crime rate.

Elkton Population: 15,653 715 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 140 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,042

With a violent crime rate that is 79% higher than the Maryland average, it's not hard to see why Elkton made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (120), assault (449), rape (120) and homicide (25). 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 Elkton more vulnerable to high crime.

Hagerstown Population: 40,027 712 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.95 chance of being a victim: 1 in 140 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,765

The ongoing battle with crime in Hagerstown, MD, 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 712 and a 1 in 140 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Hagerstown has a violent crime rate that is 79% higher than the Maryland 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 Hagerstown.

Cumberland Population: 19,495 611 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.67 chance of being a victim: 1 in 164 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,006

Cumberland, MD comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 611 per 100,000 people, which is 53% higher than the Maryland average. Cumberland has a population of 19,495, which translates to 1.67 crimes per day and 1 in 164 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 Cumberland which are much safer than others.

Aberdeen Population: 15,904 609 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.67 chance of being a victim: 1 in 164 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,737

A 1 in 164 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.67 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Aberdeen makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 609 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 53% higher than the Maryland average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (444), robbery (119), rape (40) and homicide (6).

Mount Rainier Population: 8,149 567 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 176 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,353

Mount Rainier, MD is another one of the most dangerous cities in Maryland and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 8,149 and a violent crime rate of 567 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 185 counts of assault, 357 counts of robbery, 25 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Mount Rainier violent crime rate is 42% higher than the Maryland average.

Annapolis Population: 39,321 530 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 189 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,474

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, Annapolis, MD comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Maryland with a violent crime rate of 530 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.45 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 189 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Westminster Population: 18,649 461 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.26 chance of being a victim: 1 in 217 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,435

Rounding out our list at #10 is Westminster, MD. With a population of 18,649 and a violent crime rate of 461 per 100,000 people (16% higher than the Maryland average), some parts of Westminster are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 426 counts of assault, 10 counts of robbery, 25 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 217 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Maryland

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Ocean City	6,957	1,854	12,664
2	Baltimore	602,274	1,553	4,830
3	Salisbury	32,850	1,095	3,678
4	Elkton	15,653	715	6,042
5	Hagerstown	40,027	712	2,765
6	Cumberland	19,495	611	4,006
7	Aberdeen	15,904	609	2,737
8	Mount Rainier	8,149	567	3,353
9	Annapolis	39,321	530	2,474
10	Westminster	18,649	461	2,435
11	Frederick	71,843	372	1,926
12	Chestertown	5,073	319	1,987
13	Brunswick	6,364	193	978
14	Bel Air	10,102	178	2,689
15	Hampstead	6,403	158	1,009
16	Havre de Grace	13,808	128	1,525
17	Easton	16,589	122	1,346
18	Frostburg	8,550	114	242
19	Bowie	58,158	109	1,312
20	Thurmont	6,783	60	497

Methodology

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