Top 10 most dangerous cities in Missouri

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

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

Berkeley Population: 8,912 1,903 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.21 chance of being a victim: 1 in 53 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,947

Berkeley, MO holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Missouri with 1,903 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,652), robbery (138), rape (38) and homicide (75) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 315% higher than the Missouri 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.

Sikeston Population: 16,664 1,483 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 67 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,512

The second most dangerous city is Sikeston. With a population of 16,664 and a violent crime rate that is 223% higher than the Missouri average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Sikeston are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,483 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 67 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Kansas City Population: 491,158 1,478 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 68 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,436

Home to 491,158 residents, Kansas City, MO ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Missouri. Unfortunately for residents of Kansas City, crime is widespread, with more than 1,478 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 4.05 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 222% higher than the Missouri violent crime rate.

St. Louis Population: 304,709 1,445 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 69 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,845

With a violent crime rate that is 215% higher than the Missouri average, it's not hard to see why St. Louis made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (260), assault (1,058), rape (70) and homicide (56). 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 St. Louis more vulnerable to high crime.

Springfield Population: 167,601 1,170 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.21 chance of being a victim: 1 in 85 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,281

The ongoing battle with crime in Springfield, MO, 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 1,170 and a 1 in 85 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Springfield has a violent crime rate that is 155% higher than the Missouri 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 Springfield.

Bellefontaine Neighbors Population: 10,441 1,007 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 99 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,914

Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,007 per 100,000 people, which is 120% higher than the Missouri average. Bellefontaine Neighbors has a population of 10,441, which translates to 2.76 crimes per day and 1 in 99 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 Bellefontaine Neighbors which are much safer than others.

Caruthersville Population: 5,518 946 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 106 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,993

A 1 in 106 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.59 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Caruthersville makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 946 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 106% higher than the Missouri average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (850), robbery (77), rape (19) and homicide (0).

Charleston Population: 5,478 897 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.46 chance of being a victim: 1 in 111 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,055

Charleston, MO is another one of the most dangerous cities in Missouri and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 5,478 and a violent crime rate of 897 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 800 counts of assault, 48 counts of robbery, 48 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Charleston violent crime rate is 96% higher than the Missouri average.

Ferguson Population: 20,631 757 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 132 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,223

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, Ferguson, MO comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Missouri with a violent crime rate of 757 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.07 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 132 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

St. Joseph Population: 75,369 752 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 133 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,516

Rounding out our list at #10 is St. Joseph, MO. With a population of 75,369 and a violent crime rate of 752 per 100,000 people (64% higher than the Missouri average), some parts of St. Joseph are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 475 counts of assault, 76 counts of robbery, 197 counts of rape and 4 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 133 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Missouri

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Berkeley	8,912	1,903	6,947
2	Sikeston	16,664	1,483	5,512
3	Kansas City	491,158	1,478	6,436
4	St. Louis	304,709	1,445	7,845
5	Springfield	167,601	1,170	5,281
6	Bellefontaine Neighbors	10,441	1,007	3,914
7	Caruthersville	5,518	946	2,993
8	Charleston	5,478	897	3,055
9	Ferguson	20,631	757	4,223
10	St. Joseph	75,369	752	4,516
11	Raytown	29,176	748	4,607
12	Bridgeton	11,577	708	6,412
13	Richmond Heights	8,581	697	9,106
14	Cape Girardeau	40,100	634	3,200
15	Waynesville	5,260	625	1,563
16	St. John	6,369	620	2,961
17	Kennett	10,069	584	4,167
18	Overland	15,644	543	2,663
19	Hazelwood	25,222	535	3,419
20	West Plains	12,290	520	2,913
21	Joplin	50,580	492	5,573
22	Union	11,931	487	3,561
23	Nevada	8,198	475	5,982
24	Harrisonville	10,084	473	2,263
25	Marshfield	7,425	424	3,042
26	Maplewood	8,073	411	8,115
27	Sullivan	6,499	410	5,023
28	Aurora	7,461	399	2,263
29	Sedalia	21,634	390	1,977
30	Cameron	8,941	390	1,960
31	Branson	11,526	389	5,833
32	Columbia	122,659	386	2,897
33	Kirksville	17,645	378	3,175
34	De Soto	6,359	356	3,146
35	Webb City	11,884	348	3,332
36	Gladstone	27,365	343	2,387
37	Rolla	20,273	341	3,454
38	Chillicothe	9,106	340	1,436
39	Farmington	18,792	338	4,235
40	Hannibal	17,312	338	3,023
41	Moberly	13,710	332	1,838
42	Perryville	8,500	331	1,278
43	Warrensburg	20,313	328	2,541
44	Richmond	5,622	320	2,864
45	Pacific	6,780	319	1,502
46	Jefferson City	42,670	317	2,356
47	Boonville	8,300	311	2,530
48	St. Ann	12,689	309	2,461
49	Lebanon	14,735	300	2,543
50	Belton	23,568	294	2,761

Methodology

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