Top 10 most dangerous cities in Missouri

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 2,810 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 7.70 chance of being a victim: 1 in 36 Total Crimes / 100k: 10,560

Berkeley, MO holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Missouri with 2,810 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (2,488), robbery (223), rape (25) and homicide (74) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 476% 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.

Kansas City Population: 491,158 1,481 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 68 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,197

The second most dangerous city is Kansas City. With a population of 491,158 and a violent crime rate that is 204% higher than the Missouri average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Kansas City are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,481 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 68 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Sikeston Population: 16,664 1,479 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 68 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,024

Home to 16,664 residents, Sikeston, MO ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Missouri. Unfortunately for residents of Sikeston, crime is widespread, with more than 1,479 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 203% higher than the Missouri violent crime rate.

St. Louis Population: 304,709 1,472 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.03 chance of being a victim: 1 in 68 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,726

With a violent crime rate that is 202% 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 (281), assault (1,069), rape (53) and homicide (70). 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 1,418 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.88 chance of being a victim: 1 in 71 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,327

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 1,418 and a 1 in 71 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Springfield has a violent crime rate that is 191% 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 1,235 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.38 chance of being a victim: 1 in 81 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,685

Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,235 per 100,000 people, which is 153% higher than the Missouri average. Bellefontaine Neighbors has a population of 10,441, which translates to 3.38 crimes per day and 1 in 81 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.

Aurora Population: 7,461 969 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 103 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,070

A 1 in 103 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.65 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Aurora makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 969 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 99% higher than the Missouri average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (791), robbery (14), rape (150) and homicide (14).

Nevada Population: 8,198 917 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.51 chance of being a victim: 1 in 109 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,319

Nevada, MO is another one of the most dangerous cities in Missouri and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 8,198 and a violent crime rate of 917 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 636 counts of assault, 12 counts of robbery, 269 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Nevada violent crime rate is 88% higher than the Missouri average.

Ferguson Population: 20,631 803 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.20 chance of being a victim: 1 in 125 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,786

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 803 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.20 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 125 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

St. Joseph Population: 75,369 756 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 132 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,082

Rounding out our list at #10 is St. Joseph, MO. With a population of 75,369 and a violent crime rate of 756 per 100,000 people (55% higher than the Missouri average), some parts of St. Joseph are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 454 counts of assault, 85 counts of robbery, 212 counts of rape and 6 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 132 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	2,810	10,560
2	Kansas City	491,158	1,481	6,197
3	Sikeston	16,664	1,479	5,024
4	St. Louis	304,709	1,472	8,726
5	Springfield	167,601	1,418	6,327
6	Bellefontaine Neighbors	10,441	1,235	4,685
7	Aurora	7,461	969	3,070
8	Nevada	8,198	917	6,319
9	Ferguson	20,631	803	4,786
10	St. Joseph	75,369	756	5,082
11	Hazelwood	25,222	755	3,832
12	Grandview	24,990	716	4,267
13	Bridgeton	11,577	697	6,630
14	Charleston	5,478	682	2,567
15	Cape Girardeau	40,100	601	3,057
16	St. John	6,369	597	3,074
17	Richmond Heights	8,581	581	7,248
18	Raytown	29,176	558	4,284
19	Rolla	20,273	551	3,902
20	Independence	117,139	528	3,837
21	Sullivan	6,499	514	5,785
22	Kirksville	17,645	502	5,138
23	Sedalia	21,634	493	3,307
24	Joplin	50,580	487	6,588
25	Union	11,931	477	4,183
26	Columbia	122,659	472	3,086
27	Hannibal	17,312	470	3,811
28	Overland	15,644	454	4,005
29	Branson	11,526	453	6,697
30	Kennett	10,069	434	4,290
31	West Plains	12,290	416	3,673
32	Belton	23,568	398	2,833
33	Lebanon	14,735	383	3,137
34	Marshall	12,920	378	1,772
35	Excelsior Springs	11,688	377	2,592
36	Jefferson City	42,670	356	2,063
37	Harrisonville	10,084	352	2,491
38	Marshfield	7,425	342	2,867
39	Perryville	8,500	319	1,703
40	Gladstone	27,365	315	3,050
41	Waynesville	5,260	314	1,661
42	Willard	5,567	311	918
43	Pacific	6,780	311	1,676
44	Maryland Heights	26,996	306	2,979
45	St. Ann	12,689	305	2,362
46	Shrewsbury	6,108	303	5,016
47	Farmington	18,792	302	4,282
48	Wentzville	40,407	298	1,532
49	Maplewood	8,073	296	5,581
50	Festus	12,054	292	1,734

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.