Top 10 most dangerous cities in Mississippi

Get Location-Based Crime Data for any Address in Mississippi
*based on availability

Mississippi, known for its rich cultural heritage and Southern charm, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Jackson to the scenic beauty of the Gulf Coast, Mississippi 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, Mississippi faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Mississippi are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Mississippi's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

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

500 km

500 mi

+−

Laurel Population: 18,403 1,016 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 98 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,938

Laurel, MS holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Mississippi with 1,016 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (828), robbery (65), rape (82) and homicide (41) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 401% higher than the Mississippi 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.

West Point Population: 10,517 889 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 112 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,433

The second most dangerous city is West Point. With a population of 10,517 and a violent crime rate that is 338% higher than the Mississippi average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in West Point are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 889 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 112 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Cleveland Population: 11,363 682 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.87 chance of being a victim: 1 in 147 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,113

Home to 11,363 residents, Cleveland, MS ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Mississippi. Unfortunately for residents of Cleveland, crime is widespread, with more than 682 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.87 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 236% higher than the Mississippi violent crime rate.

Vicksburg Population: 22,045 639 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 156 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,020

With a violent crime rate that is 215% higher than the Mississippi average, it's not hard to see why Vicksburg made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (131), assault (418), rape (50) and homicide (40). 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 Vicksburg more vulnerable to high crime.

Louisville Population: 6,063 625 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.71 chance of being a victim: 1 in 160 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,177

The ongoing battle with crime in Louisville, MS, 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 625 and a 1 in 160 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Louisville has a violent crime rate that is 208% higher than the Mississippi 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 Louisville.

Forest Population: 5,569 530 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 189 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,345

Forest, MS comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 530 per 100,000 people, which is 161% higher than the Mississippi average. Forest has a population of 5,569, which translates to 1.45 crimes per day and 1 in 189 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 Forest which are much safer than others.

Tupelo Population: 38,251 443 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.21 chance of being a victim: 1 in 226 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,731

A 1 in 226 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.21 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Tupelo makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 443 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 119% higher than the Mississippi average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (263), robbery (85), rape (90) and homicide (5).

Picayune Population: 11,016 381 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 262 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,286

Picayune, MS is another one of the most dangerous cities in Mississippi and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 11,016 and a violent crime rate of 381 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 296 counts of assault, 34 counts of robbery, 25 counts of rape and 25 counts of homicide. All told, the Picayune violent crime rate is 88% higher than the Mississippi average.

Corinth Population: 14,544 367 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.01 chance of being a victim: 1 in 272 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,040

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, Corinth, MS comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Mississippi with a violent crime rate of 367 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.01 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 272 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Ridgeland Population: 24,194 362 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.99 chance of being a victim: 1 in 276 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,066

Rounding out our list at #10 is Ridgeland, MS. With a population of 24,194 and a violent crime rate of 362 per 100,000 people (79% higher than the Mississippi average), some parts of Ridgeland are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 292 counts of assault, 21 counts of robbery, 45 counts of rape and 4 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 276 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Mississippi

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Laurel	18,403	1,016	5,938
2	West Point	10,517	889	2,433
3	Cleveland	11,363	682	4,113
4	Vicksburg	22,045	639	4,020
5	Louisville	6,063	625	3,177
6	Forest	5,569	530	2,345
7	Tupelo	38,251	443	4,731
8	Picayune	11,016	381	3,286
9	Corinth	14,544	367	5,040
10	Ridgeland	24,194	362	2,066
11	Booneville	8,539	336	4,203
12	Amory	6,873	313	2,520
13	Pontotoc	6,070	309	3,089
14	Batesville	7,200	303	3,532
15	Brookhaven	12,045	293	3,305
16	Gautier	18,436	280	2,495
17	Hattiesburg	46,010	255	4,491
18	Senatobia	7,759	241	2,405
19	Pascagoula	21,732	219	4,341
20	Southaven	55,026	214	3,464
21	Olive Branch	38,270	209	1,943
22	Kosciusko	6,778	190	1,972
23	Holly Springs	7,727	178	680
24	Oxford	27,662	145	1,917
25	New Albany	8,723	130	2,107
26	Richland	7,203	122	1,017
27	Clinton	24,797	109	1,335
28	Byram	11,519	103	1,639
29	Brandon	24,088	86	428
30	Horn Lake	27,234	83	2,075
31	Bay St. Louis	13,539	80	2,912
32	Starkville	25,495	71	2,491
33	Hernando	16,206	54	596
34	Petal	10,624	53	432
35	Madison	25,650	43	662
36	Flowood	9,213	37	2,116
37	Waveland	6,352	29	1,628
38	Long Beach	15,829	17	1,067
39	Pass Christian	6,079	0	1,900

Methodology

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