Top 10 most dangerous cities in Mississippi

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.

Cleveland Population: 11,363 1,039 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 96 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,764

Cleveland, MS holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Mississippi with 1,039 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (908), robbery (84), rape (19) and homicide (28) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 324% 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.

Louisville Population: 6,063 989 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.71 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,455

The second most dangerous city is Louisville. With a population of 6,063 and a violent crime rate that is 304% higher than the Mississippi average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Louisville are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 989 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 101 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

West Point Population: 10,517 869 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.38 chance of being a victim: 1 in 115 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,427

Home to 10,517 residents, West Point, MS ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Mississippi. Unfortunately for residents of West Point, crime is widespread, with more than 869 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.38 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 255% higher than the Mississippi violent crime rate.

Forest Population: 5,569 760 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.08 chance of being a victim: 1 in 132 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,326

With a violent crime rate that is 210% higher than the Mississippi average, it's not hard to see why Forest made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (228), assault (513), rape (0) and homicide (19). 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 Forest more vulnerable to high crime.

Picayune Population: 11,016 649 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 154 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,604

The ongoing battle with crime in Picayune, 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 649 and a 1 in 154 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Picayune has a violent crime rate that is 165% 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 Picayune.

Laurel Population: 18,403 615 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 163 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,186

Laurel, MS comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 615 per 100,000 people, which is 151% higher than the Mississippi average. Laurel has a population of 18,403, which translates to 1.69 crimes per day and 1 in 163 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 Laurel which are much safer than others.

Brookhaven Population: 12,045 563 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.54 chance of being a victim: 1 in 178 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,311

A 1 in 178 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.54 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Brookhaven makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 563 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 130% higher than the Mississippi average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (445), robbery (67), rape (17) and homicide (34).

Senatobia Population: 7,759 531 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 188 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,270

Senatobia, MS is another one of the most dangerous cities in Mississippi and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 7,759 and a violent crime rate of 531 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 444 counts of assault, 37 counts of robbery, 49 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Senatobia violent crime rate is 117% higher than the Mississippi average.

Vicksburg Population: 22,045 505 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.38 chance of being a victim: 1 in 198 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,995

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, Vicksburg, MS comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Mississippi with a violent crime rate of 505 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.38 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 198 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Corinth Population: 14,544 485 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 206 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,606

Rounding out our list at #10 is Corinth, MS. With a population of 14,544 and a violent crime rate of 485 per 100,000 people (98% higher than the Mississippi average), some parts of Corinth are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 380 counts of assault, 35 counts of robbery, 42 counts of rape and 28 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 206 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	Cleveland	11,363	1,039	5,764
2	Louisville	6,063	989	3,455
3	West Point	10,517	869	3,427
4	Forest	5,569	760	3,326
5	Picayune	11,016	649	3,604
6	Laurel	18,403	615	5,186
7	Brookhaven	12,045	563	4,311
8	Senatobia	7,759	531	2,270
9	Vicksburg	22,045	505	4,995
10	Corinth	14,544	485	5,606
11	Pontotoc	6,070	451	3,743
12	Pascagoula	21,732	405	4,955
13	Tupelo	38,251	386	4,503
14	Ridgeland	24,194	360	2,297
15	Holly Springs	7,727	355	678
16	Batesville	7,200	345	3,178
17	Hattiesburg	46,010	344	4,823
18	Gautier	18,436	326	2,517
19	Olive Branch	38,270	315	2,172
20	Booneville	8,539	265	4,657
21	Byram	11,519	236	1,415
22	Southaven	55,026	228	3,494
23	Flowood	9,213	209	1,787
24	Bay St. Louis	13,539	170	3,569
25	Kosciusko	6,778	158	1,682
26	Starkville	25,495	154	2,650
27	Horn Lake	27,234	150	2,245
28	Richland	7,203	138	1,532
29	Oxford	27,662	130	1,765
30	Amory	6,873	124	4,147
31	Brandon	24,088	113	593
32	Ocean Springs	17,756	98	2,364
33	Clinton	24,797	93	1,193
34	Hernando	16,206	91	732
35	Waveland	6,352	72	1,532
36	Petal	10,624	69	492
37	Long Beach	15,829	47	1,599
38	Madison	25,650	47	629
39	New Albany	8,723	26	2,354
40	Pass Christian	6,079	17	2,304

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

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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.