Top 10 most dangerous cities in Mississippi

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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.

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Laurel Population: 18,971 1,052 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.88 chance of being a victim: 1 in 95 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,840

Laurel, MS holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Mississippi with 1,052 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (833), robbery (95), rape (100) and homicide (24) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 400% 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.

Waynesboro Population: 5,023 929 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 108 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,566

The second most dangerous city is Waynesboro. With a population of 5,023 and a violent crime rate that is 341% higher than the Mississippi average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Waynesboro are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 929 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 108 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Forest Population: 5,731 707 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 141 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,586

Home to 5,731 residents, Forest, MS ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Mississippi. Unfortunately for residents of Forest, crime is widespread, with more than 707 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.94 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 236% higher than the Mississippi violent crime rate.

Amory Population: 7,099 630 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 159 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,136

With a violent crime rate that is 199% higher than the Mississippi average, it's not hard to see why Amory made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (0), assault (567), rape (63) and homicide (0). 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 Amory more vulnerable to high crime.

Vicksburg Population: 22,799 617 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 162 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,428

The ongoing battle with crime in Vicksburg, 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 617 and a 1 in 162 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Vicksburg has a violent crime rate that is 193% 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 Vicksburg.

Philadelphia Population: 7,379 524 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 191 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,014

Philadelphia, MS comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 524 per 100,000 people, which is 149% higher than the Mississippi average. Philadelphia has a population of 7,379, which translates to 1.44 crimes per day and 1 in 191 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 Philadelphia which are much safer than others.

West Point Population: 10,912 507 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.39 chance of being a victim: 1 in 197 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,587

A 1 in 197 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.39 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why West Point makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 507 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 141% higher than the Mississippi average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (455), robbery (10), rape (21) and homicide (21).

Tupelo Population: 39,384 391 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 256 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,168

Tupelo, MS is another one of the most dangerous cities in Mississippi and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 39,384 and a violent crime rate of 391 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 237 counts of assault, 72 counts of robbery, 72 counts of rape and 11 counts of homicide. All told, the Tupelo violent crime rate is 86% higher than the Mississippi average.

Cleveland Population: 11,812 384 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 261 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,227

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, Cleveland, MS comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Mississippi with a violent crime rate of 384 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.05 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 261 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Corinth Population: 14,869 354 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 283 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,493

Rounding out our list at #10 is Corinth, MS. With a population of 14,869 and a violent crime rate of 354 per 100,000 people (68% higher than the Mississippi average), some parts of Corinth are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 219 counts of assault, 64 counts of robbery, 71 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 283 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	18,971	1,052	4,840
2	Waynesboro	5,023	929	2,566
3	Forest	5,731	707	1,586
4	Amory	7,099	630	3,136
5	Vicksburg	22,799	617	4,428
6	Philadelphia	7,379	524	3,014
7	West Point	10,912	507	2,587
8	Tupelo	39,384	391	4,168
9	Cleveland	11,812	384	3,227
10	Corinth	14,869	354	3,493
11	Batesville	7,404	344	5,102
12	Pascagoula	22,492	326	5,197
13	Ridgeland	25,070	320	1,700
14	Southaven	57,133	304	2,329
15	Pontotoc	6,205	251	2,129
16	Gautier	19,005	247	2,171
17	Booneville	8,772	242	3,890
18	Senatobia	7,927	230	1,840
19	Hattiesburg	47,823	222	3,687
20	Olive Branch	39,759	199	1,558
21	Picayune	11,292	185	2,884
22	Kosciusko	7,037	177	1,803
23	Petal	10,849	130	522
24	Oxford	28,503	127	1,980
25	Bay St. Louis	13,930	119	2,477
26	Horn Lake	28,196	110	1,509
27	Byram	11,831	96	1,054
28	Hernando	16,752	92	565
29	Brandon	25,016	89	463
30	Starkville	26,447	83	2,119
31	Long Beach	16,179	82	1,073
32	New Albany	9,039	78	1,216
33	Waveland	6,520	72	2,716
34	Clinton	25,729	68	1,274
35	Madison	26,675	57	445
36	Richland	7,410	53	1,082
37	Pass Christian	6,223	0	808

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.