Top 10 most dangerous cities in New Hampshire

New Hampshire, known for its picturesque landscapes and rich history, offers a unique living experience. From the charming coastal towns of Portsmouth to the scenic beauty of the White Mountains, New Hampshire provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its museums, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, New Hampshire faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in New Hampshire are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between New Hampshire's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. New Hampshire's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Manchester Population: 112,441 384 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 261 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,062

Manchester, NH holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in New Hampshire with 384 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (230), robbery (88), rape (59) and homicide (7) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 258% higher than the New Hampshire 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.

Laconia Population: 16,584 227 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.62 chance of being a victim: 1 in 440 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,720

The second most dangerous city is Laconia. With a population of 16,584 and a violent crime rate that is 112% higher than the New Hampshire average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Laconia are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 227 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 440 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Newport Population: 5,530 185 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.51 chance of being a victim: 1 in 541 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,264

Home to 5,530 residents, Newport, NH ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in New Hampshire. Unfortunately for residents of Newport, crime is widespread, with more than 185 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 0.51 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 73% higher than the New Hampshire violent crime rate.

Keene Population: 22,823 163 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 612 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,571

With a violent crime rate that is 52% higher than the New Hampshire average, it's not hard to see why Keene made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (40), assault (44), rape (80) 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 Keene more vulnerable to high crime.

Concord Population: 43,503 156 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 639 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,556

The ongoing battle with crime in Concord, NH, 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 156 and a 1 in 639 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Concord has a violent crime rate that is 46% higher than the New Hampshire 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 Concord.

Portsmouth Population: 21,418 143 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.39 chance of being a victim: 1 in 699 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,180

Portsmouth, NH comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 143 per 100,000 people, which is 34% higher than the New Hampshire average. Portsmouth has a population of 21,418, which translates to 0.39 crimes per day and 1 in 699 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 Portsmouth which are much safer than others.

Nashua Population: 89,052 120 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 836 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,129

A 1 in 836 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.33 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Nashua makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 120 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 12% higher than the New Hampshire average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (55), robbery (16), rape (47) and homicide (1).

Franklin Population: 8,695 113 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.31 chance of being a victim: 1 in 888 Total Crimes / 100k: 823

Franklin, NH is another one of the most dangerous cities in New Hampshire and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 8,695 and a violent crime rate of 113 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 79 counts of assault, 11 counts of robbery, 23 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Franklin violent crime rate is 5% higher than the New Hampshire average.

Somersworth Population: 12,027 106 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.29 chance of being a victim: 1 in 943 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,901

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, Somersworth, NH comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in New Hampshire with a violent crime rate of 106 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.29 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 943 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Derry Population: 22,891 102 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.28 chance of being a victim: 1 in 983 Total Crimes / 100k: 851

Rounding out our list at #10 is Derry, NH. With a population of 22,891 and a violent crime rate of 102 per 100,000 people (5% lower than the New Hampshire average), some parts of Derry are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 44 counts of assault, 6 counts of robbery, 49 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 983 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in New Hampshire

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Manchester	112,441	384	2,062
2	Laconia	16,584	227	2,720
3	Newport	5,530	185	1,264
4	Keene	22,823	163	2,571
5	Concord	43,503	156	1,556
6	Portsmouth	21,418	143	1,180
7	Nashua	89,052	120	1,129
8	Franklin	8,695	113	823
9	Somersworth	12,027	106	1,901
10	Derry	22,891	102	851
11	Hampton	10,002	96	693
12	Newmarket	5,737	85	372
13	Lebanon	13,718	84	1,438
14	Hudson	7,230	74	884
15	Londonderry	12,053	67	629
16	Durham	12,016	50	258
17	Exeter	9,349	49	672
18	Dover	31,922	45	985
19	Hooksett	5,517	41	750
20	Milford	8,644	36	418
21	Hanover	8,744	31	713

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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.