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: 112,441 412 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 243 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,901

Manchester, NH holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in New Hampshire with 412 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (288), robbery (76), rape (44) and homicide (4) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 228% 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.

Newport Population: 5,530 203 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.56 chance of being a victim: 1 in 493 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,451

The second most dangerous city is Newport. With a population of 5,530 and a violent crime rate that is 61% higher than the New Hampshire average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Newport are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 203 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 493 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Rochester Population: 31,305 190 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.52 chance of being a victim: 1 in 525 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,925

Home to 31,305 residents, Rochester, NH ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in New Hampshire. Unfortunately for residents of Rochester, crime is widespread, with more than 190 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 0.52 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 52% higher than the New Hampshire violent crime rate.

Berlin Population: 10,025 185 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.51 chance of being a victim: 1 in 540 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,955

With a violent crime rate that is 47% higher than the New Hampshire average, it's not hard to see why Berlin made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (21), assault (134), rape (31) 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 Berlin more vulnerable to high crime.

Portsmouth Population: 21,418 178 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 563 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,430

The ongoing battle with crime in Portsmouth, 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 178 and a 1 in 563 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Portsmouth has a violent crime rate that is 41% 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 Portsmouth.

Keene Population: 22,823 172 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.47 chance of being a victim: 1 in 582 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,312

Keene, NH comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 172 per 100,000 people, which is 37% higher than the New Hampshire average. Keene has a population of 22,823, which translates to 0.47 crimes per day and 1 in 582 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 Keene which are much safer than others.

Claremont Population: 12,969 167 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.46 chance of being a victim: 1 in 598 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,425

A 1 in 598 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.46 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Claremont makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 167 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 33% higher than the New Hampshire average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (76), robbery (53), rape (38) and homicide (0).

Lebanon Population: 13,718 159 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 628 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,885

Lebanon, NH is another one of the most dangerous cities in New Hampshire and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 13,718 and a violent crime rate of 159 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 45 counts of assault, 25 counts of robbery, 89 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Lebanon violent crime rate is 27% higher than the New Hampshire average.

Nashua Population: 89,052 157 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 637 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,226

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, Nashua, NH comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in New Hampshire with a violent crime rate of 157 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.43 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 637 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Laconia Population: 16,584 146 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.40 chance of being a victim: 1 in 684 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,893

Rounding out our list at #10 is Laconia, NH. With a population of 16,584 and a violent crime rate of 146 per 100,000 people (16% higher than the New Hampshire average), some parts of Laconia are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 47 counts of assault, 12 counts of robbery, 88 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 684 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	412	2,901
2	Newport	5,530	203	1,451
3	Rochester	31,305	190	1,925
4	Berlin	10,025	185	1,955
5	Portsmouth	21,418	178	1,430
6	Keene	22,823	172	2,312
7	Claremont	12,969	167	2,425
8	Lebanon	13,718	159	1,885
9	Nashua	89,052	157	1,226
10	Laconia	16,584	146	2,893
11	Concord	43,503	138	1,492
12	Hooksett	5,517	137	1,045
13	Londonderry	12,053	121	812
14	Derry	22,891	120	945
15	Hampton	10,002	116	861
16	Somersworth	12,027	90	2,105
17	Franklin	8,695	90	1,164
18	Newmarket	5,737	85	584
19	Hanover	8,744	85	603
20	Exeter	9,349	80	662
21	Hudson	7,230	63	858
22	Durham	12,016	58	373
23	Milford	8,644	43	392
24	Dover	31,922	39	1,055

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.