Top 10 most dangerous cities in Tennessee

Tennessee, known for its vibrant music scene and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Nashville to the scenic beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee 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, Tennessee faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Tennessee are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Tennessee's cultural vibrancy and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

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

Memphis Population: 650,910 2,421 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 6.63 chance of being a victim: 1 in 41 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,587

Memphis, TN holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Tennessee with 2,421 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,942), robbery (372), rape (64) and homicide (43) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 289% higher than the Tennessee 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.

Ripley Population: 7,852 2,033 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 49 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,748

The second most dangerous city is Ripley. With a population of 7,852 and a violent crime rate that is 227% higher than the Tennessee average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Ripley are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 2,033 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 49 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Bolivar Population: 5,005 1,911 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 52 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,628

Home to 5,005 residents, Bolivar, TN ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Tennessee. Unfortunately for residents of Bolivar, crime is widespread, with more than 1,911 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 5.24 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 208% higher than the Tennessee violent crime rate.

Brownsville Population: 9,497 1,253 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 80 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,633

With a violent crime rate that is 102% higher than the Tennessee average, it's not hard to see why Brownsville made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (52), assault (1,138), rape (42) and homicide (21). 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 Brownsville more vulnerable to high crime.

Fayetteville Population: 7,046 1,224 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.35 chance of being a victim: 1 in 82 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,134

The ongoing battle with crime in Fayetteville, TN, 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 1,224 and a 1 in 82 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Fayetteville has a violent crime rate that is 97% higher than the Tennessee 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 Fayetteville.

Dyersburg Population: 16,371 1,145 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.14 chance of being a victim: 1 in 87 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,155

Dyersburg, TN comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,145 per 100,000 people, which is 84% higher than the Tennessee average. Dyersburg has a population of 16,371, which translates to 3.14 crimes per day and 1 in 87 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 Dyersburg which are much safer than others.

Chattanooga Population: 181,370 1,137 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,359

A 1 in 88 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.12 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Chattanooga makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,137 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 83% higher than the Tennessee average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (914), robbery (119), rape (91) and homicide (13).

Nashville Population: 667,070 1,102 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.02 chance of being a victim: 1 in 91 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,927

Nashville, TN is another one of the most dangerous cities in Tennessee and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 667,070 and a violent crime rate of 1,102 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 853 counts of assault, 180 counts of robbery, 57 counts of rape and 12 counts of homicide. All told, the Nashville violent crime rate is 77% higher than the Tennessee average.

Covington Population: 8,863 1,072 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 93 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,041

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, Covington, TN comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Tennessee with a violent crime rate of 1,072 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.94 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 93 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Humboldt Population: 8,145 945 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 106 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,771

Rounding out our list at #10 is Humboldt, TN. With a population of 8,145 and a violent crime rate of 945 per 100,000 people (52% higher than the Tennessee average), some parts of Humboldt are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 817 counts of assault, 38 counts of robbery, 89 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 106 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Tennessee

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Memphis	650,910	2,421	9,587
2	Ripley	7,852	2,033	4,748
3	Bolivar	5,005	1,911	3,628
4	Brownsville	9,497	1,253	3,633
5	Fayetteville	7,046	1,224	4,134
6	Dyersburg	16,371	1,145	6,155
7	Chattanooga	181,370	1,137	6,359
8	Nashville	667,070	1,102	4,927
9	Covington	8,863	1,072	3,041
10	Humboldt	8,145	945	2,771
11	Jackson	67,036	899	3,798
12	Union City	10,426	864	4,920
13	Knoxville	187,487	842	4,750
14	Pigeon Forge	6,247	820	4,763
15	Athens	13,931	791	6,364
16	Kingsport	53,699	787	4,857
17	Millington	10,650	746	4,847
18	Rockwood	5,446	736	5,349
19	Dickson	15,500	730	3,108
20	Cleveland	45,115	725	4,121
21	Morristown	29,887	720	4,402
22	Crossville	11,704	697	4,204
23	Columbia	39,515	682	2,778
24	Sevierville	17,185	657	4,369
25	East Ridge	21,187	606	2,795
26	Halls	9,135	578	2,842
27	Winchester	8,818	577	3,205
28	Shelbyville	21,841	563	2,566
29	Greenbrier	6,859	546	1,063
30	Manchester	10,896	544	3,051
31	Savannah	6,934	541	4,329
32	Lewisburg	12,150	529	2,544
33	Sweetwater	5,894	520	2,805
34	Murfreesboro	141,704	511	2,622
35	Bristol	26,973	502	2,800
36	Milan	7,642	502	2,755
37	Springfield	17,147	502	1,697
38	McMinnville	13,707	502	2,702
39	Tullahoma	19,982	501	2,707
40	Clarksville	156,092	498	2,497
41	Clinton	10,006	478	2,786
42	Henderson	6,323	455	1,507
43	Martin	10,585	454	2,736
44	Lebanon	34,759	452	2,096
45	Pulaski	7,614	449	3,471
46	Newport	6,865	445	6,139
47	Red Bank	11,785	405	1,214
48	Lawrenceburg	10,925	404	2,695
49	Alcoa	9,809	402	2,507
50	Lenoir City	9,191	387	2,784

Methodology

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