Top 10 most dangerous cities in Texas

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

Efforts to improve safety in Texas 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 Texas. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Texas' 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.

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Donna Population: 16,720 1,758 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.82 chance of being a victim: 1 in 57 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,060

Donna, TX holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Texas with 1,758 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,579), robbery (72), rape (107) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 351% higher than the Texas 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.

Gonzales Population: 7,847 1,395 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.82 chance of being a victim: 1 in 72 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,384

The second most dangerous city is Gonzales. With a population of 7,847 and a violent crime rate that is 258% higher than the Texas average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Gonzales are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,395 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 72 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Houston Population: 2,385,298 1,148 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.15 chance of being a victim: 1 in 87 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,442

Home to 2,385,298 residents, Houston, TX ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Texas. Unfortunately for residents of Houston, crime is widespread, with more than 1,148 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.15 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 195% higher than the Texas violent crime rate.

Beaumont Population: 120,037 1,137 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,439

With a violent crime rate that is 192% higher than the Texas average, it's not hard to see why Beaumont made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (155), assault (875), rape (95) and homicide (13). 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 Beaumont more vulnerable to high crime.

Humble Population: 16,302 983 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 102 Total Crimes / 100k: 11,303

The ongoing battle with crime in Humble, TX, 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 983 and a 1 in 102 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Humble has a violent crime rate that is 152% higher than the Texas 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 Humble.

Alamo Population: 20,629 897 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.46 chance of being a victim: 1 in 111 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,389

Alamo, TX comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 897 per 100,000 people, which is 130% higher than the Texas average. Alamo has a population of 20,629, which translates to 2.46 crimes per day and 1 in 111 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 Alamo which are much safer than others.

Raymondville Population: 11,203 881 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 113 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,851

A 1 in 113 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.41 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Raymondville makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 881 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 126% higher than the Texas average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (703), robbery (59), rape (109) and homicide (10).

Snyder Population: 11,639 873 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.39 chance of being a victim: 1 in 114 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,332

Snyder, TX is another one of the most dangerous cities in Texas and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 11,639 and a violent crime rate of 873 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 801 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 72 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Snyder violent crime rate is 124% higher than the Texas average.

Corpus Christi Population: 338,491 864 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 116 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,875

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, Corpus Christi, TX comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Texas with a violent crime rate of 864 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.37 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 116 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Alton Population: 18,261 836 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.29 chance of being a victim: 1 in 120 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,924

Rounding out our list at #10 is Alton, TX. With a population of 18,261 and a violent crime rate of 836 per 100,000 people (115% higher than the Texas average), some parts of Alton are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 781 counts of assault, 18 counts of robbery, 23 counts of rape and 14 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 120 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Texas

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Donna	16,720	1,758	6,060
2	Gonzales	7,847	1,395	3,384
3	Houston	2,385,298	1,148	5,442
4	Beaumont	120,037	1,137	4,439
5	Humble	16,302	983	11,303
6	Alamo	20,629	897	4,389
7	Raymondville	11,203	881	2,851
8	Snyder	11,639	873	2,332
9	Corpus Christi	338,491	864	3,875
10	Alton	18,261	836	1,924
11	Cuero	8,431	827	2,371
12	Kirby	8,908	825	2,312
13	Lubbock	266,541	821	3,450
14	Rockdale	5,714	810	1,797
15	Los Fresnos	8,033	794	2,406
16	Navasota	7,993	785	2,557
17	Big Spring	28,488	762	3,548
18	Port Arthur	56,362	718	2,258
19	Pecos	12,252	699	1,486
20	South Houston	17,971	694	2,873
21	Amarillo	205,514	691	3,346
22	Dallas	1,391,819	658	4,010
23	Pinehurst	5,165	629	1,482
24	Paris	25,634	621	3,327
25	Carthage	6,700	605	2,418
26	San Antonio	1,573,237	594	5,218
27	Bay City	18,090	580	3,424
28	Ingleside	10,006	571	2,178
29	Lake Worth	5,060	567	9,022
30	Pasadena	157,942	566	2,918
31	Alice	19,399	555	3,757
32	Pampa	17,743	553	2,451
33	La Marque	17,391	540	2,799
34	Webster	11,507	537	6,532
35	Galveston	52,052	537	2,917
36	Brenham	17,717	531	2,569
37	Lufkin	36,382	529	2,724
38	Brookshire	5,752	528	1,943
39	Killeen	152,944	528	1,910
40	Slaton	6,176	516	1,673
41	Huntsville	43,308	514	2,045
42	El Campo	12,061	510	2,314
43	Center	5,386	505	2,950
44	Mesquite	148,020	501	3,478
45	Sweetwater	10,838	501	1,621
46	Hutchins	5,962	497	3,975
47	Henderson	13,408	495	3,163
48	Cleveland	8,406	484	2,459
49	Arlington	406,065	483	2,896
50	Palmview	17,983	478	1,939

Methodology

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