Top 10 most dangerous cities in Texas

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.

Gonzales Population: 7,573 1,706 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.67 chance of being a victim: 1 in 59 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,481

Gonzales, TX holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Texas with 1,706 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,623), robbery (14), rape (69) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 320% 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.

Donna Population: 16,381 1,479 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 68 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,039

The second most dangerous city is Donna. With a population of 16,381 and a violent crime rate that is 264% higher than the Texas average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Donna are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,479 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 68 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Beaumont Population: 117,321 1,376 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 73 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,706

Home to 117,321 residents, Beaumont, TX ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Texas. Unfortunately for residents of Beaumont, crime is widespread, with more than 1,376 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.77 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 239% higher than the Texas violent crime rate.

Snyder Population: 11,211 1,258 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 80 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,848

With a violent crime rate that is 210% higher than the Texas average, it's not hard to see why Snyder made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (0), assault (1,195), rape (45) and homicide (18). 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 Snyder more vulnerable to high crime.

Houston Population: 2,313,238 1,092 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.99 chance of being a victim: 1 in 92 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,599

The ongoing battle with crime in Houston, 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 1,092 and a 1 in 92 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Houston has a violent crime rate that is 169% 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 Houston.

Cuero Population: 8,246 915 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.51 chance of being a victim: 1 in 109 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,437

Cuero, TX comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 915 per 100,000 people, which is 125% higher than the Texas average. Cuero has a population of 8,246, which translates to 2.51 crimes per day and 1 in 109 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 Cuero which are much safer than others.

Humble Population: 15,819 880 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 114 Total Crimes / 100k: 10,723

A 1 in 114 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.41 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Humble makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 880 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 117% higher than the Texas average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (496), robbery (204), rape (173) and homicide (6).

Corpus Christi Population: 326,332 860 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.36 chance of being a victim: 1 in 116 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,040

Corpus Christi, TX is another one of the most dangerous cities in Texas and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 326,332 and a violent crime rate of 860 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 658 counts of assault, 116 counts of robbery, 79 counts of rape and 6 counts of homicide. All told, the Corpus Christi violent crime rate is 112% higher than the Texas average.

Navasota Population: 7,786 854 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.34 chance of being a victim: 1 in 117 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,937

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, Navasota, TX comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Texas with a violent crime rate of 854 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.34 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 117 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Lubbock Population: 257,013 853 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.34 chance of being a victim: 1 in 117 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,981

Rounding out our list at #10 is Lubbock, TX. With a population of 257,013 and a violent crime rate of 853 per 100,000 people (110% higher than the Texas average), some parts of Lubbock are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 628 counts of assault, 132 counts of robbery, 87 counts of rape and 6 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 117 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	Gonzales	7,573	1,706	3,481
2	Donna	16,381	1,479	5,039
3	Beaumont	117,321	1,376	4,706
4	Snyder	11,211	1,258	2,848
5	Houston	2,313,238	1,092	5,599
6	Cuero	8,246	915	2,437
7	Humble	15,819	880	10,723
8	Corpus Christi	326,332	860	4,040
9	Navasota	7,786	854	2,937
10	Lubbock	257,013	853	3,981
11	Los Fresnos	7,767	787	2,191
12	Port Arthur	54,705	782	2,552
13	Kirby	8,709	782	2,308
14	Pecos	11,957	774	1,451
15	Big Spring	27,878	738	2,940
16	Freeport	12,184	735	2,319
17	Amarillo	199,225	725	3,820
18	Alton	17,683	717	1,960
19	San Antonio	1,529,133	694	6,089
20	Livingston	5,162	688	5,797
21	Alice	18,859	681	3,388
22	Dallas	1,338,846	672	4,702
23	White Settlement	17,716	652	2,585
24	El Campo	11,695	636	3,239
25	Levelland	13,566	631	2,042
26	Pasadena	152,537	623	3,399
27	Paris	24,814	613	3,146
28	Borger	12,534	611	2,402
29	Lufkin	35,336	602	3,343
30	Henderson	13,145	588	3,652
31	Alamo	19,851	581	4,797
32	Hutchins	5,804	567	5,531
33	Leon Valley	12,279	563	6,693
34	South Houston	17,522	560	3,213
35	Willis	6,731	555	3,333
36	Mercedes	16,561	549	3,935
37	Center	5,178	546	3,005
38	Pinehurst	5,030	546	1,501
39	Commerce	9,473	544	2,433
40	Monahans	7,667	537	2,361
41	Sweetwater	10,601	524	1,659
42	Galveston	50,307	517	2,825
43	Bay City	17,672	516	3,340
44	Brownwood	18,554	515	3,195
45	Mesquite	142,429	512	4,178
46	Huntsville	41,664	510	2,174
47	Waco	137,779	508	3,158
48	Hempstead	8,056	504	2,460
49	Carthage	6,442	503	3,244
50	Ingleside	9,768	502	1,834

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.