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 1,481 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 68 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,230

Gonzales, TX holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Texas with 1,481 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,354), robbery (14), rape (99) and homicide (14) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 243% 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.

Snyder Population: 11,211 1,440 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.95 chance of being a victim: 1 in 69 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,782

The second most dangerous city is Snyder. With a population of 11,211 and a violent crime rate that is 233% higher than the Texas average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Snyder are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,440 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 69 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Kirby Population: 8,709 1,264 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.46 chance of being a victim: 1 in 79 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,950

Home to 8,709 residents, Kirby, TX ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Texas. Unfortunately for residents of Kirby, crime is widespread, with more than 1,264 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.46 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 193% higher than the Texas violent crime rate.

Donna Population: 16,381 1,146 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.14 chance of being a victim: 1 in 87 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,800

With a violent crime rate that is 165% higher than the Texas average, it's not hard to see why Donna made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (36), assault (1,033), rape (65) and homicide (12). 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 Donna more vulnerable to high crime.

Houston Population: 2,313,238 1,142 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,723

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 1,142 and a 1 in 88 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Houston has a violent crime rate that is 164% 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.

Humble Population: 15,819 1,100 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.01 chance of being a victim: 1 in 91 Total Crimes / 100k: 11,912

Humble, TX comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,100 per 100,000 people, which is 155% higher than the Texas average. Humble has a population of 15,819, which translates to 3.01 crimes per day and 1 in 91 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 Humble which are much safer than others.

Beaumont Population: 117,321 1,080 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 93 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,962

A 1 in 93 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.96 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Beaumont makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,080 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 150% higher than the Texas average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (738), robbery (232), rape (95) and homicide (16).

Levelland Population: 13,566 1,065 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.92 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,275

Levelland, TX is another one of the most dangerous cities in Texas and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 13,566 and a violent crime rate of 1,065 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 986 counts of assault, 40 counts of robbery, 40 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Levelland violent crime rate is 147% higher than the Texas average.

Lubbock Population: 257,013 1,063 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,198

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, Lubbock, TX comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Texas with a violent crime rate of 1,063 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.91 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 94 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Alice Population: 18,859 987 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.70 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,755

Rounding out our list at #10 is Alice, TX. With a population of 18,859 and a violent crime rate of 987 per 100,000 people (129% higher than the Texas average), some parts of Alice are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 869 counts of assault, 28 counts of robbery, 62 counts of rape and 28 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 101 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	1,481	3,230
2	Snyder	11,211	1,440	2,782
3	Kirby	8,709	1,264	2,950
4	Donna	16,381	1,146	3,800
5	Houston	2,313,238	1,142	5,723
6	Humble	15,819	1,100	11,912
7	Beaumont	117,321	1,080	4,962
8	Levelland	13,566	1,065	3,275
9	Lubbock	257,013	1,063	5,198
10	Alice	18,859	987	4,755
11	San Antonio	1,529,133	883	5,951
12	Mercedes	16,561	800	3,697
13	Corpus Christi	326,332	791	3,912
14	Dallas	1,338,846	778	4,591
15	Paris	24,814	775	3,440
16	Uvalde	16,122	766	3,232
17	Amarillo	199,225	763	4,234
18	Livingston	5,162	758	6,620
19	Port Arthur	54,705	746	2,549
20	Hutchins	5,804	733	6,543
21	Navasota	7,786	709	3,085
22	Palestine	17,906	696	3,275
23	Rockdale	5,505	694	2,722
24	Big Spring	27,878	681	2,831
25	Cuero	8,246	653	2,031
26	Waco	137,779	643	3,872
27	San Marcos	64,053	641	3,247
28	Lancaster	39,264	628	3,710
29	Pasadena	152,537	627	3,429
30	South Houston	17,522	621	3,824
31	Corsicana	23,736	614	2,709
32	Freeport	12,184	610	2,038
33	El Campo	11,695	605	4,503
34	Raymondville	10,950	588	2,568
35	Sweetwater	10,601	585	1,987
36	Arlington	397,269	580	3,105
37	Alamo	19,851	569	4,685
38	Leon Valley	12,279	561	6,981
39	Aransas Pass	9,269	559	3,587
40	Jacksonville	14,809	549	3,085
41	Hempstead	8,056	548	2,426
42	Pecos	11,957	545	1,338
43	Port Isabel	6,278	542	2,672
44	Robstown	11,214	542	3,496
45	Killeen	148,573	542	2,288
46	Austin	965,872	540	4,130
47	Tyler	105,859	530	2,857
48	Odessa	122,630	520	2,588
49	Brownfield	9,431	518	1,769
50	San Benito	24,259	518	2,242

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.