Top 10 most dangerous cities in Washington

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Washington, known for its stunning natural landscapes and vibrant culture, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Seattle to the scenic beauty of the Olympic Peninsula, Washington 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, Washington faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Washington are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Washington's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

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

Fife Population: 10,345 1,534 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.20 chance of being a victim: 1 in 65 Total Crimes / 100k: 11,419

Fife, WA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Washington with 1,534 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (916), robbery (505), rape (103) and homicide (9) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 329% higher than the Washington 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.

Tacoma Population: 215,766 1,243 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.40 chance of being a victim: 1 in 80 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,599

The second most dangerous city is Tacoma. With a population of 215,766 and a violent crime rate that is 248% higher than the Washington average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Tacoma are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,243 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 80 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Tukwila Population: 20,265 840 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 119 Total Crimes / 100k: 18,796

Home to 20,265 residents, Tukwila, WA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Washington. Unfortunately for residents of Tukwila, crime is widespread, with more than 840 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.30 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 135% higher than the Washington violent crime rate.

Seattle Population: 741,251 777 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 129 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,789

With a violent crime rate that is 118% higher than the Washington average, it's not hard to see why Seattle made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (222), assault (510), rape (36) and homicide (9). 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 Seattle more vulnerable to high crime.

Lakewood Population: 60,564 757 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 132 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,690

The ongoing battle with crime in Lakewood, WA, 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 757 and a 1 in 132 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Lakewood has a violent crime rate that is 112% higher than the Washington 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 Lakewood.

Spokane Population: 219,185 713 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.95 chance of being a victim: 1 in 140 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,128

Spokane, WA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 713 per 100,000 people, which is 100% higher than the Washington average. Spokane has a population of 219,185, which translates to 1.95 crimes per day and 1 in 140 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 Spokane which are much safer than others.

Shelton Population: 10,467 708 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 141 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,379

A 1 in 141 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.94 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Shelton makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 708 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 98% higher than the Washington average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (381), robbery (82), rape (218) and homicide (27).

Vancouver Population: 182,792 650 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 154 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,141

Vancouver, WA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Washington and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 182,792 and a violent crime rate of 650 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 441 counts of assault, 133 counts of robbery, 72 counts of rape and 4 counts of homicide. All told, the Vancouver violent crime rate is 82% higher than the Washington average.

Federal Way Population: 96,812 643 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 156 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,053

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, Federal Way, WA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Washington with a violent crime rate of 643 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.76 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 156 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Toppenish Population: 8,872 613 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 163 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,339

Rounding out our list at #10 is Toppenish, WA. With a population of 8,872 and a violent crime rate of 613 per 100,000 people (72% higher than the Washington average), some parts of Toppenish are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 301 counts of assault, 185 counts of robbery, 35 counts of rape and 93 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 163 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Washington

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Fife	10,345	1,534	11,419
2	Tacoma	215,766	1,243	8,599
3	Tukwila	20,265	840	18,796
4	Seattle	741,251	777	5,789
5	Lakewood	60,564	757	5,690
6	Spokane	219,185	713	6,128
7	Shelton	10,467	708	3,379
8	Vancouver	182,792	650	5,141
9	Federal Way	96,812	643	6,053
10	Toppenish	8,872	613	6,339
11	Auburn	80,914	602	5,869
12	Olympia	52,290	573	4,390
13	Port Angeles	20,071	562	3,225
14	Kent	130,038	557	5,647
15	Yakima	93,829	488	2,903
16	Moses Lake	23,442	462	4,704
17	Burien	51,588	460	4,279
18	Grandview	11,075	458	2,795
19	Aberdeen	16,571	431	3,713
20	Kennewick	82,633	429	4,073
21	SeaTac	29,102	419	5,615
22	Sumner	10,246	416	5,308
23	Renton	101,871	412	4,838
24	Bremerton	41,258	406	3,068
25	Puyallup	41,666	398	5,736
26	Arlington	19,947	393	2,772
27	Everett	110,840	390	4,546
28	Clarkston	7,435	384	4,733
29	Centralia	17,473	384	3,862
30	Airway Heights	8,885	377	4,775
31	Sequim	7,441	367	2,297
32	Pacific	7,122	361	2,747
33	Port Orchard	14,303	358	3,730
34	Walla Walla	32,951	350	2,760
35	Fircrest	6,844	333	2,342
36	Cheney	12,455	329	2,286
37	University Place	33,661	327	3,032
38	Bellingham	90,821	324	4,488
39	Chehalis	7,607	323	5,784
40	Monroe	19,403	317	2,939
41	Des Moines	31,983	314	3,835
42	Burlington	9,085	310	7,672
43	Milton	8,211	307	4,522
44	Spokane Valley	99,275	303	3,728
45	Pasco	74,266	300	2,476
46	Longview	37,914	281	3,704
47	Sunnyside	16,703	277	2,917
48	Kelso	12,237	276	3,725
49	Lynnwood	38,538	271	5,971
50	Quincy	7,815	269	2,670

Methodology

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