Top 10 most dangerous cities in Washington

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.

Tacoma Population: 215,766 1,610 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 62 Total Crimes / 100k: 10,149

Tacoma, WA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Washington with 1,610 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,183), robbery (341), rape (67) and homicide (19) 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.

Fife Population: 10,345 1,560 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 64 Total Crimes / 100k: 13,706

The second most dangerous city is Fife. With a population of 10,345 and a violent crime rate that is 315% higher than the Washington average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Fife are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,560 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 64 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

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

violent crimes per day: 2.39 chance of being a victim: 1 in 115 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,317

Home to 8,872 residents, Toppenish, WA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Washington. Unfortunately for residents of Toppenish, crime is widespread, with more than 872 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.39 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 132% higher than the Washington violent crime rate.

Lakewood Population: 60,564 839 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 119 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,045

With a violent crime rate that is 123% higher than the Washington average, it's not hard to see why Lakewood made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (178), assault (601), rape (54) and homicide (6). 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 Lakewood more vulnerable to high crime.

Seattle Population: 741,251 838 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 119 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,559

The ongoing battle with crime in Seattle, 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 838 and a 1 in 119 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Seattle has a violent crime rate that is 123% 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 Seattle.

Tukwila Population: 20,265 773 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 129 Total Crimes / 100k: 20,766

Tukwila, WA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 773 per 100,000 people, which is 106% higher than the Washington average. Tukwila has a population of 20,265, which translates to 2.12 crimes per day and 1 in 129 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 Tukwila which are much safer than others.

Spokane Population: 219,185 672 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.84 chance of being a victim: 1 in 149 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,408

A 1 in 149 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.84 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Spokane makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 672 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 79% higher than the Washington average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (445), robbery (135), rape (85) and homicide (8).

Port Angeles Population: 20,071 670 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.84 chance of being a victim: 1 in 149 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,455

Port Angeles, WA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Washington and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 20,071 and a violent crime rate of 670 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 434 counts of assault, 89 counts of robbery, 143 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. All told, the Port Angeles violent crime rate is 78% higher than the Washington average.

Vancouver Population: 182,792 636 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.74 chance of being a victim: 1 in 157 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,212

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, Vancouver, WA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Washington with a violent crime rate of 636 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.74 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 157 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

SeaTac Population: 29,102 632 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 158 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,840

Rounding out our list at #10 is SeaTac, WA. With a population of 29,102 and a violent crime rate of 632 per 100,000 people (68% higher than the Washington average), some parts of SeaTac are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 341 counts of assault, 175 counts of robbery, 109 counts of rape and 7 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 158 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	Tacoma	215,766	1,610	10,149
2	Fife	10,345	1,560	13,706
3	Toppenish	8,872	872	8,317
4	Lakewood	60,564	839	6,045
5	Seattle	741,251	838	6,559
6	Tukwila	20,265	773	20,766
7	Spokane	219,185	672	6,408
8	Port Angeles	20,071	670	4,455
9	Vancouver	182,792	636	6,212
10	SeaTac	29,102	632	5,840
11	Yakima	93,829	612	3,755
12	Shelton	10,467	594	3,990
13	Clarkston	7,435	578	5,312
14	Federal Way	96,812	550	5,802
15	Olympia	52,290	521	4,725
16	Moses Lake	23,442	521	5,963
17	Auburn	80,914	500	5,642
18	Burien	51,588	496	4,609
19	Sunnyside	16,703	479	4,202
20	Kennewick	82,633	477	5,134
21	Bremerton	41,258	475	4,675
22	Kent	130,038	459	5,987
23	Everett	110,840	443	4,793
24	Port Orchard	14,303	440	6,281
25	Milton	8,211	439	4,378
26	Aberdeen	16,571	438	4,608
27	Kelso	12,237	409	5,077
28	Bellingham	90,821	406	6,919
29	Puyallup	41,666	380	7,649
30	Walla Walla	32,951	372	3,431
31	Renton	101,871	369	4,997
32	Union Gap	6,167	368	8,244
33	Longview	37,914	350	4,835
34	Burlington	9,085	334	11,780
35	Spokane Valley	99,275	333	4,395
36	Arlington	19,947	332	3,177
37	Centralia	17,473	332	5,460
38	Lynnwood	38,538	330	6,241
39	Airway Heights	8,885	324	4,369
40	Covington	21,131	324	4,443
41	Poulsbo	10,869	322	4,063
42	Pasco	74,266	318	3,140
43	Richland	57,353	312	4,023
44	Chehalis	7,607	305	7,141
45	Des Moines	31,983	304	3,795
46	Grandview	11,075	303	3,825
47	Washougal	15,927	278	2,077
48	Shoreline	56,835	273	3,124
49	Mount Vernon	35,502	270	3,219
50	Yelm	9,262	270	3,070

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.