Top 10 most dangerous cities in Arizona

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Arizona, with its dramatic desert landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. The state is home to the Grand Canyon, one of the natural wonders of the world, and boasts a vibrant arts scene in cities like Phoenix and Tucson. The blend of Native American, Mexican, and Western influences is evident in the state's festivals, cuisine, and architecture. However, alongside its many attractions, Arizona also faces challenges related to safety. The most dangerous cities in Arizona are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, emphasizing areas where vigilance is necessary. Despite these concerns, Arizona's diverse landscapes and cultural vibrancy continue to make it a compelling place to live and visit.

Efforts to improve safety in Arizona's urban areas include enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs. These initiatives aim to reduce crime and foster a sense of security among residents. While the most dangerous cities in Arizona present significant challenges, they also highlight the importance of community-driven solutions and proactive measures. The state's commitment to addressing these issues is evident in various local government and non-profit organization efforts, which work towards creating safer environments. Ultimately, Arizona's appeal lies in its ability to offer both stunning natural beauty and a rich cultural tapestry, even as it navigates the complexities of urban safety.

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Tolleson Population: 7,510 1,008 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 99 Total Crimes / 100k: 10,167

Tolleson, AZ holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Arizona with 1,008 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (700), robbery (126), rape (182) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 139% higher than the Arizona 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.

Winslow Population: 9,874 813 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 123 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,449

The second most dangerous city is Winslow. With a population of 9,874 and a violent crime rate that is 93% higher than the Arizona average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Winslow are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 813 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 123 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Globe Population: 7,530 811 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.22 chance of being a victim: 1 in 123 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,219

Home to 7,530 residents, Globe, AZ ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Arizona. Unfortunately for residents of Globe, crime is widespread, with more than 811 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.22 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 92% higher than the Arizona violent crime rate.

Phoenix Population: 1,698,457 800 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in 125 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,125

With a violent crime rate that is 90% higher than the Arizona average, it's not hard to see why Phoenix made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (182), assault (545), rape (64) and homicide (8). 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 Phoenix more vulnerable to high crime.

Show Low Population: 11,670 737 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.02 chance of being a victim: 1 in 136 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,998

The ongoing battle with crime in Show Low, AZ, 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 737 and a 1 in 136 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Show Low has a violent crime rate that is 75% higher than the Arizona 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 Show Low.

Tucson Population: 564,632 589 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.61 chance of being a victim: 1 in 170 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,902

Tucson, AZ comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 589 per 100,000 people, which is 40% higher than the Arizona average. Tucson has a population of 564,632, which translates to 1.61 crimes per day and 1 in 170 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 Tucson which are much safer than others.

Page Population: 7,760 549 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 182 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,749

A 1 in 182 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.50 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Page makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 549 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 30% higher than the Arizona average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (467), robbery (14), rape (69) and homicide (0).

Glendale Population: 255,914 488 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.34 chance of being a victim: 1 in 205 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,159

Glendale, AZ is another one of the most dangerous cities in Arizona and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 255,914 and a violent crime rate of 488 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 358 counts of assault, 65 counts of robbery, 58 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. All told, the Glendale violent crime rate is 16% higher than the Arizona average.

Eloy Population: 18,990 485 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 206 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,455

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, Eloy, AZ comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Arizona with a violent crime rate of 485 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.33 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 206 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Mesa Population: 521,218 483 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.32 chance of being a victim: 1 in 207 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,947

Rounding out our list at #10 is Mesa, AZ. With a population of 521,218 and a violent crime rate of 483 per 100,000 people (14% higher than the Arizona average), some parts of Mesa are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 386 counts of assault, 50 counts of robbery, 44 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 207 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Arizona

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Tolleson	7,510	1,008	10,167
2	Winslow	9,874	813	4,449
3	Globe	7,530	811	6,219
4	Phoenix	1,698,457	800	3,125
5	Show Low	11,670	737	2,998
6	Tucson	564,632	589	3,902
7	Page	7,760	549	5,749
8	Glendale	255,914	488	3,159
9	Eloy	18,990	485	1,455
10	Mesa	521,218	483	1,947
11	Tempe	197,595	470	3,364
12	Flagstaff	75,433	463	2,695
13	Bullhead City	41,684	455	2,648
14	Apache Junction	43,334	426	1,938
15	Yuma	99,763	424	1,671
16	Casa Grande	59,608	410	1,939
17	El Mirage	36,729	383	1,639
18	Avondale	88,981	370	2,611
19	Lake Havasu City	57,669	356	1,750
20	Prescott	44,634	335	1,452
21	Colorado City	5,025	318	2,159
22	Sedona	10,738	314	1,612
23	Snowflake	6,094	312	1,425
24	Coolidge	13,315	306	1,835
25	Payson	16,047	261	1,484
26	Peoria	177,686	255	1,460
27	Nogales	20,919	229	3,830
28	Prescott Valley	47,357	225	994
29	Maricopa	51,744	225	1,094
30	Cottonwood	12,640	223	1,391
31	Kingman	31,489	221	3,601
32	Sierra Vista	44,960	218	1,881
33	Camp Verde	11,524	183	1,318
34	Goodyear	85,486	182	1,645
35	Somerton	16,787	177	707
36	Buckeye	77,435	167	938
37	Scottsdale	261,070	153	2,028
38	Chandler	266,863	133	1,638
39	Gilbert	255,869	132	1,100
40	Florence	27,692	120	668
41	Queen Creek	53,585	120	941
42	Marana	48,967	116	1,466
43	Surprise	142,589	109	985
44	Wickenburg	7,900	108	971
45	Litchfield Park	6,410	102	1,046
46	Bisbee	5,328	100	737
47	Sahuarita	31,695	92	1,069
48	San Luis	34,910	88	636
49	Paradise Valley	14,999	80	1,069
50	Chino Valley	11,776	78	548

Methodology

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