Top 10 most dangerous cities in Connecticut

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Connecticut, a state rich in history and New England charm, offers a blend of picturesque towns and bustling urban centers. Known for its prestigious educational institutions like Yale University and its beautiful coastline along Long Island Sound, Connecticut provides a diverse array of attractions. The state is also home to significant cultural sites such as the Mark Twain House and the Mystic Seaport Museum. However, despite its many positives, Connecticut faces safety challenges in certain areas. The most dangerous cities in Connecticut are distinguished by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, indicating regions where extra vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Connecticut's historic charm and urban crime issues highlights the state's diverse landscape.

Addressing safety concerns in Connecticut involves targeted law enforcement efforts and community-based programs designed to reduce violence and enhance public safety. The state's initiatives aim to tackle the underlying social issues contributing to crime in the most dangerous cities in Connecticut. While these areas present notable challenges, they also showcase the potential for positive change and community revitalization. Connecticut's ongoing efforts to improve safety, combined with its rich cultural heritage and educational opportunities, continue to make it an attractive place to live and visit. The balance between addressing safety concerns and promoting the state's numerous attractions reflects Connecticut's commitment to fostering a secure and vibrant community.

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New Haven Population: 130,381 535 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.47 chance of being a victim: 1 in 187 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,122

New Haven, CT holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Connecticut with 535 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (311), robbery (181), rape (32) and homicide (11) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 293% higher than the Connecticut 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.

Hartford Population: 122,549 516 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 194 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,361

The second most dangerous city is Hartford. With a population of 122,549 and a violent crime rate that is 279% higher than the Connecticut average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Hartford are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 516 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 194 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

New Britain Population: 72,543 421 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.15 chance of being a victim: 1 in 237 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,347

Home to 72,543 residents, New Britain, CT ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Connecticut. Unfortunately for residents of New Britain, crime is widespread, with more than 421 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.15 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 210% higher than the Connecticut violent crime rate.

Bridgeport Population: 145,014 393 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.08 chance of being a victim: 1 in 255 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,862

With a violent crime rate that is 189% higher than the Connecticut average, it's not hard to see why Bridgeport made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (153), assault (190), rape (42) 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 Bridgeport more vulnerable to high crime.

Waterbury Population: 107,841 322 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.88 chance of being a victim: 1 in 310 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,241

The ongoing battle with crime in Waterbury, CT, 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 322 and a 1 in 310 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Waterbury has a violent crime rate that is 137% higher than the Connecticut 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 Waterbury.

Derby Population: 12,420 314 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.86 chance of being a victim: 1 in 319 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,862

Derby, CT comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 314 per 100,000 people, which is 131% higher than the Connecticut average. Derby has a population of 12,420, which translates to 0.86 crimes per day and 1 in 319 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 Derby which are much safer than others.

Danbury Population: 84,650 262 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 382 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,519

A 1 in 382 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.72 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Danbury makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 262 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 93% higher than the Connecticut average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (199), robbery (32), rape (30) and homicide (0).

Norwich Population: 39,112 206 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.56 chance of being a victim: 1 in 486 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,466

Norwich, CT is another one of the most dangerous cities in Connecticut and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 39,112 and a violent crime rate of 206 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 95 counts of assault, 50 counts of robbery, 60 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Norwich violent crime rate is 51% higher than the Connecticut average.

New London Population: 27,001 201 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 497 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,594

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, New London, CT comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Connecticut with a violent crime rate of 201 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.55 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 497 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Groton Population: 8,999 194 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.53 chance of being a victim: 1 in 516 Total Crimes / 100k: 873

Rounding out our list at #10 is Groton, CT. With a population of 8,999 and a violent crime rate of 194 per 100,000 people (43% higher than the Connecticut average), some parts of Groton are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 140 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 54 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 516 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Connecticut

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	New Haven	130,381	535	4,122
2	Hartford	122,549	516	3,361
3	New Britain	72,543	421	2,347
4	Bridgeport	145,014	393	1,862
5	Waterbury	107,841	322	3,241
6	Derby	12,420	314	2,862
7	Danbury	84,650	262	1,519
8	Norwich	39,112	206	1,466
9	New London	27,001	201	1,594
10	Groton	8,999	194	873
11	Willimantic	18,669	174	990
12	Stamford	130,057	158	1,383
13	Manchester	35,946	133	2,248
14	Meriden	59,512	128	1,817
15	Putnam	7,138	118	910
16	Milford city	52,902	117	2,212
17	West Haven	54,666	104	1,343
18	Trumbull	36,477	104	2,377
19	East Haven	28,645	98	2,051
20	East Hartford	50,036	89	1,759
21	Windsor Locks	12,732	88	1,087
22	Norwalk	88,755	85	1,589
23	Torrington	34,259	81	1,120
24	Newington	30,114	76	2,212
25	Ansonia	18,709	68	1,475
26	Stratford	52,300	67	2,052
27	West Hartford	63,023	64	2,796
28	Middletown	46,406	62	1,212
29	Wethersfield	26,068	59	1,429
30	Bristol	60,039	58	1,016
31	Naugatuck	31,201	50	1,071
32	Shelton	41,162	42	751
33	Orange	13,928	42	3,547
34	North Haven	23,665	37	2,662
35	Darien	21,519	32	1,080
36	New Milford	6,749	28	567
37	Ridgefield	7,228	24	305
38	Bethel	10,839	10	538
39	Greenwich	12,967	9	877
40	Westport	27,511	4	1,134
41	Portland	5,937	0	434

Methodology

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