Top 10 most dangerous cities in Connecticut

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.

Hartford Population: 122,549 570 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.56 chance of being a victim: 1 in 175 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,048

Hartford, CT holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Connecticut with 570 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (414), robbery (106), rape (18) and homicide (31) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 280% 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.

New Haven Population: 130,381 555 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.52 chance of being a victim: 1 in 180 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,656

The second most dangerous city is New Haven. With a population of 130,381 and a violent crime rate that is 270% higher than the Connecticut average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in New Haven are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 555 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 180 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Bridgeport Population: 145,014 408 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 245 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,650

Home to 145,014 residents, Bridgeport, CT ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Connecticut. Unfortunately for residents of Bridgeport, crime is widespread, with more than 408 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.12 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 172% higher than the Connecticut violent crime rate.

Waterbury Population: 107,841 390 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 257 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,264

With a violent crime rate that is 160% higher than the Connecticut average, it's not hard to see why Waterbury made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (141), assault (194), rape (41) and homicide (14). 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 Waterbury more vulnerable to high crime.

New Britain Population: 72,543 363 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.99 chance of being a victim: 1 in 276 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,425

The ongoing battle with crime in New Britain, 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 363 and a 1 in 276 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), New Britain has a violent crime rate that is 142% 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 New Britain.

Derby Population: 12,420 359 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.98 chance of being a victim: 1 in 278 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,406

Derby, CT comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 359 per 100,000 people, which is 140% higher than the Connecticut average. Derby has a population of 12,420, which translates to 0.98 crimes per day and 1 in 278 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.

Norwich Population: 39,112 302 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.83 chance of being a victim: 1 in 331 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,965

A 1 in 331 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.83 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Norwich makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 302 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 101% higher than the Connecticut average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (160), robbery (55), rape (82) and homicide (5).

Meriden Population: 59,512 292 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 343 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,637

Meriden, CT is another one of the most dangerous cities in Connecticut and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 59,512 and a violent crime rate of 292 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 167 counts of assault, 60 counts of robbery, 63 counts of rape and 2 counts of homicide. All told, the Meriden violent crime rate is 94% higher than the Connecticut average.

New London Population: 27,001 239 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 419 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,926

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 239 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.65 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 419 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Stamford Population: 130,057 193 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.53 chance of being a victim: 1 in 519 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,362

Rounding out our list at #10 is Stamford, CT. With a population of 130,057 and a violent crime rate of 193 per 100,000 people (29% higher than the Connecticut average), some parts of Stamford are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 120 counts of assault, 54 counts of robbery, 18 counts of rape and 1 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 519 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	Hartford	122,549	570	3,048
2	New Haven	130,381	555	3,656
3	Bridgeport	145,014	408	1,650
4	Waterbury	107,841	390	3,264
5	New Britain	72,543	363	2,425
6	Derby	12,420	359	3,406
7	Norwich	39,112	302	1,965
8	Meriden	59,512	292	2,637
9	New London	27,001	239	1,926
10	Stamford	130,057	193	1,362
11	East Hartford	50,036	190	2,863
12	East Haven	28,645	173	2,774
13	Manchester	35,946	164	2,749
14	Danbury	84,650	138	1,443
15	Newington	30,114	135	2,642
16	Putnam	7,138	130	1,103
17	Norwalk	88,755	124	1,854
18	Ansonia	18,709	123	2,101
19	West Haven	54,666	122	2,193
20	Stratford	52,300	113	1,972
21	Middletown	46,406	102	1,733
22	Wethersfield	26,068	96	1,594
23	Orange	13,928	84	4,221
24	Milford city	52,902	82	2,423
25	Naugatuck	31,201	80	1,279
26	Bristol	60,039	79	1,391
27	North Haven	23,665	75	3,014
28	Willimantic	18,669	62	939
29	West Hartford	63,023	59	2,720
30	Trumbull	36,477	59	1,939
31	Windsor Locks	12,732	56	1,344
32	Torrington	34,259	54	1,108
33	Shelton	41,162	50	967
34	Portland	5,937	42	463
35	New Milford	6,749	28	680
36	Darien	21,519	28	1,378
37	Bethel	10,839	24	733
38	Greenwich	12,967	22	1,099
39	Westport	27,511	15	1,630
40	Ridgefield	7,228	0	140

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

Well Below nat. avg.
Below nat. avg.
Similar to nat. avg.
Above nat. avg.
Well above nat. avg.

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.