Top 10 most dangerous cities in Indiana

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Indiana, a state known for its Midwestern charm and diverse cultural heritage, offers a variety of attractions. From the bustling city life of Indianapolis, home to the famous Indianapolis 500, to the serene beauty of the Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana provides a unique blend of urban and rural experiences. The state's history is rich with contributions to industry, sports, and education. However, despite its many positives, Indiana faces safety challenges in certain areas. The most dangerous cities in Indiana are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Indiana's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Indiana 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 Indiana. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Indiana's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, economic opportunities, and natural beauty continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Evansville Population: 118,414 1,206 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 83 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,885

Evansville, IN holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Indiana with 1,206 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,053), robbery (57), rape (86) and homicide (10) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 285% higher than the Indiana 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.

Elkhart Population: 52,657 995 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 100 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,595

The second most dangerous city is Elkhart. With a population of 52,657 and a violent crime rate that is 218% higher than the Indiana average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Elkhart are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 995 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 100 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

South Bend Population: 102,686 965 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 104 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,009

Home to 102,686 residents, South Bend, IN ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Indiana. Unfortunately for residents of South Bend, crime is widespread, with more than 965 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.64 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 208% higher than the Indiana violent crime rate.

Indianapolis Population: 869,387 878 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 114 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,214

With a violent crime rate that is 181% higher than the Indiana average, it's not hard to see why Indianapolis made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (143), assault (656), rape (59) and homicide (20). 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 Indianapolis more vulnerable to high crime.

East Chicago Population: 28,044 826 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.26 chance of being a victim: 1 in 121 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,416

The ongoing battle with crime in East Chicago, IN, 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 826 and a 1 in 121 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), East Chicago has a violent crime rate that is 164% higher than the Indiana 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 East Chicago.

Hammond Population: 76,141 741 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.03 chance of being a victim: 1 in 135 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,814

Hammond, IN comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 741 per 100,000 people, which is 137% higher than the Indiana average. Hammond has a population of 76,141, which translates to 2.03 crimes per day and 1 in 135 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 Hammond which are much safer than others.

Brazil Population: 8,225 644 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 155 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,491

A 1 in 155 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.76 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Brazil makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 644 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 106% higher than the Indiana average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (559), robbery (12), rape (73) and homicide (0).

Muncie Population: 67,739 602 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 166 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,860

Muncie, IN is another one of the most dangerous cities in Indiana and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 67,739 and a violent crime rate of 602 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 476 counts of assault, 35 counts of robbery, 86 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. All told, the Muncie violent crime rate is 93% higher than the Indiana average.

Lafayette Population: 72,556 600 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 167 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,642

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, Lafayette, IN comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Indiana with a violent crime rate of 600 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.64 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 167 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Terre Haute Population: 60,690 550 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.51 chance of being a victim: 1 in 182 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,977

Rounding out our list at #10 is Terre Haute, IN. With a population of 60,690 and a violent crime rate of 550 per 100,000 people (76% higher than the Indiana average), some parts of Terre Haute are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 401 counts of assault, 91 counts of robbery, 55 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 182 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Indiana

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Evansville	118,414	1,206	4,885
2	Elkhart	52,657	995	3,595
3	South Bend	102,686	965	3,009
4	Indianapolis	869,387	878	4,214
5	East Chicago	28,044	826	2,416
6	Hammond	76,141	741	3,814
7	Brazil	8,225	644	2,491
8	Muncie	67,739	602	2,860
9	Lafayette	72,556	600	2,642
10	Terre Haute	60,690	550	3,977
11	Kokomo	58,066	485	1,902
12	Anderson	54,476	419	2,675
13	Warsaw	15,757	414	2,174
14	Boonville	6,512	404	2,081
15	Cumberland	5,840	335	2,678
16	Lebanon	16,317	333	1,296
17	Mount Vernon	6,535	333	1,140
18	Jeffersonville	47,932	322	1,988
19	Fort Wayne	268,378	307	2,531
20	Lawrence	49,020	293	2,020
21	Michigan City	31,191	292	2,406
22	Bloomington	84,691	287	3,005
23	Beech Grove	15,148	279	1,932
24	Huntingburg	6,301	276	582
25	McCordsville	7,237	270	1,032
26	Washington	12,514	268	742
27	New Albany	36,730	266	2,687
28	Shelbyville	18,918	255	1,276
29	Plainfield	34,224	246	1,694
30	Clarksville	21,825	239	3,527
31	Mishawaka	49,675	236	2,806
32	Portage	36,524	235	1,344
33	Linton	5,293	230	2,129
34	North Vernon	7,167	229	1,343
35	Goshen	34,586	222	2,696
36	La Porte	21,328	209	1,848
37	Whitestown	8,842	206	1,518
38	Kendallville	9,365	205	909
39	New Haven	15,934	205	1,292
40	Nappanee	7,138	205	862
41	Greensburg	11,221	194	1,608
42	Crawfordsville	16,088	186	828
43	Bluffton	10,298	181	913
44	Decatur	9,700	169	846
45	Speedway	12,327	162	2,776
46	Tell City	7,243	160	1,043
47	Hobart	28,120	150	2,423
48	Avon	18,056	135	1,742
49	Griffith	16,198	130	1,116
50	Columbia City	9,115	128	992

Methodology

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