Top 10 most dangerous cities in Louisiana

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Louisiana, known for its vibrant culture and rich history, offers a unique living experience. From the lively streets of New Orleans with its jazz music and Mardi Gras celebrations to the tranquil beauty of the bayous, Louisiana provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its cuisine, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Louisiana faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Louisiana are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Louisiana's cultural vibrancy and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

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

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Alexandria Population: 46,545 2,714 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 7.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 37 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,310

Alexandria, LA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Louisiana with 2,714 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (2,390), robbery (163), rape (123) and homicide (37) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 422% higher than the Louisiana 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.

Monroe Population: 47,906 1,892 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.18 chance of being a victim: 1 in 53 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,626

The second most dangerous city is Monroe. With a population of 47,906 and a violent crime rate that is 264% higher than the Louisiana average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Monroe are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,892 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 53 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Marksville Population: 5,376 1,848 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 54 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,418

Home to 5,376 residents, Marksville, LA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Louisiana. Unfortunately for residents of Marksville, crime is widespread, with more than 1,848 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 5.06 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 256% higher than the Louisiana violent crime rate.

Bastrop Population: 10,060 1,422 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.90 chance of being a victim: 1 in 70 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,256

With a violent crime rate that is 174% higher than the Louisiana average, it's not hard to see why Bastrop made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (34), assault (1,342), rape (23) and homicide (23). 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 Bastrop more vulnerable to high crime.

Opelousas Population: 16,687 1,369 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 73 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,388

The ongoing battle with crime in Opelousas, LA, 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 1,369 and a 1 in 73 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Opelousas has a violent crime rate that is 163% higher than the Louisiana 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 Opelousas.

Shreveport Population: 189,890 1,229 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 81 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,219

Shreveport, LA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,229 per 100,000 people, which is 136% higher than the Louisiana average. Shreveport has a population of 189,890, which translates to 3.37 crimes per day and 1 in 81 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 Shreveport which are much safer than others.

Plaquemine Population: 6,589 1,215 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 82 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,506

A 1 in 82 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.33 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Plaquemine makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,215 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 134% higher than the Louisiana average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,063), robbery (84), rape (34) and homicide (34).

West Monroe Population: 12,431 1,156 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in 86 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,042

West Monroe, LA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Louisiana and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 12,431 and a violent crime rate of 1,156 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 881 counts of assault, 154 counts of robbery, 113 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. All told, the West Monroe violent crime rate is 122% higher than the Louisiana average.

Bogalusa Population: 11,658 1,131 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,345

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, Bogalusa, LA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Louisiana with a violent crime rate of 1,131 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 3.10 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 88 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Lafayette Population: 126,674 1,066 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.92 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,414

Rounding out our list at #10 is Lafayette, LA. With a population of 126,674 and a violent crime rate of 1,066 per 100,000 people (105% higher than the Louisiana average), some parts of Lafayette are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 948 counts of assault, 69 counts of robbery, 34 counts of rape and 15 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 94 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Louisiana

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Alexandria	46,545	2,714	9,310
2	Monroe	47,906	1,892	7,626
3	Marksville	5,376	1,848	5,418
4	Bastrop	10,060	1,422	6,256
5	Opelousas	16,687	1,369	6,388
6	Shreveport	189,890	1,229	5,219
7	Plaquemine	6,589	1,215	4,506
8	West Monroe	12,431	1,156	7,042
9	Bogalusa	11,658	1,131	5,345
10	Lafayette	126,674	1,066	5,414
11	New Iberia	28,965	1,009	4,135
12	Jennings	9,874	1,008	4,355
13	Bossier City	68,286	913	4,593
14	Natchitoches	17,711	891	5,276
15	Minden	12,035	796	3,330
16	Walker	6,278	703	3,892
17	Scott	8,815	662	2,299
18	Lake Charles	77,832	613	3,083
19	Morgan City	10,963	551	3,383
20	Tallulah	6,722	461	798
21	Ponchatoula	7,311	450	2,428
22	Gretna	17,746	429	4,229
23	Ruston	21,987	427	3,383
24	Westwego	8,411	424	2,518
25	Carencro	9,346	415	2,438
26	Baker	13,233	402	2,145
27	Sulphur	20,122	376	3,292
28	Gonzales	10,932	365	4,299
29	Kenner	66,759	345	3,177
30	Zachary	17,699	333	2,353
31	DeRidder	10,955	294	1,744
32	Patterson	5,844	270	811
33	Thibodaux	14,565	257	3,232
34	Slidell	27,782	257	2,541
35	Broussard	12,248	195	2,348
36	Covington	10,471	172	1,185
37	Addis	5,635	141	834
38	Mandeville	12,567	130	1,364
39	Harahan	9,293	105	826
40	Rayne	8,062	72	955

Methodology

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