Top 10 most dangerous cities in Louisiana

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.

Monroe Population: 47,906 2,737 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 7.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 37 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,459
Monroe, LA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Louisiana with 2,737 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (2,432), robbery (228), rape (38) and homicide (38) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 335% 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.
Opelousas Population: 16,687 2,182 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 5.98 chance of being a victim: 1 in 46 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,364
The second most dangerous city is Opelousas. With a population of 16,687 and a violent crime rate that is 247% higher than the Louisiana average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Opelousas are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 2,182 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 46 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.
Alexandria Population: 46,545 1,784 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 4.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 56 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,106
Home to 46,545 residents, Alexandria, LA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Louisiana. Unfortunately for residents of Alexandria, crime is widespread, with more than 1,784 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 4.89 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 184% higher than the Louisiana violent crime rate.
West Monroe Population: 12,431 1,719 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 4.71 chance of being a victim: 1 in 58 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,178
With a violent crime rate that is 174% higher than the Louisiana average, it's not hard to see why West Monroe made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (126), assault (1,396), rape (197) and homicide (0). 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 West Monroe more vulnerable to high crime.
Marksville Population: 5,376 1,693 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 4.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 59 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,669
The ongoing battle with crime in Marksville, 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 1,693 and a 1 in 59 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Marksville has a violent crime rate that is 169% 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 Marksville.
New Orleans Population: 391,249 1,444 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 3.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 69 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,085
New Orleans, LA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,444 per 100,000 people, which is 130% higher than the Louisiana average. New Orleans has a population of 391,249, which translates to 3.96 crimes per day and 1 in 69 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 New Orleans which are much safer than others.
Bogalusa Population: 11,658 1,377 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 3.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 73 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,822
A 1 in 73 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.77 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Bogalusa makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,377 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 119% higher than the Louisiana average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,204), robbery (38), rape (76) and homicide (57).
Hammond Population: 20,557 1,228 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 3.36 chance of being a victim: 1 in 81 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,814
Hammond, LA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Louisiana and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 20,557 and a violent crime rate of 1,228 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 1,079 counts of assault, 86 counts of robbery, 62 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Hammond violent crime rate is 95% higher than the Louisiana average.
Bastrop Population: 10,060 1,195 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 3.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 84 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,780
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, Bastrop, LA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Louisiana with a violent crime rate of 1,195 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 3.27 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 84 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.
Morgan City Population: 10,963 1,137 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 3.11 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,418
Rounding out our list at #10 is Morgan City, LA. With a population of 10,963 and a violent crime rate of 1,137 per 100,000 people (81% higher than the Louisiana average), some parts of Morgan City are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 935 counts of assault, 92 counts of robbery, 83 counts of rape and 28 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 88 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 Monroe 47,906 2,737 9,459
2 Opelousas 16,687 2,182 8,364
3 Alexandria 46,545 1,784 8,106
4 West Monroe 12,431 1,719 8,178
5 Marksville 5,376 1,693 6,669
6 New Orleans 391,249 1,444 6,085
7 Bogalusa 11,658 1,377 5,822
8 Hammond 20,557 1,228 7,814
9 Bastrop 10,060 1,195 5,780
10 Morgan City 10,963 1,137 4,418
11 Tallulah 6,722 1,121 1,607
12 Baton Rouge 222,191 1,028 6,880
13 Bossier City 68,286 1,008 5,677
14 Houma 33,053 830 4,911
15 Shreveport 189,890 811 4,601
16 Plaquemine 6,589 810 3,411
17 Ruston 21,987 802 4,604
18 Abbeville 12,167 775 2,908
19 Jennings 9,874 662 3,880
20 Patterson 5,844 651 1,303
21 Lake Charles 77,832 629 3,742
22 Ponchatoula 7,311 627 4,325
23 Walker 6,278 620 4,279
24 Gretna 17,746 599 4,223
25 Baker 13,233 545 2,788
26 Gonzales 10,932 490 7,328
27 Westwego 8,411 484 2,371
28 Lafayette 126,674 479 4,866
29 Thibodaux 14,565 468 3,475
30 Sulphur 20,122 429 4,142
31 DeRidder 10,955 403 1,954
32 Zachary 17,699 349 2,296
33 Broussard 12,248 305 2,567
34 Slidell 27,782 268 3,103
35 Covington 10,471 199 1,126
36 Mandeville 12,567 181 1,525
37 Harahan 9,293 170 1,031
38 Addis 5,635 148 645
39 Rayne 8,062 42 915

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.