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: 48,170 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: 49,123 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 49,123 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: 5,575 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 5,575 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: 10,329 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: 17,032 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.

Port Allen Population: 5,018 1,313 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.60 chance of being a victim: 1 in 76 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,733

Port Allen, LA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,313 per 100,000 people, which is 153% higher than the Louisiana average. Port Allen has a population of 5,018, which translates to 3.60 crimes per day and 1 in 76 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 Port Allen which are much safer than others.

Shreveport Population: 197,125 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

A 1 in 81 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.37 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Shreveport makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,229 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 136% higher than the Louisiana average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,038), robbery (80), rape (83) and homicide (27).

Plaquemine Population: 6,773 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

Plaquemine, LA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Louisiana and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 6,773 and a violent crime rate of 1,215 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 1,063 counts of assault, 84 counts of robbery, 34 counts of rape and 34 counts of homicide. All told, the Plaquemine violent crime rate is 134% higher than the Louisiana average.

West Monroe Population: 12,888 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

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, West Monroe, LA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Louisiana with a violent crime rate of 1,156 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 3.17 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 86 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Bogalusa Population: 12,080 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

Rounding out our list at #10 is Bogalusa, LA. With a population of 12,080 and a violent crime rate of 1,131 per 100,000 people (118% higher than the Louisiana average), some parts of Bogalusa are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 1,005 counts of assault, 29 counts of robbery, 88 counts of rape and 10 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	Alexandria	48,170	2,714	9,310
2	Monroe	49,123	1,892	7,626
3	Marksville	5,575	1,848	5,418
4	Bastrop	10,329	1,422	6,256
5	Opelousas	17,032	1,369	6,388
6	Port Allen	5,018	1,313	3,733
7	Shreveport	197,125	1,229	5,219
8	Plaquemine	6,773	1,215	4,506
9	West Monroe	12,888	1,156	7,042
10	Bogalusa	12,080	1,131	5,345
11	Lafayette	131,168	1,066	5,414
12	New Iberia	29,560	1,009	4,135
13	Jennings	10,220	1,008	4,355
14	Bossier City	70,171	913	4,593
15	Natchitoches	18,243	891	5,276
16	Minden	12,391	796	3,330
17	Walker	6,440	703	3,892
18	Scott	9,146	662	2,299
19	Lake Charles	79,542	613	3,083
20	Morgan City	11,332	551	3,383
21	Tallulah	6,896	461	798
22	Ponchatoula	7,577	450	2,428
23	Gretna	18,157	429	4,229
24	Ruston	22,812	427	3,383
25	Westwego	8,662	424	2,518
26	Carencro	9,636	415	2,438
27	Baker	13,684	402	2,145
28	Sulphur	20,888	376	3,292
29	Gonzales	11,160	365	4,299
30	Kenner	69,255	345	3,177
31	Zachary	18,126	333	2,353
32	DeRidder	11,341	294	1,744
33	Patterson	6,001	270	811
34	Thibodaux	14,873	257	3,232
35	Slidell	28,740	257	2,541
36	Broussard	12,710	195	2,348
37	Covington	10,723	172	1,185
38	Addis	5,837	141	834
39	Mandeville	12,894	130	1,364
40	Harahan	9,556	105	826
41	Rayne	8,227	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.