Top 10 most dangerous cities in Michigan

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Michigan, known for its Great Lakes and automotive industry, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Detroit to the scenic beauty of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Michigan faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Michigan are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Michigan's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Michigan 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 Michigan. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Michigan'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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Highland Park Population: 10,818 3,019 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 8.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 33 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,307

Highland Park, MI holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Michigan with 3,019 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (2,524), robbery (350), rape (109) and homicide (36) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 595% higher than the Michigan 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.

Saginaw Population: 48,407 2,201 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 6.03 chance of being a victim: 1 in 45 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,160

The second most dangerous city is Saginaw. With a population of 48,407 and a violent crime rate that is 407% higher than the Michigan average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Saginaw are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 2,201 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 45 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Benton Harbor Population: 9,806 1,874 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 53 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,372

Home to 9,806 residents, Benton Harbor, MI ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Michigan. Unfortunately for residents of Benton Harbor, crime is widespread, with more than 1,874 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 5.13 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 332% higher than the Michigan violent crime rate.

Detroit Population: 672,351 1,781 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.88 chance of being a victim: 1 in 56 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,087

With a violent crime rate that is 310% higher than the Michigan average, it's not hard to see why Detroit made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (184), assault (1,474), rape (93) and homicide (31). 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 Detroit more vulnerable to high crime.

Lansing Population: 117,488 1,345 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 74 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,844

The ongoing battle with crime in Lansing, MI, 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 1,345 and a 1 in 74 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Lansing has a violent crime rate that is 210% higher than the Michigan 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 Lansing.

Albion Population: 8,380 1,317 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.61 chance of being a victim: 1 in 76 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,132

Albion, MI comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,317 per 100,000 people, which is 203% higher than the Michigan average. Albion has a population of 8,380, which translates to 3.61 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 Albion which are much safer than others.

Kalamazoo Population: 76,106 1,284 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.52 chance of being a victim: 1 in 78 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,731

A 1 in 78 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.52 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Kalamazoo makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,284 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 196% higher than the Michigan average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (956), robbery (166), rape (148) and homicide (14).

Flint Population: 95,999 1,258 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.45 chance of being a victim: 1 in 80 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,570

Flint, MI is another one of the most dangerous cities in Michigan and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 95,999 and a violent crime rate of 1,258 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 1,113 counts of assault, 61 counts of robbery, 59 counts of rape and 25 counts of homicide. All told, the Flint violent crime rate is 190% higher than the Michigan average.

Battle Creek Population: 51,084 1,122 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 89 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,644

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, Battle Creek, MI comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Michigan with a violent crime rate of 1,122 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 3.07 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 89 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Inkster Population: 24,398 1,075 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 93 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,941

Rounding out our list at #10 is Inkster, MI. With a population of 24,398 and a violent crime rate of 1,075 per 100,000 people (147% higher than the Michigan average), some parts of Inkster are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 832 counts of assault, 117 counts of robbery, 113 counts of rape and 12 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 93 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Michigan

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Highland Park	10,818	3,019	7,307
2	Saginaw	48,407	2,201	4,160
3	Benton Harbor	9,806	1,874	7,372
4	Detroit	672,351	1,781	6,087
5	Lansing	117,488	1,345	3,844
6	Albion	8,380	1,317	4,132
7	Kalamazoo	76,106	1,284	4,731
8	Flint	95,999	1,258	2,570
9	Battle Creek	51,084	1,122	3,644
10	Inkster	24,398	1,075	2,941
11	Jackson	32,251	1,062	4,797
12	Pontiac	59,714	985	2,626
13	Grand Rapids	199,417	910	3,391
14	Romulus	23,544	879	2,943
15	Taylor	61,164	838	2,855
16	Harper Woods	13,829	775	5,042
17	Burton	28,598	765	3,098
18	Eastpointe	32,221	720	2,992
19	Wayne	16,894	693	1,995
20	Dowagiac	5,695	689	4,117
21	Lincoln Park	36,525	679	2,447
22	Ypsilanti	20,792	657	3,033
23	Port Huron	28,918	603	2,106
24	Adrian	20,550	572	2,968
25	Bay City	32,892	564	2,432
26	Owosso	14,476	564	1,637
27	Warren	134,188	542	2,096
28	Roseville	47,160	522	3,833
29	Alpena	9,987	514	1,504
30	Alma	8,918	504	1,469
31	Southfield	72,966	493	2,913
32	Hamtramck	21,704	489	2,084
33	Niles	11,168	476	2,352
34	Wyoming	75,999	471	2,616
35	Cadillac	10,462	469	2,928
36	Dearborn Heights	55,630	459	1,697
37	Westland	81,713	449	1,805
38	Southgate	29,129	446	2,463
39	St. Joseph	8,328	442	1,977
40	Greenville	8,407	442	2,929
41	Mount Pleasant	25,290	428	1,453
42	Charlotte	9,069	423	2,298
43	Center Line	8,212	422	1,916
44	Menominee	8,079	419	1,391
45	Sault Ste. Marie	13,526	406	1,510
46	Oak Park	29,446	399	2,488
47	Eaton Rapids	5,229	388	1,650
48	Kentwood	51,780	388	2,570
49	Hastings	7,314	386	1,585
50	Holland	33,329	384	1,615

Methodology

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