Top 10 most dangerous cities in Missouri

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Missouri, known for its diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of St. Louis to the scenic beauty of the Ozarks, Missouri 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, Missouri faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Missouri are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Missouri's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Missouri 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 Missouri. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Missouri'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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Berkeley Population: 8,912 2,535 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 6.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 39 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,009

Berkeley, MO holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Missouri with 2,535 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (2,070), robbery (251), rape (113) and homicide (100) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 449% higher than the Missouri 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.

Kansas City Population: 491,158 1,547 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 65 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,223

The second most dangerous city is Kansas City. With a population of 491,158 and a violent crime rate that is 235% higher than the Missouri average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Kansas City are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,547 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 65 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

St. Louis Population: 304,709 1,367 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 73 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,074

Home to 304,709 residents, St. Louis, MO ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Missouri. Unfortunately for residents of St. Louis, crime is widespread, with more than 1,367 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.75 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 196% higher than the Missouri violent crime rate.

Caruthersville Population: 5,518 1,228 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 81 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,894

With a violent crime rate that is 166% higher than the Missouri average, it's not hard to see why Caruthersville made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (175), assault (1,033), rape (0) and homicide (19). 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 Caruthersville more vulnerable to high crime.

Springfield Population: 167,601 1,178 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 85 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,363

The ongoing battle with crime in Springfield, MO, 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 1,178 and a 1 in 85 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Springfield has a violent crime rate that is 155% higher than the Missouri 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 Springfield.

Sikeston Population: 16,664 1,030 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.82 chance of being a victim: 1 in 97 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,655

Sikeston, MO comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,030 per 100,000 people, which is 123% higher than the Missouri average. Sikeston has a population of 16,664, which translates to 2.82 crimes per day and 1 in 97 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 Sikeston which are much safer than others.

Bellefontaine Neighbors Population: 10,441 945 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 106 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,693

A 1 in 106 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.59 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Bellefontaine Neighbors makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 945 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 105% higher than the Missouri average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (857), robbery (58), rape (10) and homicide (19).

Raytown Population: 29,176 864 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 116 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,601

Raytown, MO is another one of the most dangerous cities in Missouri and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 29,176 and a violent crime rate of 864 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 628 counts of assault, 156 counts of robbery, 69 counts of rape and 10 counts of homicide. All told, the Raytown violent crime rate is 87% higher than the Missouri average.

Charleston Population: 5,478 810 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.22 chance of being a victim: 1 in 124 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,361

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, Charleston, MO comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Missouri with a violent crime rate of 810 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.22 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 124 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Clinton Population: 8,792 738 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.02 chance of being a victim: 1 in 136 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,815

Rounding out our list at #10 is Clinton, MO. With a population of 8,792 and a violent crime rate of 738 per 100,000 people (60% higher than the Missouri average), some parts of Clinton are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 654 counts of assault, 11 counts of robbery, 74 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 136 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Missouri

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Berkeley	8,912	2,535	9,009
2	Kansas City	491,158	1,547	6,223
3	St. Louis	304,709	1,367	7,074
4	Caruthersville	5,518	1,228	4,894
5	Springfield	167,601	1,178	5,363
6	Sikeston	16,664	1,030	4,655
7	Bellefontaine Neighbors	10,441	945	3,693
8	Raytown	29,176	864	4,601
9	Charleston	5,478	810	2,361
10	Clinton	8,792	738	2,815
11	St. Joseph	75,369	729	4,579
12	Ferguson	20,631	712	4,211
13	Grandview	24,990	675	4,456
14	Maplewood	8,073	652	7,452
15	Bridgeton	11,577	651	6,407
16	Cape Girardeau	40,100	623	3,080
17	St. John	6,369	609	2,561
18	Sullivan	6,499	588	5,691
19	Independence	117,139	571	4,095
20	Kennett	10,069	570	4,552
21	Joplin	50,580	560	4,681
22	Harrisonville	10,084	553	2,315
23	Sedalia	21,634	545	3,180
24	Nevada	8,198	544	5,316
25	De Soto	6,359	538	3,933
26	Overland	15,644	527	2,709
27	Hazelwood	25,222	490	3,011
28	Branson	11,526	478	6,494
29	Waynesville	5,260	439	1,391
30	Kirksville	17,645	418	2,352
31	Lebanon	14,735	418	2,473
32	Cameron	8,941	410	1,977
33	St. Ann	12,689	406	1,618
34	Richmond Heights	8,581	401	7,778
35	Union	11,931	394	2,718
36	Gladstone	27,365	376	2,073
37	Rolla	20,273	374	2,914
38	West Plains	12,290	361	2,167
39	Hannibal	17,312	358	2,762
40	Columbia	122,659	348	2,665
41	Chillicothe	9,106	347	1,096
42	Florissant	51,220	341	2,174
43	Belton	23,568	334	2,207
44	Jefferson City	42,670	334	2,373
45	Excelsior Springs	11,688	330	2,721
46	Farmington	18,792	323	3,074
47	Richmond	5,622	320	2,087
48	Moberly	13,710	318	1,340
49	Warrensburg	20,313	313	2,937
50	University City	34,336	299	1,873

Methodology

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