Top 10 most dangerous cities in Mississippi

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

Efforts to improve safety in Mississippi 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 Mississippi. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Mississippi'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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Laurel Population: 18,403 1,052 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.88 chance of being a victim: 1 in 95 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,840

Laurel, MS holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Mississippi with 1,052 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (833), robbery (95), rape (100) and homicide (24) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 400% higher than the Mississippi 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.

Forest Population: 5,569 707 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 141 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,586

The second most dangerous city is Forest. With a population of 5,569 and a violent crime rate that is 236% higher than the Mississippi average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Forest are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 707 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 141 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Amory Population: 6,873 630 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 159 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,136

Home to 6,873 residents, Amory, MS ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Mississippi. Unfortunately for residents of Amory, crime is widespread, with more than 630 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.73 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 199% higher than the Mississippi violent crime rate.

Vicksburg Population: 22,045 617 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 162 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,428

With a violent crime rate that is 193% higher than the Mississippi average, it's not hard to see why Vicksburg made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (76), assault (500), rape (20) and homicide (20). 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 Vicksburg more vulnerable to high crime.

Philadelphia Population: 7,137 524 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 191 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,014

The ongoing battle with crime in Philadelphia, MS, 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 524 and a 1 in 191 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Philadelphia has a violent crime rate that is 149% higher than the Mississippi 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 Philadelphia.

West Point Population: 10,517 507 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.39 chance of being a victim: 1 in 197 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,587

West Point, MS comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 507 per 100,000 people, which is 141% higher than the Mississippi average. West Point has a population of 10,517, which translates to 1.39 crimes per day and 1 in 197 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 West Point which are much safer than others.

Tupelo Population: 38,251 391 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 256 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,168

A 1 in 256 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.07 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Tupelo makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 391 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 86% higher than the Mississippi average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (237), robbery (72), rape (72) and homicide (11).

Cleveland Population: 11,363 384 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 261 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,227

Cleveland, MS is another one of the most dangerous cities in Mississippi and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 11,363 and a violent crime rate of 384 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 305 counts of assault, 39 counts of robbery, 20 counts of rape and 20 counts of homicide. All told, the Cleveland violent crime rate is 82% higher than the Mississippi average.

Corinth Population: 14,544 354 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 283 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,493

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, Corinth, MS comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Mississippi with a violent crime rate of 354 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.97 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 283 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Batesville Population: 7,200 344 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 291 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,102

Rounding out our list at #10 is Batesville, MS. With a population of 7,200 and a violent crime rate of 344 per 100,000 people (63% higher than the Mississippi average), some parts of Batesville are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 261 counts of assault, 41 counts of robbery, 28 counts of rape and 14 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 291 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Mississippi

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Laurel	18,403	1,052	4,840
2	Forest	5,569	707	1,586
3	Amory	6,873	630	3,136
4	Vicksburg	22,045	617	4,428
5	Philadelphia	7,137	524	3,014
6	West Point	10,517	507	2,587
7	Tupelo	38,251	391	4,168
8	Cleveland	11,363	384	3,227
9	Corinth	14,544	354	3,493
10	Batesville	7,200	344	5,102
11	Pascagoula	21,732	326	5,197
12	Ridgeland	24,194	320	1,700
13	Southaven	55,026	304	2,329
14	Pontotoc	6,070	251	2,129
15	Gautier	18,436	247	2,171
16	Booneville	8,539	242	3,890
17	Senatobia	7,759	230	1,840
18	Hattiesburg	46,010	222	3,687
19	Olive Branch	38,270	199	1,558
20	Picayune	11,016	185	2,884
21	Kosciusko	6,778	177	1,803
22	Petal	10,624	130	522
23	Oxford	27,662	127	1,980
24	Bay St. Louis	13,539	119	2,477
25	Horn Lake	27,234	110	1,509
26	Byram	11,519	96	1,054
27	Hernando	16,206	92	565
28	Brandon	24,088	89	463
29	Starkville	25,495	83	2,119
30	Long Beach	15,829	82	1,073
31	New Albany	8,723	78	1,216
32	Waveland	6,352	72	2,716
33	Clinton	24,797	68	1,274
34	Madison	25,650	57	445
35	Richland	7,203	53	1,082
36	Pass Christian	6,079	0	808

Methodology

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