Top 10 most dangerous cities in New Hampshire

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New Hampshire, known for its picturesque landscapes and rich history, offers a unique living experience. From the charming coastal towns of Portsmouth to the scenic beauty of the White Mountains, New Hampshire provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its museums, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, New Hampshire faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in New Hampshire are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between New Hampshire's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. New Hampshire's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Newport Population: 5,530 372 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.02 chance of being a victim: 1 in 269 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,008

Newport, NH holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in New Hampshire with 372 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (202), robbery (0), rape (171) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 238% higher than the New Hampshire 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.

Manchester Population: 112,441 336 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.92 chance of being a victim: 1 in 298 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,984

The second most dangerous city is Manchester. With a population of 112,441 and a violent crime rate that is 205% higher than the New Hampshire average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Manchester are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 336 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 298 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Claremont Population: 12,969 190 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.52 chance of being a victim: 1 in 527 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,058

Home to 12,969 residents, Claremont, NH ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in New Hampshire. Unfortunately for residents of Claremont, crime is widespread, with more than 190 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 0.52 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 72% higher than the New Hampshire violent crime rate.

Portsmouth Population: 21,418 187 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.51 chance of being a victim: 1 in 534 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,472

With a violent crime rate that is 70% higher than the New Hampshire average, it's not hard to see why Portsmouth made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (9), assault (139), rape (39) 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 Portsmouth more vulnerable to high crime.

Concord Population: 43,503 181 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 553 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,410

The ongoing battle with crime in Concord, NH, 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 181 and a 1 in 553 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Concord has a violent crime rate that is 64% higher than the New Hampshire 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 Concord.

Somersworth Population: 12,027 179 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 558 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,706

Somersworth, NH comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 179 per 100,000 people, which is 63% higher than the New Hampshire average. Somersworth has a population of 12,027, which translates to 0.49 crimes per day and 1 in 558 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 Somersworth which are much safer than others.

Keene Population: 22,823 179 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 558 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,352

A 1 in 558 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.49 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Keene makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 179 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 63% higher than the New Hampshire average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (70), robbery (26), rape (83) and homicide (0).

Nashua Population: 89,052 161 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 623 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,422

Nashua, NH is another one of the most dangerous cities in New Hampshire and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 89,052 and a violent crime rate of 161 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 92 counts of assault, 14 counts of robbery, 54 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Nashua violent crime rate is 46% higher than the New Hampshire average.

Laconia Population: 16,584 145 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.40 chance of being a victim: 1 in 689 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,678

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, Laconia, NH comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in New Hampshire with a violent crime rate of 145 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.40 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 689 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Berlin Population: 10,025 127 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.35 chance of being a victim: 1 in 790 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,878

Rounding out our list at #10 is Berlin, NH. With a population of 10,025 and a violent crime rate of 127 per 100,000 people (15% higher than the New Hampshire average), some parts of Berlin are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 106 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 21 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 790 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in New Hampshire

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Newport	5,530	372	1,008
2	Manchester	112,441	336	1,984
3	Claremont	12,969	190	2,058
4	Portsmouth	21,418	187	1,472
5	Concord	43,503	181	1,410
6	Somersworth	12,027	179	2,706
7	Keene	22,823	179	2,352
8	Nashua	89,052	161	1,422
9	Laconia	16,584	145	2,678
10	Berlin	10,025	127	1,878
11	Derry	22,891	108	827
12	Hampton	10,002	103	844
13	Lebanon	13,718	95	1,700
14	Franklin	8,695	91	1,352
15	Rochester	31,305	77	1,221
16	Hudson	7,230	74	1,258
17	Hooksett	5,517	71	641
18	Newmarket	5,737	53	432
19	Dover	31,922	47	834
20	Londonderry	12,053	41	486
21	Durham	12,016	41	265
22	Exeter	9,349	37	580
23	Milford	8,644	36	484
24	Hanover	8,744	0	451

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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.