Top 10 most dangerous cities in Oklahoma

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

Efforts to improve safety in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Oklahoma'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, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Ardmore Population: 24,834 1,141 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,247

Ardmore, OK holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Oklahoma with 1,141 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,033), robbery (24), rape (76) and homicide (8) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 170% higher than the Oklahoma 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.

Muskogee Population: 37,337 987 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.70 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,935

The second most dangerous city is Muskogee. With a population of 37,337 and a violent crime rate that is 133% higher than the Oklahoma average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Muskogee are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 987 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 101 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Tulsa Population: 402,441 942 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.58 chance of being a victim: 1 in 106 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,569

Home to 402,441 residents, Tulsa, OK ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Oklahoma. Unfortunately for residents of Tulsa, crime is widespread, with more than 942 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.58 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 123% higher than the Oklahoma violent crime rate.

Lawton Population: 93,535 820 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.25 chance of being a victim: 1 in 122 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,473

With a violent crime rate that is 94% higher than the Oklahoma average, it's not hard to see why Lawton made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (72), assault (595), rape (143) and homicide (10). 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 Lawton more vulnerable to high crime.

Oklahoma City Population: 649,821 676 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 148 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,570

The ongoing battle with crime in Oklahoma City, OK, 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 676 and a 1 in 148 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Oklahoma City has a violent crime rate that is 60% higher than the Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma City.

Anadarko Population: 6,600 606 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.66 chance of being a victim: 1 in 165 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,120

Anadarko, OK comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 606 per 100,000 people, which is 43% higher than the Oklahoma average. Anadarko has a population of 6,600, which translates to 1.66 crimes per day and 1 in 165 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 Anadarko which are much safer than others.

Ponca City Population: 23,940 576 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.58 chance of being a victim: 1 in 173 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,080

A 1 in 173 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.58 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Ponca City makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 576 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 36% higher than the Oklahoma average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (441), robbery (41), rape (86) and homicide (8).

Enid Population: 50,116 538 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.47 chance of being a victim: 1 in 186 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,922

Enid, OK is another one of the most dangerous cities in Oklahoma and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 50,116 and a violent crime rate of 538 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 403 counts of assault, 32 counts of robbery, 103 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Enid violent crime rate is 27% higher than the Oklahoma average.

Del City Population: 21,762 525 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 191 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,674

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, Del City, OK comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Oklahoma with a violent crime rate of 525 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.44 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 191 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Miami Population: 13,176 514 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 194 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,381

Rounding out our list at #10 is Miami, OK. With a population of 13,176 and a violent crime rate of 514 per 100,000 people (22% higher than the Oklahoma average), some parts of Miami are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 444 counts of assault, 8 counts of robbery, 55 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 194 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Oklahoma

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Ardmore	24,834	1,141	4,247
2	Muskogee	37,337	987	3,935
3	Tulsa	402,441	942	4,569
4	Lawton	93,535	820	3,473
5	Oklahoma City	649,821	676	3,570
6	Anadarko	6,600	606	3,120
7	Ponca City	23,940	576	3,080
8	Enid	50,116	538	2,922
9	Del City	21,762	525	3,674
10	Miami	13,176	514	3,381
11	Sallisaw	8,536	506	3,660
12	Shawnee	31,361	501	3,344
13	Ada	17,399	468	2,396
14	Clinton	9,117	455	1,941
15	Blackwell	6,634	445	2,585
16	Pryor Creek	9,417	433	2,681
17	Wagoner	9,061	429	2,677
18	Okmulgee	11,768	395	3,612
19	Henryetta	5,586	393	1,499
20	Warr Acres	10,169	382	3,845
21	McAlester	18,042	369	2,741
22	Seminole	7,155	369	2,531
23	Bartlesville	36,495	368	2,492
24	Duncan	22,529	351	2,425
25	Midwest City	57,392	347	2,427
26	Chickasha	16,326	312	2,161
27	Grove	7,060	297	3,334
28	Poteau	8,866	295	3,231
29	Skiatook	8,036	293	1,422
30	Claremore	18,875	291	1,913
31	Altus	18,533	290	1,735
32	Woodward	12,213	283	1,701
33	Cushing	7,759	273	2,673
34	Holdenville	5,662	270	1,791
35	Hugo	5,114	269	2,481
36	Durant	18,516	269	3,377
37	Lone Grove	5,105	267	1,123
38	Norman	124,086	260	2,527
39	The Village	9,500	258	2,462
40	Tecumseh	6,721	252	2,002
41	Pauls Valley	6,128	248	2,542
42	Purcell	6,508	245	2,306
43	Sand Springs	19,912	243	3,005
44	Elk City	11,544	223	1,259
45	Broken Arrow	108,875	223	1,424
46	Catoosa	7,930	212	1,750
47	Bethany	19,292	208	1,741
48	El Reno	19,539	205	1,563
49	Guymon	11,381	199	1,216
50	Moore	61,683	190	1,703

Methodology

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