Top 10 most dangerous cities in Oklahoma

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.

Muskogee Population: 37,337 1,111 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 90 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,486

Muskogee, OK holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Oklahoma with 1,111 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (923), robbery (82), rape (101) and homicide (5) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 165% 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.

Anadarko Population: 6,600 938 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 107 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,859

The second most dangerous city is Anadarko. With a population of 6,600 and a violent crime rate that is 123% higher than the Oklahoma average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Anadarko are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 938 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 107 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Tulsa Population: 402,441 929 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 108 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,201

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 929 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.55 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 121% higher than the Oklahoma violent crime rate.

Ardmore Population: 24,834 880 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 114 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,768

With a violent crime rate that is 110% higher than the Oklahoma average, it's not hard to see why Ardmore made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (48), assault (736), rape (80) and homicide (16). 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 Ardmore more vulnerable to high crime.

Lawton Population: 93,535 837 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.29 chance of being a victim: 1 in 119 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,910

The ongoing battle with crime in Lawton, 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 837 and a 1 in 119 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Lawton has a violent crime rate that is 100% 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 Lawton.

Oklahoma City Population: 649,821 642 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 156 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,701

Oklahoma City, OK comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 642 per 100,000 people, which is 53% higher than the Oklahoma average. Oklahoma City has a population of 649,821, which translates to 1.76 crimes per day and 1 in 156 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 Oklahoma City which are much safer than others.

Poteau Population: 8,866 631 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 158 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,374

A 1 in 158 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.73 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Poteau makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 631 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 50% higher than the Oklahoma average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (485), robbery (34), rape (90) and homicide (23).

Del City Population: 21,762 585 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.60 chance of being a victim: 1 in 171 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,961

Del City, OK is another one of the most dangerous cities in Oklahoma and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 21,762 and a violent crime rate of 585 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 454 counts of assault, 56 counts of robbery, 70 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. All told, the Del City violent crime rate is 39% higher than the Oklahoma average.

Shawnee Population: 31,361 571 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.56 chance of being a victim: 1 in 175 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,067

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, Shawnee, OK comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Oklahoma with a violent crime rate of 571 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.56 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 175 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Ponca City Population: 23,940 568 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.56 chance of being a victim: 1 in 176 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,696

Rounding out our list at #10 is Ponca City, OK. With a population of 23,940 and a violent crime rate of 568 per 100,000 people (35% higher than the Oklahoma average), some parts of Ponca City are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 466 counts of assault, 29 counts of robbery, 69 counts of rape and 4 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 176 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	Muskogee	37,337	1,111	4,486
2	Anadarko	6,600	938	4,859
3	Tulsa	402,441	929	5,201
4	Ardmore	24,834	880	3,768
5	Lawton	93,535	837	2,910
6	Oklahoma City	649,821	642	3,701
7	Poteau	8,866	631	4,374
8	Del City	21,762	585	3,961
9	Shawnee	31,361	571	4,067
10	Ponca City	23,940	568	3,696
11	Catoosa	7,930	567	3,269
12	Pryor Creek	9,417	560	3,222
13	Pauls Valley	6,128	544	4,797
14	Miami	13,176	504	3,983
15	Hugo	5,114	479	2,991
16	Purcell	6,508	466	3,144
17	Clinton	9,117	447	2,428
18	Blackwell	6,634	443	2,168
19	Sallisaw	8,536	435	4,503
20	Woodward	12,213	413	3,427
21	Enid	50,116	408	3,257
22	Chickasha	16,326	399	3,824
23	Okmulgee	11,768	368	3,427
24	Warr Acres	10,169	354	4,311
25	Midwest City	57,392	337	3,000
26	Grove	7,060	334	3,371
27	Wagoner	9,061	322	3,147
28	Stillwater	50,183	310	2,228
29	Sulphur	5,023	310	1,694
30	Norman	124,086	303	3,056
31	Bartlesville	36,495	302	2,959
32	Durant	18,516	298	3,239
33	Guthrie	11,296	284	1,821
34	Seminole	7,155	283	2,435
35	McAlester	18,042	274	2,898
36	Lone Grove	5,105	274	1,311
37	Altus	18,533	267	1,738
38	Bethany	19,292	266	2,234
39	Glenpool	13,836	265	2,725
40	The Village	9,500	255	2,180
41	Skiatook	8,036	254	2,127
42	Claremore	18,875	249	2,472
43	Sapulpa	21,170	245	1,876
44	Moore	61,683	240	2,285
45	Cushing	7,759	232	2,733
46	Elk City	11,544	210	1,655
47	Yukon	27,557	196	2,473
48	Guymon	11,381	195	1,269
49	Sand Springs	19,912	195	4,134
50	Tecumseh	6,721	189	2,168

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.