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: 25,666 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: 38,202 987 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 38,202 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: 411,711 942 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 411,711 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: 97,207 820 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: 671,652 676 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: 6,746 606 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 6,746, 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: 24,463 576 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).

Kingfisher Population: 5,048 549 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 182 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,215

Kingfisher, OK is another one of the most dangerous cities in Oklahoma and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 5,048 and a violent crime rate of 549 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 392 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 157 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Kingfisher violent crime rate is 30% higher than the Oklahoma average.

Enid Population: 51,301 538 violent crimes per 100k

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

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, Enid, OK comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Oklahoma with a violent crime rate of 538 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.47 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 186 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Del City Population: 22,594 525 violent crimes per 100k

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

Rounding out our list at #10 is Del City, OK. With a population of 22,594 and a violent crime rate of 525 per 100,000 people (24% higher than the Oklahoma average), some parts of Del City are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 421 counts of assault, 57 counts of robbery, 43 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 191 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	25,666	1,141	4,247
2	Muskogee	38,202	987	3,935
3	Tulsa	411,711	942	4,569
4	Lawton	97,207	820	3,473
5	Oklahoma City	671,652	676	3,570
6	Anadarko	6,746	606	3,120
7	Ponca City	24,463	576	3,080
8	Kingfisher	5,048	549	2,215
9	Enid	51,301	538	2,922
10	Del City	22,594	525	3,674
11	Miami	13,700	514	3,381
12	Sallisaw	8,803	506	3,660
13	Shawnee	32,488	501	3,344
14	Ada	18,052	468	2,396
15	Clinton	9,479	455	1,941
16	Blackwell	6,777	445	2,585
17	Pryor Creek	9,692	433	2,681
18	Wagoner	9,400	429	2,677
19	Okmulgee	12,018	395	3,612
20	Henryetta	5,789	393	1,499
21	Warr Acres	10,425	382	3,845
22	McAlester	18,601	369	2,741
23	Seminole	7,348	369	2,531
24	Bartlesville	37,389	368	2,492
25	Duncan	23,311	351	2,425
26	Midwest City	58,587	347	2,427
27	Chickasha	16,675	312	2,161
28	Grove	7,224	297	3,334
29	Poteau	9,140	295	3,231
30	Skiatook	8,217	293	1,422
31	Claremore	19,346	291	1,913
32	Altus	19,157	290	1,735
33	Woodward	12,677	283	1,701
34	Cushing	8,053	273	2,673
35	Holdenville	5,882	270	1,791
36	Hugo	5,274	269	2,481
37	Durant	19,221	269	3,377
38	Lone Grove	5,244	267	1,123
39	Norman	127,988	260	2,527
40	The Village	9,752	258	2,462
41	Tecumseh	6,977	252	2,002
42	Pauls Valley	6,317	248	2,542
43	Purcell	6,764	245	2,306
44	Sand Springs	20,651	243	3,005
45	Elk City	11,999	223	1,259
46	Broken Arrow	112,690	223	1,424
47	Catoosa	8,150	212	1,750
48	Bethany	20,021	208	1,741
49	El Reno	20,289	205	1,563
50	Guymon	11,761	199	1,216

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.