Top 10 most dangerous cities in Rhode Island

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

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

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Woonsocket Population: 41,616 391 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 256 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,891

Woonsocket, RI holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Rhode Island with 391 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (247), robbery (80), rape (59) and homicide (5) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 154% higher than the Rhode Island 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.

Central Falls Population: 19,437 323 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 309 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,329

The second most dangerous city is Central Falls. With a population of 19,437 and a violent crime rate that is 111% higher than the Rhode Island average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Central Falls are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 323 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 309 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Pawtucket Population: 71,821 308 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.84 chance of being a victim: 1 in 325 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,819

Home to 71,821 residents, Pawtucket, RI ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Rhode Island. Unfortunately for residents of Pawtucket, crime is widespread, with more than 308 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 0.84 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 100% higher than the Rhode Island violent crime rate.

Providence Population: 179,472 277 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 361 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,935

With a violent crime rate that is 80% higher than the Rhode Island average, it's not hard to see why Providence made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (56), assault (194), rape (21) and homicide (6). 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 Providence more vulnerable to high crime.

Newport Population: 24,697 176 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 567 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,667

The ongoing battle with crime in Newport, RI, 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 176 and a 1 in 567 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Newport has a violent crime rate that is 15% higher than the Rhode Island 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 Newport.

Cranston Population: 81,252 93 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.25 chance of being a victim: 1 in n/a Total Crimes / 100k: 1,145

Cranston, RI comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 93 per 100,000 people, which is 39% lower than the Rhode Island average. Cranston has a population of 81,252, which translates to 0.25 crimes per day and 1 in 1,075 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 Cranston which are much safer than others.

Warwick Population: 81,043 79 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.22 chance of being a victim: 1 in n/a Total Crimes / 100k: 1,227

A 1 in 1,258 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.22 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Warwick makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 79 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 48% lower than the Rhode Island average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (50), robbery (9), rape (18) and homicide (2).

East Providence Population: 47,442 74 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.20 chance of being a victim: 1 in n/a Total Crimes / 100k: 755

East Providence, RI is another one of the most dangerous cities in Rhode Island and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 47,442 and a violent crime rate of 74 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 27 counts of assault, 8 counts of robbery, 38 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the East Providence violent crime rate is 52% lower than the Rhode Island average.

Tiverton Population: 7,996 68 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in n/a Total Crimes / 100k: 748

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, Tiverton, RI comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Rhode Island with a violent crime rate of 68 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.19 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 1,470 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Westerly Population: 17,842 64 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in n/a Total Crimes / 100k: 977

Rounding out our list at #10 is Westerly, RI. With a population of 17,842 and a violent crime rate of 64 per 100,000 people (59% lower than the Rhode Island average), some parts of Westerly are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 51 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 13 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 1,569 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Rhode Island

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Woonsocket	41,616	391	1,891
2	Central Falls	19,437	323	1,329
3	Pawtucket	71,821	308	1,819
4	Providence	179,472	277	1,935
5	Newport	24,697	176	1,667
6	Cranston	81,252	93	1,145
7	Warwick	81,043	79	1,227
8	East Providence	47,442	74	755
9	Tiverton	7,996	68	748
10	Westerly	17,842	64	977

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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.