Top 10 most dangerous cities in Washington

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Washington, known for its stunning natural landscapes and vibrant culture, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Seattle to the scenic beauty of the Olympic Peninsula, Washington 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, Washington faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Washington are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Washington's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Washington 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 Washington. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Washington'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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Tacoma Population: 223,137 1,063 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,667

Tacoma, WA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Washington with 1,063 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (801), robbery (184), rape (68) and homicide (10) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 226% higher than the Washington 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.

Fife Population: 10,650 1,018 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.79 chance of being a victim: 1 in 98 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,936

The second most dangerous city is Fife. With a population of 10,650 and a violent crime rate that is 212% higher than the Washington average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Fife are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,018 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 98 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Tukwila Population: 20,710 927 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.54 chance of being a victim: 1 in 108 Total Crimes / 100k: 16,171

Home to 20,710 residents, Tukwila, WA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Washington. Unfortunately for residents of Tukwila, crime is widespread, with more than 927 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.54 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 184% higher than the Washington violent crime rate.

Seattle Population: 765,050 775 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 129 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,783

With a violent crime rate that is 138% higher than the Washington average, it's not hard to see why Seattle made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (221), assault (501), rape (46) and homicide (7). 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 Seattle more vulnerable to high crime.

Spokane Population: 223,638 675 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 148 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,516

The ongoing battle with crime in Spokane, WA, 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 675 and a 1 in 148 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Spokane has a violent crime rate that is 107% higher than the Washington 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 Spokane.

Lakewood Population: 61,909 648 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 154 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,270

Lakewood, WA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 648 per 100,000 people, which is 99% higher than the Washington average. Lakewood has a population of 61,909, which translates to 1.78 crimes per day and 1 in 154 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 Lakewood which are much safer than others.

Vancouver Population: 188,837 582 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.60 chance of being a victim: 1 in 172 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,990

A 1 in 172 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.60 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Vancouver makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 582 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 79% higher than the Washington average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (393), robbery (122), rape (62) and homicide (6).

Port Angeles Population: 20,631 566 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 177 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,050

Port Angeles, WA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Washington and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 20,631 and a violent crime rate of 566 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 392 counts of assault, 50 counts of robbery, 114 counts of rape and 10 counts of homicide. All told, the Port Angeles violent crime rate is 74% higher than the Washington average.

Olympia Population: 54,379 565 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 177 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,000

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, Olympia, WA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Washington with a violent crime rate of 565 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.55 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 177 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Federal Way Population: 100,624 545 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 183 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,918

Rounding out our list at #10 is Federal Way, WA. With a population of 100,624 and a violent crime rate of 545 per 100,000 people (67% higher than the Washington average), some parts of Federal Way are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 338 counts of assault, 150 counts of robbery, 52 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 183 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Washington

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Tacoma	223,137	1,063	6,667
2	Fife	10,650	1,018	6,936
3	Tukwila	20,710	927	16,171
4	Seattle	765,050	775	5,783
5	Spokane	223,638	675	5,516
6	Lakewood	61,909	648	4,270
7	Vancouver	188,837	582	3,990
8	Port Angeles	20,631	566	3,050
9	Olympia	54,379	565	4,000
10	Federal Way	100,624	545	4,918
11	Yakima	97,434	544	2,589
12	Auburn	83,617	543	4,511
13	Kent	134,349	490	4,261
14	Shelton	10,858	476	2,872
15	Port Townsend	9,950	471	1,884
16	Clarkston	7,664	468	5,014
17	Bremerton	42,880	434	3,249
18	Grandview	11,346	428	2,328
19	Burien	53,010	425	3,820
20	SeaTac	30,186	410	4,354
21	Moses Lake	24,055	394	4,631
22	Milton	8,454	391	3,015
23	Port Orchard	14,715	388	3,286
24	Chehalis	7,810	381	4,301
25	Othello	8,469	378	2,592
26	Puyallup	42,717	375	4,244
27	Airway Heights	9,237	372	4,268
28	Cheney	12,816	371	2,041
29	Aberdeen	17,084	370	3,345
30	Kennewick	84,474	367	3,828
31	Fircrest	7,059	365	2,086
32	Bellingham	92,702	350	4,107
33	Pasco	76,821	348	2,543
34	Renton	105,173	339	3,653
35	Arlington	20,435	338	2,559
36	Toppenish	9,199	314	4,562
37	Orting	8,457	314	1,210
38	Washougal	16,351	312	1,315
39	Des Moines	32,691	297	3,146
40	Walla Walla	33,841	284	2,498
41	Sunnyside	17,266	277	2,867
42	Yelm	9,459	277	2,153
43	Centralia	18,008	270	3,008
44	Everett	114,503	265	3,484
45	Lynnwood	39,454	264	6,329
46	Edmonds	44,023	260	3,261
47	Richland	58,941	250	2,190
48	Sumner	10,604	247	3,653
49	Quincy	7,998	245	3,868
50	Spokane Valley	102,600	242	3,758

Methodology

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