Top 10 U.S. Cities With High Crime Rates: Where Buying a Home May Be Risky

Despite overall declining crime rates in the U.S., some cities still struggle with high levels of both violent and non-violent crime, according to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the FBI, reported by Pew Research.

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GOBankingRates analyzed crime data from City-Data.com, which compiles information from governmental and private sources to create a crime index for each city. Additionally, they referenced a 2024 study from MoneyGeek that estimates the financial impact of crime based on FBI statistics.

Based on this analysis, here are ten cities where residents may want to enhance their home security.

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Kansas City, Missouri

Famed for its BBQ and jazz, Kansas City also has a high crime cost of $6,398 per person. This amount is over 17 times greater than Irvine, the nation’s safest large city, which has a crime cost of $364. The crime index value here stands at a concerning 675.1.

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Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Known for its beer culture, Milwaukee has a crime cost of $7,029 per capita and a crime index value of 663.2, raising concerns for potential residents.

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Cleveland, Ohio

Home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland’s crime cost stands at $7,397, supported by a crime index value of 752.9, which raises concerns for its residents.

Little Rock, Arkansas

The capital city of Arkansas reports a crime cost of $7,781, alongside a significant crime index value of 796.9, indicating ongoing safety challenges.

Baltimore, Maryland

With a crime cost of $8,160 per person, Baltimore has a crime index value of 656.6. Potential residents should consider safety before moving here.

Memphis, Tennessee

Known as the home of Elvis Presley, Memphis faces its own difficulties with a crime cost of $9,056 and a high crime index value of 1,022.4.

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Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, often associated with its auto industry, has a crime cost of $9,281 and a relevant crime index value of 847, reflecting ongoing safety issues in the city.

St. Louis, Missouri

While notable for its Gateway Arch and lively atmosphere, St. Louis has a concerning crime cost of $11,055 and a crime index value of 896.4.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Famous for its lively culture and cuisine, New Orleans comes with a crime cost of $11,094 and a crime index value of 763.8, raising concerns about safety.

Birmingham, Alabama

Significantly, Birmingham ranks highest nationwide with a crime cost of $11,392, over 31 times that of Irvine. Its crime index stands at 738.1, nearly tripling the national average of 246.1.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Dangerous Cities Where Home Buying May Be a Mistake.

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