Americas 10 Least Safe Cities

By Cynthia Hsu, Esq. on December 28, 2011 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

How would you like to live in one of the most dangerous cities in America? You probably wouldn't want to live in a crime-ridden neighborhood by choice.

That's why sometimes people might find themselves residing in what Forbes dubbed one of the least safe cities in the country.

Does your city pop up on the list? The top 10 cities are:

  • Detroit, Michigan
  • Memphis, Tennessee
  • Springfield, Illinois
  • Flint, Michigan
  • Anchorage, Alaska
  • Lubbock, Texas
  • Stockton, California
  • Tallahassee, Florida
  • Las Vegas-Paradise, Nevada
  • Rockford, Illinois

Forbes utilized FBI's uniform crime report to compile their list. The magazine analyzed crime data in the region. They also limited the cities to those that had populations of at least 200,000.

Several of the cities on the list have a few things in common. Some suffered from higher crime rates simply because of their geography. Cities close to freeways and interstates saw higher instances of drug trafficking.

Other cities faced economic issues. Metropolitan areas with high rates of poverty and low employment rates had higher rates of crime.

If you are concerned about the safety of your neighborhood, there are precautions you could take. Check your city's crime statistics to see if violent crimes occurred in the vicinity of your home. Also, remain vigilant. Living in one of the "least safe cities" in America does not necessarily mean you will become a victim of a crime.

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