New data show Memphis, St. Louis, and Detroit are among the most dangerous U.S. cities

Memphis recorded a violent crime rate of 2,501 incidents

Crime statistics are a worry for people living in big American cities. Memphis, Tennessee, recorded a crime rate of 2,501.3 per 100,000 residents in January 2026.

According to a Security.org analysis, this number is nearly six times the national average for the United States. While Memphis leads the nation in violent crime, the city saw a 27% decrease in overall Part I crimes in 2025.

According to the Memphis Police Department, the city recorded fewer than 200 homicides for the first time since 2019. This data confirms that while Memphis is getting safer, it ranks among the most dangerous cities.

Memphis homicides reached a six year low in 2025

The city of Memphis recorded 184 intentional homicides during the full year of 2025. According to an official police report from January 3, 2026, this total is 26% lower than the number of murders from 2024.

Memphis hit an all-time peak of 351 homicides in 2023, showing that the count has dropped 47% in two years. The homicide rate for Memphis was approximately 29 per 100,000 residents in the previous reporting cycle.

These specific figures prove that lethal violence in Memphis reached its lowest point since 2019.

Memphis shooting incidents declined 38% in 2025

Memphis recorded 643 shooting incidents in 2025, a 38% decrease from 1,043 in 2024. According to the Memphis Police Department, nearly 500 fewer residents were injured in shootings during the 2025 calendar year.

Aggravated assaults also fell by 22% during the same 12-month period. In early 2025, the aggravated assault rate was 2,042.1 per 100,000 residents, the highest among all large American cities.

These figures show that while assaults remain very common, the frequency of gunfire is retreating from recent pandemic-era peaks.

Memphis property crime risk reached 1 in 27 residents

Residents of Memphis face a 1 in 27 risk of becoming a property crime victim in 2026. According to Security.org, the city’s property crime rate reached 6,899.0 per 100,000 residents as of January 2026.

Memphis leads all large U.S. cities in larceny-theft with a rate of 4,399.5 per 100,000 people. While violent crime has shown recent declines, motor vehicle theft remains a significant issue for local neighborhoods.

These numbers illustrate that theft and burglary are now the most common safety threats facing families and businesses in Memphis.

Detroit recorded a violent crime rate of 1,781 incidents

Detroit, Michigan, recorded a violent crime rate of 1,781.3 per 100,000 residents in January 2026. According to a Security.org analysis, this rate is more than three times the national average in the United States.

Detroit ranks immediately behind Memphis as the second most dangerous large city for violent crime. According to the Detroit Police Department, overall violent and property crime declined by 10% in 2025.

While Detroit has hit record lows in some categories, the high volume of violence keeps it in the top tier of dangerous metros.

Detroit homicides fell to the lowest level since 1964

Detroit recorded 165 homicides in 2025, which is the lowest murder total for the city in sixty years. According to a city report from January 7, 2026, this represents a 19% decrease from the 203 homicides in 2024.

Detroit once struggled with more than 700 murders annually in the early 1990s, showing a massive decline by 2026. The 2025 homicide rate for Detroit was approximately 31.2 per 100,000 residents.

These specific numerical drops confirm that lethal violence in Detroit has reached a historic turning point, according to the latest data.

Detroit carjackings plummeted 46% in 2025

Carjackings in Detroit fell from 142 in 2024 to 77 in 2025, according to the Detroit Police Department year-end report. This 46% decline was announced by city officials on January 7, 2026.

According to the Black Wall Street Times, carjackings in Detroit have been reduced by 84% since 2015. Nonfatal shooting incidents also fell 26% during the 2025 calendar year, dropping from 603 cases to 447 cases.

These specific statistics prove that high-profile street crimes that defined Detroit for decades are currently at their lowest levels.

Detroit robberies dropped 21% in 2025

Robberies in Detroit decreased from 1,209 incidents in 2024 to 953 incidents in 2025. According to the Detroit Police Department, this 21% reduction was part of a trend where every major crime category declined.

Motor vehicle theft in the city also fell by 23% during the 12 months ending December 31, 2025. According to the 2025 Security.org analysis, Detroit’s total crime rate reached 6,086.6 per 100,000 residents.

These figures show that Detroit is making consistent progress in lowering its overall crime volume across multiple categories.

St. Louis recorded a murder rate of 54 per 100,000 people

St. Louis recorded a violent crime overview: a murder rate of 47 per 100,000 residents in 2025.

According to data from SafeHome.org, this specific rate is the highest recorded for mid-sized cities in the United States. St. Louis also recorded an aggravated assault rate of 1,005.4 per 100,000 residents during the 2025 calendar year.

According to research organizations, these high homicide and lethality rates keep St. Louis in the top tier of most dangerous metros. These figures confirm that St. Louis continues to face severe violence despite seeing recent percentage drops in crime.

St. Louis homicides fell to a 12 year low in 2025

St. Louis recorded 141 homicides during the 2025 calendar year, marking the lowest total for the city since 2013. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s January 13, 2026, report, overall crime declined by 16%.

The homicide rate in the first half of 2025 was 22.2 per 100,000 residents. This 2025 rate was 45% below the peak homicide rate of 40.3 recorded for the city in the year 2020.

These figures confirm that lethal violence in St. Louis reached a significant turning point by the start of 2026.

St. Louis shooting incidents dropped 28% in 2025

Shooting incidents in St. Louis fell by 28% in 2025. According to year-end data released on January 13, 2026, juvenile shooting incidents also declined by 17%.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, juvenile shootings have been cut in half since 2022. Robberies in St. Louis also decreased by 15% year over year.

These specific numerical data points released in January 2026 show that violent gun crime is retreating from neighborhoods that once saw peak violence levels during the last several years.

St. Louis robbery rates fell 58% below peak

The robbery rate in St. Louis was 100.5 per 100,000 residents in early 2025.

According to the Council on Criminal Justice, this rate is 58% lower than the city’s peak robbery rate in 2019. St. Louis has seen a larger reduction in robberies than the average 30% seen in other major cities.

According to the January 13, 2026, police report, overall Part I crime in St. Louis declined 16%. These figures prove that street-level property crime is declining faster in St. Louis than in many other metropolitan areas.

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National homicide rates fell 21% in 2025

The average homicide rate across 35 major U.S. cities fell by 21% from 2024 to 2025. According to a Council on Criminal Justice report from January 22, 2026, this drop represents approximately 922 fewer homicides last year.

Carjacking rates nationwide also declined by 43% in 2025. If this trend continues, the national homicide rate for 2025 could reach the lowest levels observed in the United States since the year 1900.

These data points prove that dangerous city rankings are occurring during a period of historic national safety improvement.

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What do you think cities can do first to reduce violent crime? Share your thoughts below.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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