Lowest to Highest Homicide Rates in America’s Biggest Cities
Regardless of your stance on firearms, one thing is certain: Too many Americans are losing their lives at the hands of them. These are the cities where you’re statistically the least and most likely to become the victim of a homicide.
Collecting the Data
WalletHub ran a study comparing 2023’s quarter two (Q2) homicide rates per capita compared to the rates in the same quarter during the years 2022 and 2021. They gathered the data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Local Crime Statistics, choosing the 40 most populous U.S. cities.
Ranking Homicide Rates
WalletHub determined its rankings based on the number of homicide cases per capita in Q2 2023 and the change in homicide cases per capita in the previous two years. The following rankings are based on the cities with the lowest to highest homicide rates.
1: Austin, Texas
Of the 40 most populated cities in the U.S., Austin ranks best for overall homicide rates. Austin residents basked in lower homicides between Q2 2023 and both Q2 2022 and Q2 2021. That, paired with a relatively low number of homicides per 100,000 residents, gives Austin its coveted number one ranking.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.95
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -1.69
2: Boston, Massachusetts
The jury is still out on how strong of a tie poor education and crime have. But Boston being home to prestigious universities and the second-best homicide rankings for large U.S. cities supports the commonly held correlation between good education and low crime.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.89
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.74
3: Raleigh, North Carolina
The Research Triangle is a place where families and employees can mostly breathe a sigh of safety relief, according to WalletHub’s study. Of course, like most cities, the district one lives and works in makes a difference in the chances of becoming the victim of a homicide.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.65
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -1.08
4: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The home to where the Declaration of Independence was signed hasn’t always been known as one of the safest cities in the U.S. But Philadelphia has made great strides by creating safer streets, ranking it in the top five safest big cities for homicides in the U.S. by WalletHub.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -2.0
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -3.26
5: Sacramento, California
Homicide data suggests criminals are either turning a new, legal page in their careers or rushing out of Sacramento. The city that had historical significance during the California Gold Rush has seen a decrease in homicide rates in Q2 over the past two years studied.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.39
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.19
6: Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville locals are undoubtedly breathing a sigh of relief that their city, the largest city by land area in the contiguous U.S., has seen a significant decrease in homicide rates.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -1.39
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.53
7: Fort Worth, Texas
Western heritage hotspot Fort Worth is no longer such a mecca for homicides, according to WalletHub. Texas’ massive city has experienced a decrease in homicide rates in Q2 for two consecutive years.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.55
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.77
8: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Time to hit the Rocky Mountains. Scenic Colorado Springs is giving tourists-to-be a reason to flock there, clocking in notably lower homicide rates compared to the past two Q2s.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.42
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.84
9: Lincoln, Nebraska
Nebraska’s capital is notorious for being friendly, pairing well with its high ranking as one of the most populated states in the U.S. that has some of the lowest homicide rates.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.35
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.35
10: Tucson, Arizona
Sunny Tucson snags the last top ten spot for being a large city with the best homicide rates in the U.S. Of course, the very best homicide rate is zero.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -1.49
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.74
11: St Paul, Minnesota
Belonging to half of the Twin Cities, St. Paul’s 0% change in homicides doesn’t seem like something to celebrate. However, the city’s low number of homicide cases per capita keeps it from ranking lower on this list.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.0
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 0.0
12: Chandler, Arizona
Modern Chandler joins St. Paul in its 0.0 change in homicides for both Q2 2022 and 2021. It has 0.05 more homicide cases per capita than St. Paul.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.0
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 0.0
13: New York City, New York
The Big Apple’s current 2023 homicide rate isn’t dire, but it’s likely discouraging for law enforcement. NYC saw a reduction in homicides between Q2 2023 and 2022, but it was less than half of the drop that the year prior experienced.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.13
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.29
14: Denver, Colorado
Trendy Denver is looking good on paper in the homicide department, dropping nearly four times as much in Q2 2023 as it did the two years prior. Nevertheless, Denver has more homicide cases per capita than most of the cities listed before it.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -1.13
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.28
15: Nashville, Tennessee
Country music hub Nashville has shown steady decreases in homicide rates in the previous two Q2s. But the city’s higher homicide cases per capita mean that one too many people are losing their lives at the hand of firearms.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.88
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.88
16: Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska’s largest city hasn’t seen a change in homicide rates for the previous two Q2s. Although Anchorage has relatively few homicide cases per capita, it’s not a great sign that law enforcement hasn’t achieved anything to move the needle for the better.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.00
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 0.00
17: San Francisco, California
Tourists eager to visit the Golden Gate Bridge will be happy to know that San Francisco’s homicide rates have decreased in the previous two quarters. However, the changes have been minor compared to several other cities on this list, and San Francisco has a higher-than-comfort number of homicide cases per capita.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.12
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.35
18: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis doesn’t rank as well for homicide rates as its other twin city. So, some people may be inclined to head over to statistically safer land in St. Paul.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.94
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -2.59
19: Los Angeles, California
Hollywood stars and star wannabes may want to take extra precautions in Los Angeles. The City of Angels has shown a decrease in homicide rates two Q2s in a row. But by numbers, the city still experiences many homicides.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.49
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.15
20: Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha ranks in the middle of the pack, and not in a way that law enforcement is likely happy with. The city saw a reduction in homicide rates in Q2 2021, but it experienced the same increase in Q2 2022 compared to the same quarter in 2023.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.41
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.41
21: Phoenix, Arizona
Hot and dry Phoenix has seen Q2 over Q2 improvement in homicide rates. Nevertheless, the city has too high of homicide cases per capita to rank better.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.82
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.06
22: Columbus, Ohio
Ohio’s capital isn’t sitting pretty with its Q2 homicide statistics. A diverse culinary and arts scene can’t make up for Columbus’ jarring increase in homicide rates.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.22
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -1.45
23: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Beachgoers need to use more caution in Virginia Beach than in many other beach cities in the U.S. The renowned tourist destination has seen an increase in Q2 homicide rates two years in a row.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.22
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 0.66
24: Seattle, Washington
Tech hub Seattle’s homicide rates are bleak. Not only are the numbers increasing, but they’re doing so exponentially.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.41
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 0.14
25: Madison, Wisconsin
Tourists may want to head to different water if they’re thinking of touring Madison’s picturesque lakes. Wisconsin’s capital has reported the same high growth in homicide rates for Q2 for two years and counting.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.75
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 0.75
26: Dallas, Texas
You might be better off watching the Dallas Cowboys football team from your TV rather than attending a game in person, according to WalletHub’s data. That said, Dallas experienced a significant decrease in homicide rates between Q2 2023 and Q2 2022, offering residents the hope of a continually safer future.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -1.38
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 0.46
27: Norfolk, Virginia
At first glance, it seems Norfolk should be higher in WalletHub’s rankings. However, the deepwater harbor city has too many homicide cases per capita to help it rank better.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.0
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -1.68
28: Las Vegas, Nevada
Law enforcement efforts are clearly at work in Las Vegas, with the city experiencing a significant decline in homicide rates between Q2 2023 and Q2 2021. However, there was no change in homicide rates between Q2 of 2023 and the year before it.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.0
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -1.10
29: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Home to the annual International Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque attracts visitors from around the globe. While the city’s homicide change rates for Q2 2023 declined, it had a higher-than-comfort number of homicide cases per capita.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -1.24
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 0.0
30: Atlanta, Georgia
Bustling east coast Atlanta’s declining homicide change statistics help it to steer clear of the top ten worst big cities for homicide rates. Unfortunately for residents and visitors, it has the highest homicide cases per capita so far on this list.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -1.22
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.61
31: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is where the cowboys roam, and criminals as well, based on recent homicide data. The city has seen an unmistakable uptick in homicide rates during the past two Q2s.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 1.04
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 0.45
32: New Orleans, Louisiana
The home of Mardi Gras appears to be doing something right with reducing its homicide rates, given its huge plunge between the Q2 periods studied. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have a history of steady declines, and it has a double-digit number of homicide cases per capita.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -3.39
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 0.26
33: Chicago, Illinois
Deep-dish pizza fanatics need to be more careful in Chicago than other big cities, based on WalletHub’s homicide data. The Lake Michigan-based metropolis has a rocky history with safety, and its poor homicide numbers contribute to it.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.18
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.66
34: St. Petersburg, Florida
It’s easy for Florida-goers to want to include St. Petersburg on their itineraries, given its ideal location along the Gulf of Mexico. But rising homicide rates mean tourists and residents alike need to be extra careful.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 1.16
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.39
35: Richmond, Virginia
Packed with history and, apparently, its fair share of criminals, Richmond isn’t among the safest cities in America. Richmond saw a whopping 0% change in homicide rates in the past two Q2s.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.00
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 0.00
36: Detroit, Michigan
Despite Detroit’s high ranking on WalletHub’s list, the automobile hub has shown a promising reduction in homicide rates in the past two Q2s. Nevertheless, Detroit has some of the highest homicide cases per capita of the most populated cities in the U.S.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -0.31
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -1.55
37: Washington, DC
America’s capital is home to the politically most important buildings in the country and a growing homicide problem. Tourists wanting to visit Washington, D.C., should practice heightened awareness to avoid crime.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.44
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 1.32
38: Kansas City, Missouri
Barbecue lovers may need to be extra careful when visiting Kansas City, according to WalletHub’s homicide rate findings. The city’s homicide change rates increased year over year for Q2, though the most recent data shows a relatively smaller jump last year.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 0.60
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 3.98
39: St Louis, Missouri
Despite St. Louis being the second worst city for high homicide rates on this list, it’s showing promise, with negative number changes for Q2 the previous two years. Nevertheless, it has the greatest number of homicide cases per capita of all the top 40 most populous cities in the nation.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: -1.65
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: -0.66
40: Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis wins the unwanted prize for being the American city with the biggest homicide rate problem. Not only does Elvis Presley’s home city suffer from high numbers of homicide cases, but its change in homicide rate has increased at an alarming rate in the past two Q2s.
Q2 2023 to Q2 2022 change: 2.05
Q2 2023 to Q2 2021 change: 0.16
The Bright Side
Although homicide rates in Q1 2023 were 10% higher than in Q1 2021, the rates for Q2 have fallen an average of about 5% across these 40 cities for Q2 2023.
Best vs Worst
From a homicides per capita perspective, St. Louis had the highest number (16.18), and Sacramento (0.19) had the lowest. That’s a more than 84 times difference between the two.
The Political Pull
According to WalletHub’s data, Democrat-majority cities have a greater increase in homicide rates than Republican-majority cities.
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