The Most Dangerous Vacation Places In The U.S.

The FBI has broken down data on violent crimes throughout the U.S. Murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault fall into that category. It covers the January to June 2016–2017 time period. The agency has included cities with a population of at least 100,000 residents. It collects these data through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, which includes the number of reported offenses. 

Los Angeles, California

The violent crime rate in L.A., a city with a population of over 4 million people, remained fairly the same in 2017 compared to 2016 – just over 14,000.  There was a slight increase in the number of robberies and property crimes, which went up from 48,381 to 20,122.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago, where more than 2.7 million people live, is getting more violent due to increases in property crime, larceny and car thefts. The rates for murder and rape have remained the same.  The Windy City is also on the list of the U.S. cities with the worst traffic.

Baltimore, Maryland

While the city is said to be going through a renaissance, and it makes for a weekend trip that won't break the bank, it'd be best to be careful when you vacation there. The violent crime rate has increase in every category but property crime. The number of robberies and aggravated assault spikes more than other crimes.

Las Vegas, Nevada

The violent crime rate in the Sin City, where about 1.6 million people reside, has significantly decreased from 7,174 to 4,906. There were notably fewer robberies and cases of aggravated assault. However, the numbers of property crimes, burglary and theft went up. You may want to consider vacationing in Vegas' backyard next time.

New York City, New York

The city of more than 8.5 million people has made progress in decreasing its violent crime. Numbers are down in every category, some more than others. Most notably, the rates for larceny and property crime have gone down by about 2,000 in the January to June 2016-2017 period. If you choose to vacation in the Big Apple, here is what to avoid doing.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The violent crime rate in the City of Brotherly Love has remained fairly the same, increasing in some categories such as murder and arson but decreasing in others like rape and car theft. Philadelphia also made the list of the most dangerous cities for pedestrians.

Memphis, Tennessee

The city of 656,000 people has gotten worse. Its violent crime has increase due to a growing number of rapes, aggravated assault and property crime. The number of murders, however, has gone down from 98 to 87. In 2015 the FBI ranked Memphis as the 3rd most dangerous city in the nation.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee is the most dangerous city in Wisconsin. The violent crime rate in Brew City has not moved much, up or down, in the period between January 2016 and June 2017. The number of murders is the same, and the numbers for rape and robbery have decreased slightly. Aggravated assault, thought is up.

Nashville, Tennessee

The violent crime rate has increased from 3,596 to 3,754. Overall this is not a huge difference, but this is not the case if you break it down by categories. Murders are up from 34 to 54 and car thefts are up from 725 to 1,306. Nashville also made the list of the worst cities for mosquitoes in the U.S.

Kansas City, Missouri

The only category of violent crime that has gone down in Kansas City is rape, and not by a lot – from 199 to 195. Larceny and theft are up significantly, and murder too, some might say – from 51 to 66. There is also a slight increase in the number robberies and cases of aggravated assault.

Washington, D.C.

The nation's capital, on the other hand, has marked an increase in only one category – larceny-theft. The number of cases went up from 12,121 to 12,230. Murders are down from 62 to 55, and the number of rapes has decreased from 256 to 227. The changes in the other categories are not huge either. On a side not, D.C. is also on the list of the most haunted cities in the U.S.

Oakland, California

Not all areas of Oakland are dangerous, but shootings have become a trend. Arson, burglary, murder, robbery, sex crimes and drug/alcohol violations are common. There is a decrease in the overall violent crime rate but an increase in the numbers of rape, murder, property crime, and larceny.

San Diego, California

While San Diego remains a dangerous city, the violent crime rate has gone down in every category. Even though it's not by a lot it is an improvement. There aren't a lot of murders in the city of 1.4 million people, but the number has gone down – from 24 to 17. San Diego can be dangerous in a thrilling kind of way – it's a great place from swimming with sharks.

San Francisco, California

The Golden City has moved in the opposite direction. Crime is up in every category, most notably in property crime and larceny-theft. There are about 5,000 more cases of each of these crimes. The only category with a decrease, and a very slight one, is aggravated assault – from 1,309 to 1,249.

Stockton, California

The city of 308,000 people has a total of 2,120 reported violent crimes between January and June 2017, just 36 fewer than the same period in the previous period. There were fewer murders, but more rapes. The number of robberies stayed exactly the same – 578.

Denver, Colorado

The city of almost 700,000 people had more murders, rapes, aggravated assault, and arson in the first six months of 2017, but not too many more. On the other hand, there was a decrease, but not a big one, in the number of robberies, property crimes, burglaries. On the bright side, Denver made the list of cities with the best and safest drinking water in the U.S.

Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville hasn't made much progress in reducing violent crime. The overall rate went from 2,758 to 2,696. Every category has more or less the same number of crimes. Jacksonville, which has a population of just over 880,000, is also on the list of the most dangerous cities for pedestrians with a fatality rate of 3.40.

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta has made a huge progress in certain categories. The number of robberies has almost halved; there was a big decrease also in the number of burglaries and car thefts. The instances of aggravated assault have remained the same. Also, Atlanta is ranked among the most pet-friendly cities in America, but the worst for mosquitoes.

Louisville-Metro, Kentucky

Perhaps no surprise here, but Louisville-Metro, the most populous city in the state with 683,000 residents, is also the most dangerous with 2,170 violent crimes committed in the January – June 2017 period – 73 were murdered, another 73 were rapes, 655 people were robbed, and 1,369 cases were aggravated assaults. A total of 13,473 property crimes were committed.

New Orleans, Louisiana

The violent crime rate in Nola has increased slightly. There were more murders, cases of aggravated assault, property crimes, larceny and car thefts. If you decide to vacation there – it is an amazing city, for sure – here are what mistakes not to make and what to do besides eating and drinking.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

People may not be surprised to see that the most populous city (416,751 people) in Minnesota is also its most dangerous with 2,237 violent crimes reported in the first six months of 2017, 16 of which were murders and 259 were rape. The city however is on the list of best cities for active lifestyle.

St. Louis, Missouri

This is one of the most stressed cities in the U.S. It has the highest crime rate per capita. The city of almost 315,000 people has 92 reported murders, slightly more than the 88 reported between January and June of 2016. There were slightly fewer rapes and robberies though.

Cleveland, Ohio

No real surprises in the ranking here – the city of 386,000 people, the second most populous in the state, had 2,672 violent crimes, just 46 of which were murders. Most were aggravated assaults and robberies, the latter of which went up.

Columbus, Ohio

The city of 862,515 people saw a slight decrease in its violent crime rate. There were more murders, but fewer rapes. It's interesting to note that there were even fewer cases of aggravated assault – 708 – than robberies – 906. On a side note, Columbus on our list of most underrated cities in America.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Almost nothing changed in the city, which has almost 642,000 residents, in terms of violent crimes – fairly the same number of murders, rape, robberies and aggravated assault. The biggest reduction was in the instances of larceny-theft – from 8,381 to 7,631. Oklahoma City also ranks among the worst cities for people with spring allergies.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Things haven't changed much for Tulsa either. The overall violent crime rate is the same; There were a few more murders and robberies but fewer rapes and burglaries. The difference, however, is in single or double digits. The second largest city in Oklahoma has some of the best and safest drinking water in America.

Seattle, Washington

The city of 700,000 people saw 2,183 violent crimes between January and June of 2017, but only nine of them were murders. There were, however, more rapes, cases of aggravated assault and arson. For where to go in Washington state except Seattle, click here.