Behind the calm outlook of certain towns is an underground history of crime and insecurity. Whether you’re picking somewhere for a holiday getaway or you’re looking for a new place to call home, here are 13 small towns you should steer clear of.
Emeryville, California
Emeryville may only have a population of about 12,000 individuals, but it’s considered the most dangerous small town per capita. The only upside to this is that violent crimes are low, and it’s your properties that face most of the danger. Overall, the city has a crime rate of 162 per 1,000 residents, according to NeighborhoodScout.
Glendale, Colorado
Glendale’s crime rates are reportedly 882% higher than the national average. While property crime is 973% higher than national averages, your chances of falling victim to violent crimes in its northwest neighborhoods can be as high as one in 24.
Florida City, Florida
Florida City’s community of 35,000 residents faces a violent crime rate of 64 in 1,000, making the city among the most dangerous to live in. Its Riviera Beach area is particularly dangerous to be around, as murder rates are seven times higher than the national average.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
This city of 39,000 individuals reportedly saw over 2,000 violent crimes and over 5,000 property crimes in 2021 alone. The crimes reportedly cost their victims around $390,000 in total, and, in 2013, only Detroit had a higher crime rate than this small town, according to the Independent.
Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City is a peculiar case, as it’s a common vacation spot for its beaches, boardwalks, and amusement parks. Sadly, it also has one of the highest crime rates, with the properties particularly in danger. While the violent crime rate can be as low as 13 per 1,000, property crime rates are as high as 104 per 1,000 residents.
Monroe, Louisiana
In Monroe, you’re at risk of a crime for every ten people around you. In fact, in 2018, Realtor.com reported the small town to be the most dangerous in America, given its high violent crime rate of 95 per 1,000 residents. A single crime can cost you about $7,700, based on averages.
East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis’s crime rates got so high that it topped the FBI’s list of the 100 most dangerous cities in the U.S., as shared by FOX in 2018. Its devastating state is mostly owed to the prevalence of poverty among its 18,000-strong population—a poverty rate 16% higher than the national average.
Houma, Louisiana
Houma can also get dangerous for you to live in. Its violent crime rate is 1.35 times higher than the Louisiana average and two times higher than the national average, as AreaVibes reports. Property crime rates are even worse, as they can be as high as one in 24.
Darlington, South Carolina
With Darlington, you face violent crime rates that are 2.8 times higher than the South Carolina average. The Darlington Raceway and potato festivals will certainly entertain you, but you could also get robbed if you aren’t careful enough. Over 80% of cities across the U.S. are considered safer than this small town of only 6,000 people.
Benton Harbor, Michigan
Benton Harbor also has a population that has resorted to crime to cope with widespread poverty. With a crime rate of 64 per 1,000 presidents, the small town of 9,100 people recorded 285 cases of assault, 69 robberies, and two murders in 2021 alone.
Globe, Arizona
Globe is an isolated small town located deep in the historic Wild West, and it isn’t hard to see why it can get dangerous here. Most of the crimes residents face here are to their properties, as shoplifting, robberies, and burglaries run rampant. Violent crime rates get as high as 21 per 1,000 people.
Ecorse, Michigan
When it comes to Ecorse, up to 95% of cities across the U.S. may be considered safer. The violent crime rate in its northeastern neighborhoods can be as high as one in 13, while its western neighborhoods have a violent crime rate of one in 25.
Highland Park, Michigan
A crime rate of 54 per 1,000 makes Highland Park scrape in an entry on our list. A staggering 40% of its 9,000 residents fall below the poverty line, making it no surprise that both its violent and property crime rates are higher than the national average.
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