Crime rates can vary greatly between states in America. Some states have much higher rates of violent crime and property crime than others. When looking at crime statistics across states, it’s clear that some struggle more than others with public safety issues. So which state has the unfortunate distinction of having the most crime?
Measuring Crime Rates
In order to determine which state has the highest crime rate, we need to look at reliable crime data. The most comprehensive source of nationwide crime statistics in the U.S. comes from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. The UCR includes data on violent crimes (homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, arson) as reported to law enforcement agencies across the country.
The UCR calculates crime rates per 100,000 inhabitants in each state. This allows for an equal comparison between states with vastly different populations. The crime rate represents the number of reported crimes per 100,000 residents. A higher crime rate indicates a higher frequency of crime occurring relative to the population size.
Overall Crime Rates
Looking at the most recent full year UCR data (2020), the state with the highest overall crime rate was Alaska. For total property and violent crime combined, Alaska had a rate of 3,698 crimes per 100,000 residents. This is nearly double the national average crime rate of 2,110 per 100,000.
Here are the top 10 states with the highest crime rates:
| State | Total Crime Rate |
|---|---|
| Alaska | 3,698 |
| New Mexico | 3,623 |
| Tennessee | 3,421 |
| Arkansas | 3,419 |
| Louisiana | 3,366 |
| South Carolina | 3,304 |
| Oklahoma | 3,269 |
| Missouri | 3,042 |
| Nevada | 2,982 |
| Arizona | 2,920 |
So Alaska experienced the most crime per capita in 2020, followed by New Mexico, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana to round out the top 5. Each of these states had crime rates well above the national rate.
Violent Crime Rates
Violent crimes are particularly concerning for public safety. These include offenses like murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. When looking specifically at rates of violent crime, Tennessee surpasses Alaska for the top spot.
Here are the top 10 states with the highest violent crime rates:
| State | Violent Crime Rate |
|---|---|
| Tennessee | 649 |
| Alaska | 634 |
| New Mexico | 616 |
| Arkansas | 615 |
| Nevada | 604 |
| Louisiana | 567 |
| Missouri | 566 |
| South Carolina | 515 |
| Delaware | 513 |
| Oklahoma | 510 |
In 2020, Tennessee had the highest violent crime rate at 649 offenses per 100,000 residents. Alaska came in second for violent crime this time, followed by New Mexico, Arkansas, and Nevada. These states stand out for their high rates of serious violent offenses reported to law enforcement.
Property Crime Rates
Property crimes also have a major impact on public safety and quality of life. This category includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. For rates of property crime, New Mexico takes the top spot.
Here are the top 10 states with the highest property crime rates:
| State | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | 3,007 |
| Alaska | 3,064 |
| Oklahoma | 2,759 |
| Arkansas | 2,804 |
| South Carolina | 2,789 |
| Tennessee | 2,772 |
| Nevada | 2,378 |
| Louisiana | 2,799 |
| Missouri | 2,476 |
| Oregon | 2,715 |
New Mexico had the highest property crime rate for 2020, followed by Alaska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and South Carolina. These states had the biggest problems with crimes like burglary and motor vehicle theft.
Reasons for High Crime in These States
So what factors drive the high crime rates in places like Tennessee, New Mexico, Alaska, and Arkansas? Criminologists point to a few key reasons certain states struggle with crime more than others:
Economic Disadvantage
Poverty and lack of economic opportunities are linked to higher crime rates. Many of the states with the highest crime also have some of the lowest incomes and highest poverty rates. Struggling economies and unemployment tend to correlate with increased criminal activity.
Substance Abuse
Drug and alcohol abuse are tied to criminal behavior, especially violent crime and property crime to support addiction. The illegal drug trade also breeds crime. States with widespread substance abuse issues often have correspondingly high crime. Methamphetamine, heroin, and prescription drug abuse are urgent problems in many high-crime states.
Gangs
Organized criminal gangs contribute to violent crime and drug trafficking. States like Tennessee, Alaska, and Missouri have had issues with gang violence in major cities. Gang activity and competition for drug markets can drive violent crime rates upwards.
Incarceration Rates
Many high-crime states also have very high rates of former prisoners returning to communities. Cycles of incarceration, release, and reoffending contribute to more crime. Eastern Tennessee, for example, has struggled with prisons releasing convicts who engage in new criminal behavior.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence represents a significant portion of violent crime in the U.S., especially aggravated assault and murder. Higher rates of domestic violence victimization have been reported among women in states like Alaska, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
Reducing poverty, substance abuse, gang activity, and domestic violence are crucial for improving public safety in America’s most high-crime states. Community investment, youth outreach programs, addiction treatment, reentry services for ex-offenders, domestic violence prevention, and targeted policing can make an impact. But it will take time to reverse troubling violent and property crime trends in these states.
The Lowest Crime States
On the other end of the spectrum, the states with the lowest crime rates include:
| State | Total Crime Rate |
|---|---|
| Maine | 1,362 |
| Vermont | 1,365 |
| New Hampshire | 1,381 |
| Virginia | 1,557 |
| Kentucky | 1,586 |
| Wyoming | 1,588 |
| Idaho | 1,595 |
| Rhode Island | 1,613 |
| Utah | 1,619 |
| Hawaii | 1,655 |
Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire enjoy the lowest crime rates in the U.S., each with rates around half the national average. Other very low crime states include Idaho, Wyoming, Virginia, Kentucky, and Utah.
Interestingly, the states with the lowest violent and property crime rates tend to be more rural, sparsely populated, and located in New England or the Mountain West regions. High-crime states are often concentrated in the South. Geographic, cultural, and demographic factors may contribute to these regional differences in crime levels.
Conclusion
Reviewing national crime statistics makes it clear that some states are far safer than others when it comes to prevalence of violent and property crimes. Tennessee currently has the nation’s highest violent crime rate, while New Mexico leads for property crime rate. Poverty, substance abuse, gang activity, and other socioeconomic factors may be responsible for higher crime in states like Alaska, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Meanwhile, rural states in New England and the West tend to have much lower rates of crime and stronger public safety. Reducing crime across high-risk states will require addressing root causes as well as employing effective policing strategies tailored to local challenges. But the data indicates significant work is needed to control crime in places like Tennessee, New Mexico, and Alaska.