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December 6, 2025 Article/Editing: Graphics/Design:

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Ranked: Top 30 U.S. Cities by Homicide Rate

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Key Takeaways

New Orleans has the highest homicide rate among major U.S. cities, at 46 homicides per 100,000 people.

Per capita rates reveal a different picture than total homicides, with some highly populated cities ranking lower despite high absolute numbers.

This visualization highlights the top 30 U.S. cities with the highest homicide rates per 100,000 residents, offering a population-adjusted view that goes beyond raw totals. The data for this visualization comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via USAFacts.

New Orleans and Memphis Lead the Nation

New Orleans tops the list with 46 homicides per 100,000 people, followed closely by Memphis at 41. Both cities consistently rank near the top due to long-term structural challenges, including poverty, strained social services, and persistent violent crime.

RankMajor CityStateHomicides per 100KTotal Homicides

1	New Orleans	LA	46	166
2	Memphis	TN	41	372
3	St. Louis	MO	38	106
4	Baltimore	MD	36	205
5	Washington, DC		36	244
6	Birmingham	AL	28	187
7	Philadelphia	PA	26	402
8	Kansas City	MO	25	182
9	Richmond	VA	23	53
10	Indianapolis	IN	22	211
11	Milwaukee	WI	21	190
12	Louisville	KY	19	146
13	Cleveland	OH	18	220
14	Detroit	MI	17	304
15	Norfolk	VA	17	40
16	Atlanta	GA	16	175
17	Chicago	IL	16	805
18	Jacksonville	FL	15	153
19	Nashville	TN	15	103
20	Dallas	TX	12	319
21	Columbus	OH	12	159
22	Houston	TX	11	540
23	Denver	CO	11	77
24	San Antonio	TX	10	218
25	Cincinnati	OH	10	83
26	New York City (The Bronx)	NY	9	128
27	Rochester	NY	9	69
28	Las Vegas	NV	9	207
29	Portland	OR	9	70
30	Oakland	CA	8	136
31	Oklahoma City	OK	8	66
32	Phoenix	AZ	7	337
33	Pittsburgh	PA	8	98
34	Charlotte	NC	8	90
35	Orlando	FL	7	104
36	Minneapolis	MN	7	88
37	Los Angeles	CA	7	659
38	Miami	FL	7	176
39	Newark	NJ	7	56
40	Virginia Beach	VA	6	29
41	Seattle	WA	6	141
42	Saint Paul	MN	6	33
43	Fort Worth	TX	6	134
44	Buffalo	NY	6	57
45	Tampa	FL	6	90
46	Grand Rapids	MI	6	37
47	Sacramento	CA	5	86
48	Austin	TX	5	71
49	New York City (Brooklyn)	NY	5	130
50	San Francisco	CA	5	41

St. Louis and Baltimore also remain among the highest-rate cities. Together, these cities highlight the concentration of elevated homicide levels in portions of the South and Midwest.

Large Cities Show Lower Rates Despite High Total Homicides

Chicago, for example, recorded more than 800 homicides but ranks 16th with a rate of 16 per 100,000.

Houston, Los Angeles, and New York City boroughs show similar patterns. These cases demonstrate why total homicide numbers can be misleading when comparing risk across cities.

Mid-Sized Cities Also Experience Elevated Rates

Cities like Richmond, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee register rates between 20 and 23 per 100,000, placing them among the top 15 nationally. Although smaller in population, these mid-sized cities face similar drivers of violent crime found in larger metropolitan areas.

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