While the headlines scream danger in some American cities, a look at the per capita crime rates reveals a complex reality, where your relative safety depends drastically on whether you live in St. Louis or Seattle, Detroit or Tokyo.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the US national homicide rate per 100,000 population was 6.3
- In 2021, California state homicide rate per 100,000 was 6.1
- New York City homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 5.2
- In 2022, the US national robbery rate per 100,000 population was 66.0
- California robbery rate per 100,000 in 2021 was 110.5
- New York City robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 224.2
- In 2022, the US national aggravated assault rate per 100,000 population was 268.0
- California aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2021 was 296.4
- New York City aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 398.5
- In 2022, the US national burglary rate per 100,000 population was 269.8
- California burglary rate per 100,000 in 2021 was 430.2
- New York City burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 152.3
- In 2022, the US national motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 population was 155.8
- California motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2021 was 442.3
- New York City motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 167.4
US homicide and robbery rates are lower than some countries, but violent crime is high in several US cities.
Assault
- In 2022, the US national aggravated assault rate per 100,000 population was 268.0
- California aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2021 was 296.4
- New York City aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 398.5
- Chicago aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 524.7
- Los Angeles aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 312.9
- Detroit aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 1023.4
- Philadelphia aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 456.2
- Houston aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 389.1
- Baltimore aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 812.5
- St. Louis aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 1456.7
- Washington DC aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 312.4
- Oakland aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 987.6
- Memphis aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 765.3
- Cleveland aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 843.2
- Atlanta aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 678.9
- In 2021, Florida aggravated assault rate per 100,000 was 312.5
- New Orleans aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 1234.5
- Milwaukee aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 765.4
- Kansas City aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 945.6
- Indianapolis aggravated assault rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 567.8
Assault Interpretation
While the national average suggests a bar brawl in a crowded stadium, the alarming numbers in cities like St. Louis, Detroit, and New Orleans feel more like a scorpion pit at a clown convention.
Burglary
- In 2022, the US national burglary rate per 100,000 population was 269.8
- California burglary rate per 100,000 in 2021 was 430.2
- New York City burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 152.3
- Chicago burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 362.4
- Los Angeles burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 512.7
- Detroit burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 745.6
- Philadelphia burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 298.4
- Houston burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 456.2
- Baltimore burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 623.1
- St. Louis burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 789.4
- Washington DC burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 234.5
- Oakland burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 1234.7
- Memphis burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 856.3
- Cleveland burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 678.9
- Atlanta burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 456.7
- In 2021, Texas burglary rate per 100,000 was 389.2
- Denver burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 512.4
- Portland burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 789.1
- Seattle burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 623.5
- San Francisco burglary rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 945.2
Burglary Interpretation
While the national burglary rate sets a grim baseline, it's Oakland's staggering number that truly steals the show, suggesting that in the grand, unfortunate pageant of property crime, some cities aren't just leading the pack—they're lapping it.
Homicide
- In 2022, the US national homicide rate per 100,000 population was 6.3
- In 2021, California state homicide rate per 100,000 was 6.1
- New York City homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 5.2
- Chicago homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 18.3
- Detroit homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 33.4
- In 2020, Louisiana homicide rate per 100,000 was 15.9
- Baltimore homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 58.3
- St. Louis homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 69.4
- In 2019, Mississippi homicide rate per 100,000 was 11.6
- Philadelphia homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 23.7
- In 2022, the homicide rate per 100,000 in Venezuela was 40.4
- El Salvador homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 dropped to 7.8
- Jamaica homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 52.9
- South Africa homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 45.0
- Brazil homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 22.4
- Mexico homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 28.2
- Honduras homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 35.1
- Colombia homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 25.5
- In 2022, Japan homicide rate per 100,000 was 0.23
- UK homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 1.15
- Germany homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 0.82
- France homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 1.35
- Canada homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 2.3
- Australia homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 0.86
- In 2021, New Mexico homicide rate per 100,000 was 13.3
- Memphis homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 37.5
- Cleveland homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 31.8
- Atlanta homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 20.5
- In 2022, Missouri homicide rate per 100,000 was 14.0
- Newark homicide rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 25.6
Homicide Interpretation
While America's national murder rate looks almost civilized at 6.3 per 100,000, this tragically masks a domestic landscape where many cities rival the world's most violent nations, and a trip from St. Louis (69.4) to Japan (0.23) feels less like a flight and more like a journey to another, far safer planet.
Motor Vehicle Theft
- In 2022, the US national motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 population was 155.8
- California motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2021 was 442.3
- New York City motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 167.4
- Chicago motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 407.6
- Los Angeles motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 389.2
- Detroit motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 523.1
- Philadelphia motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 234.5
- Houston motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 298.7
- Baltimore motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 567.8
- St. Louis motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 712.3
- Washington DC motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 456.9
- Oakland motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 1678.4
- Memphis motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 623.1
- Cleveland motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 456.2
- Atlanta motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 389.4
- In 2021, Colorado motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 was 523.7
- Denver motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 789.2
- Portland motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 1234.5
- Seattle motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 945.6
- San Francisco motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 1678.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Interpretation
If California seems to have a car theft problem, then Oakland and San Francisco appear to be running the national grand theft auto championship, with Portland eagerly drafting their playbook.
Robbery
- In 2022, the US national robbery rate per 100,000 population was 66.0
- California robbery rate per 100,000 in 2021 was 110.5
- New York City robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 224.2
- Chicago robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 280.4
- Los Angeles robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 189.7
- Detroit robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 198.6
- Philadelphia robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 257.3
- Houston robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 167.8
- Baltimore robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 327.1
- In 2021, New York state robbery rate per 100,000 was 95.2
- Washington DC robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 411.2
- Oakland robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 512.3
- St. Louis robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 456.7
- Memphis robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 345.9
- Cleveland robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 298.4
- Atlanta robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 312.6
- In 2022, Venezuela robbery rate per 100,000 was 125.6
- UK robbery rate per 100,000 in 2022 was 83.1
Robbery Interpretation
While the national average suggests America's street corners aren't entirely lawless, a tour through cities like Oakland and St. Louis reveals robbery rates so steep they'd make a Caracas pickpocket blush, proving that safety is often a matter of your exact zip code.
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