When considering which American cities to avoid for safety, it’s important to base decisions on current, data-driven crime trends, not just reputation.
For example, Memphis, Tennessee, has a violent crime rate of approximately 2,501 incidents per 100,000 people in 2024, according to FBI/UCR data. In Detroit, Michigan, preliminary data by the City of Detroit for 2024 shows 203 homicides, a 19% drop from the 252 in 2023 — the lowest annual total in the city since 1965. Across multiple U.S. cities, including Baltimore, St. Louis, and New Orleans, there have also been significant declines in violent crime throughout 2024 and into early 2025
These numbers illustrate a more complex reality: although crime remains a serious concern in these cities, many are experiencing real progress. Still, their past and current risk levels mean they remain flagged on “safety-avoidance” lists. Below are American cities that pose elevated safety risks, their crime data, and why they remain significant and even attractive in other ways.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis continues to rank among U.S. cities with very high violent crime, particularly in terms of murder. In 2024, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reported a preliminary decline in overall crime compared to 2023, but Memphis still had a homicide rate of about 40.6 per 100,000, based on FBI/UCR data…