There were 16,425 murders in the United States in 2019, according to the FBI’s most recent statistics.
While violent crime decreased 0.5% overall from the year prior across the country — thanks largely to a decrease in cases of both rape (-0.5%) and robbery (-4.7%) — murders increased by 0.3% from 2018, as did aggravated assaults, by 1.3%.
Statistically, 16,425 murders translates to five for every 100,000 people living in the United States. The FBI figure is drawn from police department numbers across the country, and doesn’t include attempted murders, deaths due to negligence, suicides, or accidents. Nor does it count “justified” homicides — those “determined through law enforcement investigation to be justifiable.” These include, as the FBI phrases it, “the killing of a felon by a peace officer in the line of duty” and “the killing of a felon, during the commission of a felony, by a private citizen.”
The FBI report shows that some parts of the United States are more deadly than others. Some 48.7% of murders reported in 2019 occurred in the South, compared to the Midwest (19.3%), the West (19.3%), and the Northeast (11.2%). (These are America’s 50 most dangerous cities.)
While the cities listed here may have seen their murder rates increase in 2019, please keep in mind that many of them have shown a decrease in violent crime as a whole. On the other hand, these are 25 cities where crime is soaring.
Click here to see 25 cities where murders are on the rise.
25. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 110.0%
> Murders in 2014: 2.0 per 100,000 (12)
> Murders in 2019: 4.2 per 100,000 (28)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: -30.8%
[in-text-ad]
24. Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 110.0%
> Murders in 2014: 1.0 per 100,000 (4)
> Murders in 2019: 2.1 per 100,000 (8)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 3.1%
24/7 Wall St.
23. Albuquerque, New Mexico
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 110.4%
> Murders in 2014: 4.8 per 100,000 (43)
> Murders in 2019: 10.1 per 100,000 (93)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 40.9%
22. The Villages, Florida
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 111.1%
> Murders in 2014: 1.8 per 100,000 (2)
> Murders in 2019: 3.8 per 100,000 (5)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: -1.1%
[in-text-ad-2]
21. Greensboro-High Point, North Carolina
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 120.5%
> Murders in 2014: 4.4 per 100,000 (33)
> Murders in 2019: 9.7 per 100,000 (75)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 65.2%
20. Worcester, MA-CT
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 122.2%
> Murders in 2014: 0.9 per 100,000 (8)
> Murders in 2019: 2.0 per 100,000 (17)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: -26.3%
[in-text-ad]
19. Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 123.3%
> Murders in 2014: 4.3 per 100,000 (9)
> Murders in 2019: 9.6 per 100,000 (20)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 54.6%
24/7 Wall St.
18. El Centro, California
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 129.4%
> Murders in 2014: 1.7 per 100,000 (3)
> Murders in 2019: 3.9 per 100,000 (7)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 0.0%
17. Niles, Michigan
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 153.8%
> Murders in 2014: 1.3 per 100,000 (2)
> Murders in 2019: 3.3 per 100,000 (5)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 28.9%
[in-text-ad-2]
16. Roanoke, Virginia
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 159.1%
> Murders in 2014: 2.2 per 100,000 (7)
> Murders in 2019: 5.7 per 100,000 (18)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 17.9%
15. Anchorage, Alaska
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 170.7%
> Murders in 2014: 4.1 per 100,000 (13)
> Murders in 2019: 11.1 per 100,000 (34)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 41.6%
[in-text-ad]
14. Yakima, Washington
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 171.4%
> Murders in 2014: 2.8 per 100,000 (7)
> Murders in 2019: 7.6 per 100,000 (19)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 15.0%
13. Yuma, Arizona
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 187.2%
> Murders in 2014: 3.9 per 100,000 (8)
> Murders in 2019: 11.2 per 100,000 (24)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: -25.4%
12. Grand Junction, Colorado
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 195.0%
> Murders in 2014: 2.0 per 100,000 (3)
> Murders in 2019: 5.9 per 100,000 (9)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: -18.8%
[in-text-ad-2]
11. Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 206.7%
> Murders in 2014: 1.5 per 100,000 (4)
> Murders in 2019: 4.6 per 100,000 (13)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: -37.2%
10. Florence, South Carolina
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 213.2%
> Murders in 2014: 5.3 per 100,000 (11)
> Murders in 2019: 16.6 per 100,000 (34)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 57.8%
[in-text-ad]
9. Iowa City, Iowa
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 283.3%
> Murders in 2014: 0.6 per 100,000 (1)
> Murders in 2019: 2.3 per 100,000 (4)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 6.5%
24/7 Wall St.
8. Bellingham, Washington
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 290.0%
> Murders in 2014: 1.0 per 100,000 (2)
> Murders in 2019: 3.9 per 100,000 (9)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 8.5%
7. Burlington, North Carolina
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 336.8%
> Murders in 2014: 1.9 per 100,000 (3)
> Murders in 2019: 8.3 per 100,000 (14)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 9.6%
[in-text-ad-2]
6. Eau Claire, Wisconsin
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 400.0%
> Murders in 2014: 0.6 per 100,000 (1)
> Murders in 2019: 3.0 per 100,000 (5)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 63.3%
5. Yuba City, California
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 425.0%
> Murders in 2014: 1.2 per 100,000 (2)
> Murders in 2019: 6.3 per 100,000 (11)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 2.6%
[in-text-ad]
4. Bowling Green, Kentucky
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 450.0%
> Murders in 2014: 0.6 per 100,000 (1)
> Murders in 2019: 3.3 per 100,000 (6)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: -2.3%
3. Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, Kentucy
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 457.1%
> Murders in 2014: 0.7 per 100,000 (1)
> Murders in 2019: 3.9 per 100,000 (6)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 8.4%
2. Decatur, Illinois
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 488.9%
> Murders in 2014: 1.8 per 100,000 (2)
> Murders in 2019: 10.6 per 100,000 (11)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 14.9%
[in-text-ad-2]
1. Danville, Illinois
> 5-Year Change in Murder: 607.7%
> Murders in 2014: 1.3 per 100,000 (1)
> Murders in 2019: 9.2 per 100,000 (7)
> 5-Year Change in Violent Crime: 58.1%
The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)
Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.
A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.
Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!
By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.
By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
