Cases of aggravated assault spiked by 12% in the United States in 2020. The increase, which was the driving force behind the 5% year-over-year uptick in the overall U.S. violent crime rate, pushed the aggravated assault rate to its highest level in over a decade.
According to the FBI, aggravated assault is an unlawful physical attack on one person by another with the purpose of causing severe injury or harm. Aggravated assaults are often carried out using a deadly weapon, such as a knife, handgun, or blunt object. Most cases of aggravated assault are committed in private residences, though a large share also take place on public streets or sidewalks.
Aggravated assault is by far the most commonly reported violent crime in the United States, accounting for about 70% of the 1.3 million violent offenses reported in 2020. Rates of aggravated assault vary across the country, however, and in some places, aggravated assault is far more common than in others.
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most aggravated assault cases. States are ranked by their aggravated assault rate — specifically, the number of reported aggravated assault cases for every 100,000 residents.
Depending on the state, aggravated assault rates range from as low as 58 reported incidents per 100,000 people to as high as 616 per 100,000. Nationwide, the aggravated assault rate stands at 280 per 100,000.
Aggravated assault is one of four broad categories of violent crime — along with rаpe, robbery, and homicide — and states with higher than average aggravated assault rates also often have higher than average overall violent crime rates.
Click here to see the states with the most assault
To determine the state with the most assaults, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed aggravated assault figures from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report. The rate of assaults per 100,000 people was calculated using population data from the FBI.
Limited data were available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though these states were not excluded from analysis.
Additional information on the violent crime rate is also from the 2020 FBI UCR. Poverty rates are one-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
50. Maine
> Assaults per 100k people: 58.4
> Number of assaults: 788 (the lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 108.6 (the lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.9% (19th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,350,141 (9th lowest)
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49. New Hampshire
> Assaults per 100k people: 85.3
> Number of assaults: 1,166 (4th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 146.4 (2nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 7.3% (the lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,366,275 (10th lowest)
48. Connecticut
> Assaults per 100k people: 103.8
> Number of assaults: 3,692 (11th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 181.6 (4th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.0% (12th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,557,006 (22nd lowest)
47. Vermont
> Assaults per 100k people: 126.7
> Number of assaults: 790 (2nd lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 173.4 (3rd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.2% (15th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 623,347 (2nd lowest)
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46. New Jersey
> Assaults per 100k people: 127.9
> Number of assaults: 11,363 (24th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 195.4 (5th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.2% (5th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 8,882,371 (11th highest)
45. Virginia
> Assaults per 100k people: 141.7
> Number of assaults: 12,175 (25th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 208.7 (6th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.9% (11th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 8,590,563 (12th highest)
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44. Hawaii
> Assaults per 100k people: 149.2
> Number of assaults: 2,099 (7th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 254.2 (10th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.3% (6th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,407,006 (11th lowest)
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43. Rhode Island
> Assaults per 100k people: 157.5
> Number of assaults: 1,665 (5th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 230.8 (7th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.8% (18th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,057,125 (7th lowest)
42. Utah
> Assaults per 100k people: 159.9
> Number of assaults: 5,198 (16th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 260.7 (12th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 8.9% (2nd lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,249,879 (21st lowest)
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41. Wyoming
> Assaults per 100k people: 162.6
> Number of assaults: 947 (3rd lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 234.2 (8th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.1% (14th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 582,328 (the lowest)
40. Minnesota
> Assaults per 100k people: 166.5
> Number of assaults: 9,420 (21st lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 277.5 (13th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.0% (3rd lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,657,342 (22nd highest)
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39. Kentucky
> Assaults per 100k people: 168.3
> Number of assaults: 7,537 (19th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 259.1 (11th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 16.3% (4th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,477,251 (25th lowest)
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38. Idaho
> Assaults per 100k people: 185.3
> Number of assaults: 3,385 (9th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 242.6 (9th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.2% (21st lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,826,913 (13th lowest)
37. Washington
> Assaults per 100k people: 187.6
> Number of assaults: 14,435 (22nd highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 293.7 (16th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.8% (9th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 7,693,612 (13th highest)
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36. Ohio
> Assaults per 100k people: 191.6
> Number of assaults: 22,406 (14th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 308.8 (18th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.1% (15th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 11,693,217 (7th highest)
35. Mississippi
> Assaults per 100k people: 194.0
> Number of assaults: 5,756 (17th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 291.2 (14th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 19.6% (the highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,966,786 (17th lowest)
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34. Oregon
> Assaults per 100k people: 200.6
> Number of assaults: 8,510 (20th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 291.9 (15th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.4% (23rd lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,241,507 (24th lowest)
33. Nebraska
> Assaults per 100k people: 229.3
> Number of assaults: 4,442 (14th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 334.1 (22nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.9% (10th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,937,552 (14th lowest)
32. Iowa
> Assaults per 100k people: 229.4
> Number of assaults: 7,258 (18th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 303.5 (17th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.2% (20th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,163,561 (20th lowest)
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31. Wisconsin
> Assaults per 100k people: 230.6
> Number of assaults: 13,452 (24th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 323.4 (20th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.4% (16th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,832,655 (20th highest)
30. Massachusetts
> Assaults per 100k people: 235.9
> Number of assaults: 16,262 (19th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 308.8 (19th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.4% (8th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,893,574 (15th highest)
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29. New York
> Assaults per 100k people: 240.7
> Number of assaults: 46,538 (4th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 363.8 (25th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (16th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 19,336,776 (4th highest)
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28. Maryland
> Assaults per 100k people: 243.7
> Number of assaults: 14,756 (21st highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 399.9 (23rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 9.0% (4th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,055,802 (19th highest)
27. Indiana
> Assaults per 100k people: 253.0
> Number of assaults: 17,093 (17th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 357.7 (24th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.9% (24th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,754,953 (17th highest)
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26. North Dakota
> Assaults per 100k people: 253.4
> Number of assaults: 1,939 (6th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 329.0 (21st lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.6% (17th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 765,309 (4th lowest)
25. Pennsylvania
> Assaults per 100k people: 264.6
> Number of assaults: 33,828 (8th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 389.5 (24th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.0% (22nd highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 12,783,254 (5th highest)
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24. Illinois
> Assaults per 100k people: 278.9
> Number of assaults: 35,110 (7th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 425.9 (18th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.5% (25th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 12,587,530 (6th highest)
23. Florida
> Assaults per 100k people: 280.1
> Number of assaults: 60,871 (3rd highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 383.6 (25th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.7% (19th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 21,733,312 (3rd highest)
22. West Virginia
> Assaults per 100k people: 282.1
> Number of assaults: 5,034 (15th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 355.9 (23rd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 16.0% (6th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,784,787 (12th lowest)
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21. Colorado
> Assaults per 100k people: 286.9
> Number of assaults: 16,660 (18th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 423.1 (20th highest)
> Poverty rate: 9.3% (7th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,807,719 (21st highest)
20. California
> Assaults per 100k people: 288.7
> Number of assaults: 113,646 (the highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 442.0 (16th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.8% (25th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 39,368,078 (the highest)
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19. Georgia
> Assaults per 100k people: 293.8
> Number of assaults: 31,471 (10th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 400.1 (22nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.3% (14th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 10,710,017 (8th highest)
18. Texas
> Assaults per 100k people: 302.5
> Number of assaults: 88,810 (2nd highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 446.5 (15th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.6% (11th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 29,360,759 (2nd highest)
17. Nevada
> Assaults per 100k people: 306.8
> Number of assaults: 9,629 (22nd lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 460.3 (12th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.5% (21st highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,138,259 (19th lowest)
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16. North Carolina
> Assaults per 100k people: 314.5
> Number of assaults: 33,337 (9th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 419.3 (21st highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.6% (12th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 10,600,823 (9th highest)
15. Delaware
> Assaults per 100k people: 327.1
> Number of assaults: 3,228 (8th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 431.9 (17th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.3% (22nd lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 986,809 (6th lowest)
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14. Oklahoma
> Assaults per 100k people: 339.3
> Number of assaults: 13,506 (23rd highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 458.6 (13th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.2% (8th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,980,783 (23rd lowest)
13. Kansas
> Assaults per 100k people: 346.4
> Number of assaults: 10,094 (23rd lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 425.0 (19th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.4% (24th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,913,805 (16th lowest)
12. Arizona
> Assaults per 100k people: 350.2
> Number of assaults: 25,993 (11th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 484.8 (9th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.5% (13th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 7,421,401 (14th highest)
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11. Alabama
> Assaults per 100k people: 357.1
> Number of assaults: 17,577 (16th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 453.6 (14th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.5% (7th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,921,532 (24th highest)
10. Michigan
> Assaults per 100k people: 365.1
> Number of assaults: 36,384 (6th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 478.0 (10th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (17th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 9,966,555 (10th highest)
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9. Montana
> Assaults per 100k people: 383.7
> Number of assaults: 4,146 (12th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 469.8 (11th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.6% (20th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,080,577 (8th lowest)
8. South Dakota
> Assaults per 100k people: 399.1
> Number of assaults: 3,563 (10th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 501.4 (8th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.9% (23rd highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 892,717 (5th lowest)
7. Missouri
> Assaults per 100k people: 413.3
> Number of assaults: 25,426 (12th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 542.7 (6th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.9% (18th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,151,548 (18th highest)
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6. South Carolina
> Assaults per 100k people: 420.3
> Number of assaults: 21,934 (15th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 530.7 (7th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.8% (10th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,218,040 (23rd highest)
5. Louisiana
> Assaults per 100k people: 497.0
> Number of assaults: 23,087 (13th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 639.4 (5th highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.0% (2nd highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,645,318 (25th highest)
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4. Arkansas
> Assaults per 100k people: 535.8
> Number of assaults: 16,239 (20th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 671.9 (4th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.2% (5th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,030,522 (18th lowest)
3. Tennessee
> Assaults per 100k people: 543.2
> Number of assaults: 37,412 (5th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 672.7 (3rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.9% (9th highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,886,834 (16th highest)
2. Alaska
> Assaults per 100k people: 578.9
> Number of assaults: 4,233 (13th lowest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 837.8 (the highest)
> Poverty rate: 10.1% (13th lowest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 731,158 (3rd lowest)
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1. New Mexico
> Assaults per 100k people: 615.9
> Number of assaults: 12,973 (25th highest)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 778.3 (2nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.2% (3rd highest)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,106,319 (15th lowest)
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