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 city with the most aggravated assault cases in each state. Cities are ranked by their aggravated assault rate — specifically, the number of reported aggravated assault cases for every 100,000 residents. Only cities with populations of more than 25,000 were considered.
It is important to note that in four states — Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Vermont — there is only one city with available data. In each of these cases, which are noted, the city listed ranks as having the highest assault rate by default only. In Hawaii, there are no eligible cities with available crime data.
Though each of the cities on this list ranks as having the highest aggravated assault rate in its respective state, assault rates in these places vary considerably, from 73 incidents per 100,000 people to 2,583 per 100,000. Still, in the vast majority of the cities on this list, aggravated assault rates exceed the statewide rate. The aggravated assault rate nationwide stands at 280 per 100,000.
Aggravated assault is one of four broad categories of violent crime — along with rаpe, robbery, and homicide — and nearly every city on this list also has a higher overall violent crime rate than the state as a whole.
Click here to see the city with the most assaults in every state
Click here to read our detailed methodology
Alabama: Enterprise*
> Assaults per 100k people: 350.0 (Alabama: 357.1)
> Number of assaults: 100 (Alabama: 17,577)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 448.0 (Alabama: 453.6)
> Poverty rate: 14.8% (Alabama: 16.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 28,569 (Alabama: 4,921,532)
*Because Enterprise is the only eligible city in Alabama, it is the city with the most assaults by default.
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Alaska: Anchorage
> Assaults per 100k people: 816.4 (Alaska: 578.9)
> Number of assaults: 2,338 (Alaska: 4,233)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,212.3 (Alaska: 837.8)
> Poverty rate: 9.0% (Alaska: 10.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 286,388 (Alaska: 731,158)
Arizona: Phoenix
> Assaults per 100k people: 533.2 (Arizona: 350.2)
> Number of assaults: 9,113 (Arizona: 25,993)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 798.5 (Arizona: 484.8)
> Poverty rate: 18.0% (Arizona: 15.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,708,960 (Arizona: 7,421,401)
Arkansas: Pine Bluff
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,564.4 (Arkansas: 535.8)
> Number of assaults: 637 (Arkansas: 16,239)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,832.1 (Arkansas: 671.9)
> Poverty rate: 26.8% (Arkansas: 17.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 40,718 (Arkansas: 3,030,522)
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California: San Bernardino
> Assaults per 100k people: 971.0 (California: 288.7)
> Number of assaults: 2,101 (California: 113,646)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,401.8 (California: 442.0)
> Poverty rate: 26.0% (California: 13.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 216,365 (California: 39,368,078)
Colorado: Pueblo
> Assaults per 100k people: 679.6 (Colorado: 286.9)
> Number of assaults: 768 (Colorado: 16,660)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,045.1 (Colorado: 423.1)
> Poverty rate: 23.5% (Colorado: 10.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 113,002 (Colorado: 5,807,719)
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Connecticut: Hartford
> Assaults per 100k people: 717.9 (Connecticut: 103.8)
> Number of assaults: 874 (Connecticut: 3,692)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 992.2 (Connecticut: 181.6)
> Poverty rate: 28.1% (Connecticut: 9.9%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 121,749 (Connecticut: 3,557,006)
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Delaware: Wilmington
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,121.3 (Delaware: 327.1)
> Number of assaults: 786 (Delaware: 3,228)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,590.6 (Delaware: 431.9)
> Poverty rate: 26.0% (Delaware: 11.8%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 70,100 (Delaware: 986,809)
Florida: Riviera Beach
> Assaults per 100k people: 910.7 (Florida: 280.1)
> Number of assaults: 326 (Florida: 60,871)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,195.6 (Florida: 383.6)
> Poverty rate: 21.9% (Florida: 14.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 35,798 (Florida: 21,733,312)
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Georgia: Albany
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,457.4 (Georgia: 293.8)
> Number of assaults: 1,043 (Georgia: 31,471)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,724.3 (Georgia: 400.1)
> Poverty rate: 30.8% (Georgia: 15.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 71,567 (Georgia: 10,710,017)
Hawaii: No eligible cities
> Assaults per 100k people: N/A (Hawaii: 149.2)
> Number of assaults: N/A (Hawaii: 2,099)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: N/A (Hawaii: 254.2)
> Poverty rate: N/A (Hawaii: 9.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: N/A (Hawaii: 1,407,006)
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Idaho: Twin Falls
> Assaults per 100k people: 420.7 (Idaho: 185.3)
> Number of assaults: 214 (Idaho: 3,385)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 509.1 (Idaho: 242.6)
> Poverty rate: 14.8% (Idaho: 13.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 50,872 (Idaho: 1,826,913)
Illinois: Danville
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,416.8 (Illinois: 278.9)
> Number of assaults: 428 (Illinois: 35,110)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,671.7 (Illinois: 425.9)
> Poverty rate: 29.4% (Illinois: 12.5%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 30,208 (Illinois: 12,587,530)
Indiana: South Bend
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,391.5 (Indiana: 253.0)
> Number of assaults: 1,421 (Indiana: 17,093)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,728.4 (Indiana: 357.7)
> Poverty rate: 23.6% (Indiana: 13.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 102,119 (Indiana: 6,754,953)
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Iowa: Council Bluffs
> Assaults per 100k people: 756.3 (Iowa: 229.4)
> Number of assaults: 470 (Iowa: 7,258)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 923.7 (Iowa: 303.5)
> Poverty rate: 12.8% (Iowa: 11.5%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 62,144 (Iowa: 3,163,561)
Kansas: Leavenworth
> Assaults per 100k people: 646.8 (Kansas: 346.4)
> Number of assaults: 233 (Kansas: 10,094)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 816.1 (Kansas: 425.0)
> Poverty rate: 15.0% (Kansas: 12.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 36,023 (Kansas: 2,913,805)
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Kentucky: Henderson
> Assaults per 100k people: 174.2 (Kentucky: 168.3)
> Number of assaults: 49 (Kentucky: 7,537)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 291.5 (Kentucky: 259.1)
> Poverty rate: 22.7% (Kentucky: 17.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 28,126 (Kentucky: 4,477,251)
Louisiana: Monroe
> Assaults per 100k people: 2,582.8 (Louisiana: 497.0)
> Number of assaults: 1,217 (Louisiana: 23,087)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,969.1 (Louisiana: 639.4)
> Poverty rate: 36.8% (Louisiana: 19.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 47,119 (Louisiana: 4,645,318)
Maine: Lewiston
> Assaults per 100k people: 146.5 (Maine: 58.4)
> Number of assaults: 53 (Maine: 788)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 268.1 (Maine: 108.6)
> Poverty rate: 18.1% (Maine: 11.8%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 36,186 (Maine: 1,350,141)
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Maryland: Bowie*
> Assaults per 100k people: 72.9 (Maryland: 243.7)
> Number of assaults: 43 (Maryland: 14,756)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 103.4 (Maryland: 399.9)
> Poverty rate: 3.2% (Maryland: 9.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 59,008 (Maryland: 6,055,802)
*Because Bowie is the only eligible city in Maryland, it is the city with the most assaults by default.
Massachusetts: Fall River
> Assaults per 100k people: 698.9 (Massachusetts: 235.9)
> Number of assaults: 623 (Massachusetts: 16,262)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 873.9 (Massachusetts: 308.8)
> Poverty rate: 19.7% (Massachusetts: 10.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 89,136 (Massachusetts: 6,893,574)
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Michigan: Saginaw
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,854.8 (Michigan: 365.1)
> Number of assaults: 886 (Michigan: 36,384)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,154.2 (Michigan: 478.0)
> Poverty rate: 34.8% (Michigan: 14.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 47,767 (Michigan: 9,966,555)
Minnesota: Minneapolis
> Assaults per 100k people: 644.2 (Minnesota: 166.5)
> Number of assaults: 2,803 (Minnesota: 9,420)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,154.9 (Minnesota: 277.5)
> Poverty rate: 19.1% (Minnesota: 9.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 435,116 (Minnesota: 5,657,342)
Mississippi: Gulfport
> Assaults per 100k people: 324.4 (Mississippi: 194.0)
> Number of assaults: 234 (Mississippi: 5,756)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 439.4 (Mississippi: 291.2)
> Poverty rate: 26.3% (Mississippi: 20.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 72,142 (Mississippi: 2,966,786)
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Missouri: St. Louis
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,433.5 (Missouri: 413.3)
> Number of assaults: 4,278 (Missouri: 25,426)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,016.3 (Missouri: 542.7)
> Poverty rate: 21.8% (Missouri: 13.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 298,422 (Missouri: 6,151,548)
Montana: Billings
> Assaults per 100k people: 649.1 (Montana: 383.7)
> Number of assaults: 715 (Montana: 4,146)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 852.4 (Montana: 469.8)
> Poverty rate: 10.0% (Montana: 13.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 110,157 (Montana: 1,080,577)
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Nebraska: Omaha
> Assaults per 100k people: 453.9 (Nebraska: 229.3)
> Number of assaults: 2,180 (Nebraska: 4,442)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 631.3 (Nebraska: 334.1)
> Poverty rate: 13.4% (Nebraska: 11.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 480,297 (Nebraska: 1,937,552)
Nevada: Las Vegas
> Assaults per 100k people: 358.1 (Nevada: 306.8)
> Number of assaults: 6,063 (Nevada: 9,629)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 527.7 (Nevada: 460.3)
> Poverty rate: 15.3% (Nevada: 13.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,693,061 (Nevada: 3,138,259)
New Hampshire: Manchester
> Assaults per 100k people: 426.5 (New Hampshire: 85.3)
> Number of assaults: 482 (New Hampshire: 1,166)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 592.8 (New Hampshire: 146.4)
> Poverty rate: 14.1% (New Hampshire: 7.6%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 113,018 (New Hampshire: 1,366,275)
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New Jersey: Trenton
> Assaults per 100k people: 744.2 (New Jersey: 127.9)
> Number of assaults: 617 (New Jersey: 11,363)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,168.8 (New Jersey: 195.4)
> Poverty rate: 28.7% (New Jersey: 10.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 82,909 (New Jersey: 8,882,371)
New Mexico: Albuquerque
> Assaults per 100k people: 994.9 (New Mexico: 615.9)
> Number of assaults: 5,592 (New Mexico: 12,973)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,343.6 (New Mexico: 778.3)
> Poverty rate: 16.9% (New Mexico: 19.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 562,065 (New Mexico: 2,106,319)
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New York: Newburgh
> Assaults per 100k people: 729.7 (New York: 240.7)
> Number of assaults: 205 (New York: 46,538)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,014.4 (New York: 363.8)
> Poverty rate: 25.4% (New York: 14.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 28,095 (New York: 19,336,776)
North Carolina: Goldsboro
> Assaults per 100k people: 992.6 (North Carolina: 314.5)
> Number of assaults: 338 (North Carolina: 33,337)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,165.9 (North Carolina: 419.3)
> Poverty rate: 26.1% (North Carolina: 14.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 34,051 (North Carolina: 10,600,823)
North Dakota: Fargo
> Assaults per 100k people: 322.2 (North Dakota: 253.4)
> Number of assaults: 409 (North Dakota: 1,939)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 460.1 (North Dakota: 329.0)
> Poverty rate: 13.2% (North Dakota: 10.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 126,927 (North Dakota: 765,309)
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Ohio: Cleveland
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,090.7 (Ohio: 191.6)
> Number of assaults: 4,135 (Ohio: 22,406)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,656.7 (Ohio: 308.8)
> Poverty rate: 32.7% (Ohio: 14.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 379,121 (Ohio: 11,693,217)
Oklahoma: Muskogee
> Assaults per 100k people: 995.0 (Oklahoma: 339.3)
> Number of assaults: 367 (Oklahoma: 13,506)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,209.2 (Oklahoma: 458.6)
> Poverty rate: 24.6% (Oklahoma: 15.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 36,884 (Oklahoma: 3,980,783)
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Oregon: Portland
> Assaults per 100k people: 353.4 (Oregon: 200.6)
> Number of assaults: 2,343 (Oregon: 8,510)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 522.7 (Oregon: 291.9)
> Poverty rate: 13.7% (Oregon: 13.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 662,941 (Oregon: 4,241,507)
Pennsylvania: Harrisburg*
> Assaults per 100k people: 542.2 (Pennsylvania: 264.6)
> Number of assaults: 267 (Pennsylvania: 33,828)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 857.0 (Pennsylvania: 389.5)
> Poverty rate: 26.2% (Pennsylvania: 12.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 49,244 (Pennsylvania: 12,783,254)
*Because Harrisburg is the only eligible city in Pennsylvania, it is the city with the most assaults by default.
Rhode Island: Providence
> Assaults per 100k people: 338.0 (Rhode Island: 157.5)
> Number of assaults: 607 (Rhode Island: 1,665)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 486.1 (Rhode Island: 230.8)
> Poverty rate: 25.5% (Rhode Island: 12.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 179,603 (Rhode Island: 1,057,125)
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South Carolina: Florence
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,199.6 (South Carolina: 420.3)
> Number of assaults: 463 (South Carolina: 21,934)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,456.1 (South Carolina: 530.7)
> Poverty rate: 19.1% (South Carolina: 15.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 38,597 (South Carolina: 5,218,040)
South Dakota: Rapid City
> Assaults per 100k people: 570.8 (South Dakota: 399.1)
> Number of assaults: 448 (South Dakota: 3,563)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 857.4 (South Dakota: 501.4)
> Poverty rate: 16.2% (South Dakota: 13.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 78,492 (South Dakota: 892,717)
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Tennessee: Memphis
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,917.1 (Tennessee: 543.2)
> Number of assaults: 12,479 (Tennessee: 37,412)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,352.0 (Tennessee: 672.7)
> Poverty rate: 25.1% (Tennessee: 15.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 650,937 (Tennessee: 6,886,834)
Texas: Beaumont
> Assaults per 100k people: 883.8 (Texas: 302.5)
> Number of assaults: 1,032 (Texas: 88,810)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,225.5 (Texas: 446.5)
> Poverty rate: 18.6% (Texas: 14.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 116,766 (Texas: 29,360,759)
Utah: Salt Lake City
> Assaults per 100k people: 536.1 (Utah: 159.9)
> Number of assaults: 1,084 (Utah: 5,198)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 922.4 (Utah: 260.7)
> Poverty rate: 16.6% (Utah: 9.8%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 202,187 (Utah: 3,249,879)
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Vermont: Burlington*
> Assaults per 100k people: 228.6 (Vermont: 126.7)
> Number of assaults: 98 (Vermont: 790)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 352.3 (Vermont: 173.4)
> Poverty rate: 26.4% (Vermont: 10.9%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 42,862 (Vermont: 623,347)
*Because Burlington is the only eligible city in Vermont, it is the city with the most assaults by default.
Virginia: Portsmouth
> Assaults per 100k people: 621.0 (Virginia: 141.7)
> Number of assaults: 585 (Virginia: 12,175)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 920.3 (Virginia: 208.7)
> Poverty rate: 16.8% (Virginia: 10.6%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 94,205 (Virginia: 8,590,563)
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Washington: Tacoma
> Assaults per 100k people: 575.1 (Washington: 187.6)
> Number of assaults: 1,266 (Washington: 14,435)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 843.2 (Washington: 293.7)
> Poverty rate: 14.6% (Washington: 10.8%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 220,123 (Washington: 7,693,612)
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West Virginia: Wheeling
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,029.7 (West Virginia: 282.1)
> Number of assaults: 270 (West Virginia: 5,034)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,258.5 (West Virginia: 355.9)
> Poverty rate: 13.8% (West Virginia: 17.6%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 26,222 (West Virginia: 1,784,787)
Wisconsin: Milwaukee
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,164.5 (Wisconsin: 230.6)
> Number of assaults: 6,860 (Wisconsin: 13,452)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,596.8 (Wisconsin: 323.4)
> Poverty rate: 25.4% (Wisconsin: 11.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 589,105 (Wisconsin: 5,832,655)
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Wyoming: Cheyenne
> Assaults per 100k people: 278.0 (Wyoming: 162.6)
> Number of assaults: 180 (Wyoming: 947)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 376.8 (Wyoming: 234.2)
> Poverty rate: 10.4% (Wyoming: 11.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 64,751 (Wyoming: 582,328)
Methodology
To determine the city with the most assaults in every state, 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.
We included cities that have more than 25,000 people based on five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. Limited data was available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though these places were not excluded from analysis.
Additional information on the violent crime rate and the population within the jurisdictions reporting figures to the FBI are also from the 2020 FBI UCR. Poverty rates are five-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
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