Violent crime inched up by about 5% in the United States in 2020. The increase was led by a 29% surge in homicides — the largest such increase on record. Not all forms of criminal violence increased in frequency last year, however. Continuing a multi-decade downward trend, the robbery rate declined in the U.S. in 2020 and is now at its lowest level since at least the mid-1980s.
According to the FBI, robbery is a crime in which force or the threat of force or violence is used to take, or attempt to take, anything of value from another person. The largest share of robberies in the United States are committed on streets or sidewalks. Handguns are the most commonly used weapon in robberies, and more often than not, among the cases where a suspect can be identified, the offender and victim are strangers to one another.
Despite the long-term decline in robberies nationwide, there were still nearly a quarter of a million robbery cases reported in the U.S. in 2020, accounting for about 19% of all reported violent crimes — and in some parts of the country, robbery is far more common than average.
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the metro areas with the most robberies. Metropolitan areas are ranked by their robbery rate — specifically, the number of reported robberies for every 100,000 residents.
Among the metro areas on this list, robbery rates range from 86.8 reported incidents per 100,000 people, to as much as 185.4 per 100,000. Nationwide, the robbery rate stands at 73.9 per 100,000. California is home to 10 metro areas on this list, more than any other state, followed by Texas, which is home to seven.
Though robbery is only one of four broad categories of violent crime — along with rаpe, aggravated assault, and homicide — all but a handful of the metro areas on this list also have higher than average overall violent crime rates.
Click here to see the metros with most robberies
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Tulsa, OK
> Robberies per 100k people: 86.8
> Number of robberies: 873 — 38th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 591.5 — 48th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.6% — 117th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,005,482 — 40th highest of 292 metros
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49. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
> Robberies per 100k people: 87.5
> Number of robberies: 2,069 — 19th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 378.3 — 125th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 11.9% — 114th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,364,420 — 17th highest of 292 metros
48. Florence, SC
> Robberies per 100k people: 88.3
> Number of robberies: 181 — 115th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 860.2 — 11th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 16.9% — 52nd highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 205,067 — 125th lowest of 292 metros
47. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
> Robberies per 100k people: 88.9
> Number of robberies: 664 — 43rd highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 938.8 — 9th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.8% — 113th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 747,089 — 62nd highest of 292 metros
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46. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL
> Robberies per 100k people: 88.9
> Number of robberies: 5,529 — 4th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 417.0 — 110th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.5% — 120th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,216,543 — 3rd highest of 292 metros
45. Rockford, IL
> Robberies per 100k people: 89.2
> Number of robberies: 297 — 86th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 770.7 — 16th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 16.1% — 63rd highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 332,940 — 110th highest of 292 metros
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44. Merced, CA
> Robberies per 100k people: 90.9
> Number of robberies: 252 — 97th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 598.6 — 46th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 16.8% — 53rd highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 277,305 — 132nd highest of 292 metros
43. Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
> Robberies per 100k people: 92.0
> Number of robberies: 1,030 — 35th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 378.3 — 126th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.1% — 132nd highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,119,988 — 35th highest of 292 metros
42. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
> Robberies per 100k people: 92.0
> Number of robberies: 4,281 — 6th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 431.1 — 100th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.2% — 126th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,651,426 — 7th highest of 292 metros
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41. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
> Robberies per 100k people: 92.3
> Number of robberies: 2,392 — 11th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 530.6 — 62nd highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.5% — 118th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,591,157 — 15th highest of 292 metros
40. New Haven-Milford, CT
> Robberies per 100k people: 93.2
> Number of robberies: 745 — 40th highest of 292 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 256.3 — 80th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.2% — 125th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 799,461 — 56th highest of 292 metros
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39. Trenton-Princeton, NJ
> Robberies per 100k people: 93.5
> Number of robberies: 343 — 75th highest of 292 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 358.6 — 144th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.8% — 145th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 367,006 — 108th highest of 292 metros
24/7 Wall St.
38. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
> Robberies per 100k people: 93.5
> Number of robberies: 3,767 — 7th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 339.7 — 132nd lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 7.8% — 18th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,030,255 — 9th highest of 292 metros
37. Amarillo, TX
> Robberies per 100k people: 93.7
> Number of robberies: 249 — 98th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 672.6 — 26th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 14.4% — 96th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 265,667 — 140th highest of 292 metros
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36. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
> Robberies per 100k people: 93.8
> Number of robberies: 4,749 — 5th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 464.3 — 86th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.1% — 123rd lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,064,185 — 4th highest of 292 metros
35. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
> Robberies per 100k people: 93.9
> Number of robberies: 2,816 — 8th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 490.4 — 74th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 7.9% — 20th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,998,046 — 12th highest of 292 metros
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34. Odessa, TX
> Robberies per 100k people: 94.5
> Number of robberies: 160 — 122nd highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 697.1 — 22nd highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 10.4% — 69th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 169,268 — 94th lowest of 292 metros
24/7 Wall St.
33. Macon-Bibb County, GA
> Robberies per 100k people: 96.8
> Number of robberies: 222 — 106th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 707.9 — 21st highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 19.2% — 25th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 229,395 — 141st lowest of 292 metros
32. Columbus, OH
> Robberies per 100k people: 99.3
> Number of robberies: 2,131 — 17th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 313.2 — 114th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 11.5% — 104th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,145,231 — 21st highest of 292 metros
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31. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
> Robberies per 100k people: 100.3
> Number of robberies: 2,322 — 13th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 478.7 — 79th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.8% — 146th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,313,970 — 18th highest of 292 metros
30. Albany, GA
> Robberies per 100k people: 103.6
> Number of robberies: 151 — 125th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,008.1 — 6th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 22.6% — 7th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 145,715 — 72nd lowest of 292 metros
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29. Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ
> Robberies per 100k people: 103.6
> Number of robberies: 154 — 124th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 450.2 — 91st highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.2% — 130th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 148,593 — 74th lowest of 292 metros
24/7 Wall St.
28. Springfield, IL
> Robberies per 100k people: 104.7
> Number of robberies: 215 — 108th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 666.5 — 27th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.2% — 128th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 205,389 — 126th lowest of 292 metros
27. Cleveland-Elyria, OH
> Robberies per 100k people: 106.5
> Number of robberies: 2,175 — 16th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 440.6 — 96th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.5% — 121st highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,042,966 — 22nd highest of 292 metros
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26. Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN
> Robberies per 100k people: 106.5
> Number of robberies: 2,097 — 18th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 616.3 — 40th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 10.0% — 55th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,969,367 — 24th highest of 292 metros
25. Modesto, CA
> Robberies per 100k people: 106.9
> Number of robberies: 587 — 51st highest of 292 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 514.0 — 65th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.7% — 144th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 549,195 — 77th highest of 292 metros
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24. Gainesville, FL
> Robberies per 100k people: 107.6
> Number of robberies: 356 — 72nd highest of 292 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 760.3 — 17th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 18.5% — 33rd highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 330,910 — 112th highest of 292 metros
23. Greensboro-High Point, NC
> Robberies per 100k people: 107.7
> Number of robberies: 837 — 39th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 576.2 — 51st highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 16.6% — 55th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 777,379 — 58th highest of 292 metros
22. Tucson, AZ
> Robberies per 100k people: 110.3
> Number of robberies: 1,169 — 31st highest of 292 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 473.5 — 83rd highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.8% — 112th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,060,180 — 38th highest of 292 metros
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21. Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX
> Robberies per 100k people: 110.3
> Number of robberies: 432 — 63rd highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 605.7 — 43rd highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 15.0% — 89th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 391,609 — 102nd highest of 292 metros
20. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
> Robberies per 100k people: 113.9
> Number of robberies: 745 — 40th highest of 292 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 500.4 — 69th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 14.0% — 103rd highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 653,860 — 70th highest of 292 metros
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19. Danville, IL
> Robberies per 100k people: 116.4
> Number of robberies: 87 — 125th lowest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,050.3 — 5th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 16.5% — 58th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 74,737 — 6th lowest of 292 metros
18. Monroe, LA
> Robberies per 100k people: 117.0
> Number of robberies: 233 — 103rd highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,308.5 — 2nd highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 26.0% — 2nd highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 199,081 — 121st lowest of 292 metros
17. Fresno, CA
> Robberies per 100k people: 117.3
> Number of robberies: 1,169 — 31st highest of 292 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 596.7 — 47th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 20.6% — 14th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 996,752 — 41st highest of 292 metros
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16. New Orleans-Metairie, LA
> Robberies per 100k people: 118.0
> Number of robberies: 1,504 — 26th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 624.3 — 39th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 16.4% — 59th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,275,017 — 33rd highest of 292 metros
15. Corpus Christi, TX
> Robberies per 100k people: 118.3
> Number of robberies: 509 — 58th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 738.0 — 18th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 15.6% — 74th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 430,354 — 94th highest of 292 metros
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14. Pueblo, CO
> Robberies per 100k people: 123.5
> Number of robberies: 208 — 110th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 722.2 — 20th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 17.9% — 39th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 168,374 — 92nd lowest of 292 metros
13. Alexandria, LA
> Robberies per 100k people: 125.6
> Number of robberies: 190 — 112th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 967.8 — 8th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 17.6% — 46th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 151,268 — 77th lowest of 292 metros
12. Fairbanks, AK
> Robberies per 100k people: 127.6
> Number of robberies: 42 — 68th lowest of 292 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 841.4 — 12th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 5.9% — 3rd lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 32,922 — the lowest of 292 metros
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11. Vallejo, CA
> Robberies per 100k people: 131.8
> Number of robberies: 589 — 50th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 525.7 — 63rd highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 8.9% — 36th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 447,025 — 90th highest of 292 metros
10. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Robberies per 100k people: 132.5
> Number of robberies: 17,385 — the highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 472.6 — 84th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.4% — 136th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 13,124,616 — the highest of 292 metros
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9. Bakersfield, CA
> Robberies per 100k people: 132.5
> Number of robberies: 1,190 — 30th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 692.3 — 23rd highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 19.1% — 26th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 897,941 — 45th highest of 292 metros
8. Lubbock, TX
> Robberies per 100k people: 136.4
> Number of robberies: 443 — 60th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 919.4 — 10th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 18.3% — 35th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 324,679 — 114th highest of 292 metros
7. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
> Robberies per 100k people: 140.8
> Number of robberies: 2,219 — 14th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 678.2 — 25th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 11.8% — 110th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,575,891 — 28th highest of 292 metros
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6. Stockton, CA
> Robberies per 100k people: 167.8
> Number of robberies: 1,281 — 28th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 722.8 — 19th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.7% — 116th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 763,250 — 60th highest of 292 metros
5. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
> Robberies per 100k people: 167.9
> Number of robberies: 12,057 — 2nd highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 631.8 — 35th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.9% — 142nd highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 7,180,258 — 2nd highest of 292 metros
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4. Albuquerque, NM
> Robberies per 100k people: 171.6
> Number of robberies: 1,585 — 23rd highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,006.4 — 7th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 15.5% — 78th highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 923,729 — 44th highest of 292 metros
3. Memphis, TN-MS-AR
> Robberies per 100k people: 176.8
> Number of robberies: 2,384 — 12th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,358.8 — the highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 15.4% — 81st highest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,348,509 — 31st highest of 292 metros
2. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
> Robberies per 100k people: 178.5
> Number of robberies: 8,440 — 3rd highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 440.1 — 98th highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 8.2% — 25th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,729,308 — 6th highest of 292 metros
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1. Anchorage, AK
> Robberies per 100k people: 185.4
> Number of robberies: 566 — 54th highest of 292 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,171.5 — 3rd highest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 10.0% — 58th lowest of 292 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 305,257 — 122nd highest of 292 metros
To determine the metro areas with the most robberies, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed robbery figures from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report. The rate of robberies 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 metros in these states were not excluded from analysis. Only metro areas for which the boundaries defined by the FBI match the boundaries defined by the U.S. Census Bureau were considered.
Additional information on the violent crime rate is also from the 2020 FBI UCR. Poverty rates are one-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
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