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.
Despite the rise in assault cases nationwide, in many parts of the country, violent assault remains rare.
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 metro areas with the fewest aggravated assault cases. Metropolitan areas are ranked by their aggravated assault rate — specifically, the number of reported aggravated assault cases for every 100,000 residents.
The aggravated assault rate nationwide stands at 280 per 100,000. Among the metro areas on this list, aggravated assault rates are considerably lower and range from 139 reported incidents per 100,000 people down to 35 incidents per 100,000.
Of the four types of violent crime — rаpe, robbery, aggravated assault, and homicide — aggravated assault is by far the most common, accounting for about 70% of the 1.3 million violent offenses reported in 2020. Not surprisingly, in each of the 50 metro areas with the lowest assault rates, the overall violent crime rate is also below the national rate of 399 incidents per 100,000.
Click here to see the metros with the fewest assaults
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Utica-Rome, NY
> Assaults per 100k people: 139.0
> Number of assaults: 399 — 88th lowest of 291 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 224.3 — 58th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 14.2% — 98th highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 287,148 — 128th highest of 291 metros
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49. Richmond, VA
> Assaults per 100k people: 138.8
> Number of assaults: 1,809 — 71st highest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 215.7 — 51st lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 10.0% — 57th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,303,052 — 32nd highest of 291 metros
48. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT
> Assaults per 100k people: 136.5
> Number of assaults: 1,385 — 90th highest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 217.9 — 53rd lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 10.1% — 61st lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,014,700 — 39th highest of 291 metros
47. New Haven-Milford, CT
> Assaults per 100k people: 136.5
> Number of assaults: 1,091 — 112th highest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 256.3 — 80th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.2% — 125th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 799,461 — 56th highest of 291 metros
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46. Elmira, NY
> Assaults per 100k people: 133.6
> Number of assaults: 110 — 13th lowest of 291 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 210.1 — 47th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.9% — 106th highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 82,347 — 10th lowest of 291 metros
45. California-Lexington Park, MD
> Assaults per 100k people: 132.4
> Number of assaults: 151 — 28th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 196.4 — 41st lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 7.3% — 13th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 114,031 — 35th lowest of 291 metros
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44. Oshkosh-Neenah, WI
> Assaults per 100k people: 131.7
> Number of assaults: 227 — 46th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 192.7 — 40th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 10.0% — 56th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 172,301 — 101st lowest of 291 metros
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43. Burlington-South Burlington, VT
> Assaults per 100k people: 129.7
> Number of assaults: 287 — 66th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 198.4 — 42nd lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 11.4% — 101st lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 221,248 — 136th lowest of 291 metros
42. Lewiston, ID-WA
> Assaults per 100k people: 126.1
> Number of assaults: 80 — 4th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 184.4 — 30th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 11.2% — 91st lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 63,436 — 5th lowest of 291 metros
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41. Bend, OR
> Assaults per 100k people: 125.4
> Number of assaults: 253 — 53rd lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 178.5 — 26th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 9.7% — 48th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 201,709 — 123rd lowest of 291 metros
40. Lexington-Fayette, KY
> Assaults per 100k people: 124.6
> Number of assaults: 650 — 141st lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 250.8 — 76th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.3% — 126th highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 521,623 — 80th highest of 291 metros
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39. Punta Gorda, FL
> Assaults per 100k people: 124.0
> Number of assaults: 238 — 50th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 152.2 — 13th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.0% — 119th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 191,879 — 119th lowest of 291 metros
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38. Charlottesville, VA
> Assaults per 100k people: 123.4
> Number of assaults: 272 — 63rd lowest of 291 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 188.3 — 38th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 11.2% — 89th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 220,388 — 135th lowest of 291 metros
37. Mankato, MN
> Assaults per 100k people: 123.4
> Number of assaults: 126 — 18th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 187.0 — 34th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 16.1% — 63rd highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 102,134 — 25th lowest of 291 metros
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36. Eau Claire, WI
> Assaults per 100k people: 122.9
> Number of assaults: 209 — 43rd lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 191.7 — 39th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 9.3% — 46th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 170,028 — 95th lowest of 291 metros
35. Fond du Lac, WI
> Assaults per 100k people: 120.8
> Number of assaults: 125 — 17th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 174.9 — 24th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 6.2% — 5th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 103,517 — 28th lowest of 291 metros
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34. Staunton, VA
> Assaults per 100k people: 120.6
> Number of assaults: 149 — 25th lowest of 291 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 186.9 — 33rd lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 7.3% — 15th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 123,568 — 43rd lowest of 291 metros
33. Appleton, WI
> Assaults per 100k people: 120.4
> Number of assaults: 288 — 67th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 170.6 — 22nd lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 7.2% — 11th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 239,143 — 144th lowest of 291 metros
32. Ocean City, NJ
> Assaults per 100k people: 120.4
> Number of assaults: 110 — 13th lowest of 291 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 168.5 — 21st lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 8.8% — 34th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 91,384 — 16th lowest of 291 metros
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31. Jefferson City, MO
> Assaults per 100k people: 120.3
> Number of assaults: 182 — 37th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 165.9 — 20th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 10.8% — 76th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 151,302 — 78th lowest of 291 metros
30. Sheboygan, WI
> Assaults per 100k people: 119.8
> Number of assaults: 138 — 21st lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 181.4 — 28th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 8.0% — 23rd lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 115,218 — 37th lowest of 291 metros
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29. Norwich-New London, CT
> Assaults per 100k people: 115.6
> Number of assaults: 201 — 40th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 180.1 — 27th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 7.2% — 12th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 173,802 — 103rd lowest of 291 metros
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28. Casper, WY
> Assaults per 100k people: 114.1
> Number of assaults: 92 — 9th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 227.0 — 61st lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 8.6% — 29th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 80,625 — 8th lowest of 291 metros
27. Rochester, MN
> Assaults per 100k people: 114.0
> Number of assaults: 254 — 54th lowest of 291 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 187.6 — 36th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 6.9% — 9th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 222,817 — 138th lowest of 291 metros
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26. Ames, IA
> Assaults per 100k people: 113.7
> Number of assaults: 141 — 22nd lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 183.8 — 29th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 15.6% — 74th highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 124,033 — 48th lowest of 291 metros
25. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
> Assaults per 100k people: 112.9
> Number of assaults: 948 — 121st highest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 200.7 — 43rd lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 7.9% — 21st lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 839,861 — 54th highest of 291 metros
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24. Bellingham, WA
> Assaults per 100k people: 112.6
> Number of assaults: 261 — 58th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 184.7 — 31st lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.9% — 137th highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 231,784 — 141st lowest of 291 metros
23. Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA
> Assaults per 100k people: 112.6
> Number of assaults: 189 — 38th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 186.4 — 32nd lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 22.9% — 6th highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 167,909 — 91st lowest of 291 metros
22. St. George, UT
> Assaults per 100k people: 110.9
> Number of assaults: 202 — 41st lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 161.5 — 17th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 9.8% — 51st lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 182,066 — 113th lowest of 291 metros
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21. Longview, WA
> Assaults per 100k people: 107.9
> Number of assaults: 120 — 15th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 187.1 — 35th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.2% — 127th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 111,183 — 33rd lowest of 291 metros
20. Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
> Assaults per 100k people: 107.4
> Number of assaults: 174 — 33rd lowest of 291 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 135.1 — 7th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.3% — 130th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 162,048 — 87th lowest of 291 metros
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19. Harrisonburg, VA
> Assaults per 100k people: 106.6
> Number of assaults: 145 — 23rd lowest of 291 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 152.2 — 14th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 14.4% — 94th highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 135,962 — 60th lowest of 291 metros
18. Winchester, VA-WV
> Assaults per 100k people: 105.0
> Number of assaults: 149 — 25th lowest of 291 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 150.8 — 12th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 8.6% — 30th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 141,877 — 67th lowest of 291 metros
17. Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
> Assaults per 100k people: 102.9
> Number of assaults: 134 — 19th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 147.5 — 10th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 11.9% — 113th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 130,213 — 54th lowest of 291 metros
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16. Ogden-Clearfield, UT
> Assaults per 100k people: 99.6
> Number of assaults: 689 — 141st highest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 172.9 — 23rd lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 5.6% — 2nd lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 692,112 — 67th highest of 291 metros
15. La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
> Assaults per 100k people: 98.7
> Number of assaults: 135 — 20th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 155.8 — 15th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 11.6% — 106th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 136,752 — 62nd lowest of 291 metros
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14. Lewiston-Auburn, ME
> Assaults per 100k people: 96.6
> Number of assaults: 105 — 12th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 177.6 — 25th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 8.8% — 35th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 108,661 — 31st lowest of 291 metros
13. Albany-Lebanon, OR
> Assaults per 100k people: 94.2
> Number of assaults: 123 — 16th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 149.3 — 11th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.3% — 127th highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 130,611 — 56th lowest of 291 metros
12. Bowling Green, KY
> Assaults per 100k people: 92.0
> Number of assaults: 167 — 30th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 188.0 — 37th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 16.5% — 56th highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 181,430 — 112th lowest of 291 metros
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11. Midland, MI
> Assaults per 100k people: 90.6
> Number of assaults: 75 — 3rd lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 144.9 — 9th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 9.3% — 45th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 82,820 — 12th lowest of 291 metros
10. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> Assaults per 100k people: 87.2
> Number of assaults: 810 — 131st highest of 291 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 163.9 — 18th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 9.1% — 40th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 928,567 — 43rd highest of 291 metros
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9. Kingston, NY
> Assaults per 100k people: 82.4
> Number of assaults: 145 — 23rd lowest of 291 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 139.8 — 8th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 11.9% — 116th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 175,918 — 107th lowest of 291 metros
8. Ithaca, NY
> Assaults per 100k people: 81.7
> Number of assaults: 83 — 5th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 160.5 — 16th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 17.9% — 39th highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 101,580 — 24th lowest of 291 metros
7. Wenatchee, WA
> Assaults per 100k people: 77.5
> Number of assaults: 94 — 10th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 116.2 — 4th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 13.0% — 135th highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 121,320 — 40th lowest of 291 metros
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6. Owensboro, KY
> Assaults per 100k people: 72.6
> Number of assaults: 87 — 7th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 164.4 — 19th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 15.6% — 72nd highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 119,839 — 38th lowest of 291 metros
5. Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY
> Assaults per 100k people: 64.2
> Number of assaults: 99 — 11th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 100.5 — 3rd lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 11.1% — 88th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 154,232 — 83rd lowest of 291 metros
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4. Logan, UT-ID
> Assaults per 100k people: 58.4
> Number of assaults: 84 — 6th lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 118.2 — 5th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 14.7% — 89th highest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 143,828 — 69th lowest of 291 metros
3. Portland-South Portland, ME
> Assaults per 100k people: 50.1
> Number of assaults: 272 — 63rd lowest of 291 metros (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 95.0 — 2nd lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 7.7% — 16th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 542,906 — 78th highest of 291 metros
2. Glens Falls, NY
> Assaults per 100k people: 42.8
> Number of assaults: 53 — the lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 125.9 — 6th lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 10.8% — 79th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 123,934 — 46th lowest of 291 metros
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1. Bangor, ME
> Assaults per 100k people: 35.4
> Number of assaults: 54 — 2nd lowest of 291 metros
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 57.7 — the lowest of 290 metros
> Poverty rate: 12.1% — 124th lowest of 291 metros
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 152,409 — 80th lowest of 291 metros
Methodology
To determine the metro with the fewest 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 was available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though these places were not excluded from analysis. Only metro areas for which the boundaries defined by the FBI match the boundaries as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau were considered.
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 one-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
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