Special Report
The Town Where Crime is Soaring in Every State
Published:
Last Updated:
During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. violent crime rate rose to its highest level in a decade. The increase was driven by a rise in aggravated assault and, most notably, a historic 29% surge in homicides that made 2020 the deadliest year in the United States since the mid-1990s.
Violent crime is a broad category of offenses that includes rаpe, robbery, aggravated assault, and murder. All told, more than 1.3 million violent crimes were reported in the U.S. – or 399 for every 100,000 people – in 2020, an increase of 18 incidents per 100,000 people from the previous year.
The increase in violent crime was not uniform across the country, however. In the vast majority of states, there is at least one town where the surge in criminal violence surpassed the national increase.
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the town in every state where crime is rising fastest. Towns are ranked by the year-over-year change in violent crimes reported for every 100,000 residents. Only places with populations between 2,500 and 25,000 were considered.
Surges in violence in American towns came during a tumultuous year. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools and left millions of Americans out of work. Footage of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer rattled confidence in American law enforcement and sparked nationwide protests. Firearms sales soared, and millions of new guns proliferated across communities nationwide. Here is a look at the states buying the most guns.
It is important to note that in Maryland, no town with available data reported an uptick in violent crime. Additionally, in four other states – Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania – there were no qualifying towns with available crime data. All but eight towns on this list have a higher violent crime rate than the comparable statewide rate, and most have a higher violent crime rate than the U.S. as a whole.
Click here for the town in every state where crime is soaring
Click here for our detailed methodology
Alabama: No eligible towns
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: N/A (Alabama: -51.1)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: N/A (Alabama: 22,322)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: N/A (Alabama: 24,769)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: N/A (Alabama: 453.6)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: N/A (Alabama: 504.7)
> Population: N/A
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 0
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Alaska: Nome
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +1,460.8 (Alaska: -27.2)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 164 (Alaska: 6,126)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 107 (Alaska: 6,346)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 4,205.1 (Alaska: 837.8)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,744.3 (Alaska: 865.0)
> Population: 3,850
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 16
Arizona: Williams
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +545.4 (Arizona: +37.7)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 44 (Arizona: 35,980)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 26 (Arizona: 32,603)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,345.2 (Arizona: 484.8)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 799.8 (Arizona: 447.1)
> Population: 3,176
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 22
Arkansas: Lonoke
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +752.2 (Arkansas: +91.1)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 53 (Arkansas: 20,363)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 22 (Arkansas: 17,547)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,268.5 (Arkansas: 671.9)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 516.3 (Arkansas: 580.8)
> Population: 4,238
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 84
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California: Crescent City
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +805.8 (California: -0.0)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 77 (California: 174,026)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 23 (California: 174,341)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,148.2 (California: 442.0)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 342.5 (California: 442.1)
> Population: 6,676
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 163
Colorado: Mead
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +225.1 (Colorado: +38.4)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 15 (Colorado: 24,570)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 4 (Colorado: 22,149)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 306.3 (Colorado: 423.1)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 81.2 (Colorado: 384.6)
> Population: 4,631
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 54
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Connecticut: Groton
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +81.1 (Connecticut: -3.0)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 23 (Connecticut: 6,459)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 16 (Connecticut: 6,583)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 259.6 (Connecticut: 181.6)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 178.4 (Connecticut: 184.6)
> Population: 9,030
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 10
Delaware: Elsmere
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +311.2 (Delaware: +9.2)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 29 (Delaware: 4,262)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 11 (Delaware: 4,128)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 495.6 (Delaware: 431.9)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 184.5 (Delaware: 422.7)
> Population: 5,943
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 15
Florida: Marianna
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +723.7 (Florida: +5.4)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 93 (Florida: 83,368)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 65 (Florida: 81,291)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,647.8 (Florida: 383.6)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 924.1 (Florida: 378.2)
> Population: 6,923
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 144
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Georgia: No eligible towns
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: N/A (Georgia: +73.9)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: N/A (Georgia: 42,850)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: N/A (Georgia: 34,666)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: N/A (Georgia: 400.1)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: N/A (Georgia: 326.2)
> Population: N/A
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 0
Hawaii: No eligible towns
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: N/A (Hawaii: -10.4)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: N/A (Hawaii: 3,576)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: N/A (Hawaii: 3,745)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: N/A (Hawaii: 254.2)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: N/A (Hawaii: 264.5)
> Population: N/A
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 0
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Idaho: Bonners Ferry
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +414.1 (Idaho: +10.0)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 12 (Idaho: 4,432)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 1 (Idaho: 4,162)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 452.5 (Idaho: 242.6)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 38.4 (Idaho: 232.6)
> Population: 2,594
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 28
24/7 Wall St.
Illinois: Havana
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +459.9 (Illinois: +10.7)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 45 (Illinois: 53,612)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 32 (Illinois: 52,601)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,523.4 (Illinois: 425.9)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,063.5 (Illinois: 415.3)
> Population: 3,197
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 225
Indiana: Columbia City
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +138.9 (Indiana: -13.8)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 25 (Indiana: 24,161)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 12 (Indiana: 25,006)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 269.3 (Indiana: 357.7)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 130.4 (Indiana: 371.5)
> Population: 9,116
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 17
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Iowa: Carlisle
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +552.6 (Iowa: +15.9)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 31 (Iowa: 9,601)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 7 (Iowa: 9,086)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 714.1 (Iowa: 303.5)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 161.5 (Iowa: 287.6)
> Population: 4,162
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 72
Kansas: Larned
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +287.1 (Kansas: +19.5)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 25 (Kansas: 12,385)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 15 (Kansas: 11,811)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 688.3 (Kansas: 425.0)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 401.2 (Kansas: 405.5)
> Population: 3,813
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 58
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Kentucky: Eminence
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +270.2 (Kentucky: +38.4)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 8 (Kentucky: 11,600)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 1 (Kentucky: 9,872)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 308.8 (Kentucky: 259.1)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 38.6 (Kentucky: 220.7)
> Population: 2,553
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 98
Louisiana: Port Allen
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +1,057.2 (Louisiana: +79.7)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 81 (Louisiana: 29,704)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 33 (Louisiana: 26,072)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,725.2 (Louisiana: 639.4)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 668.0 (Louisiana: 559.7)
> Population: 4,958
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 30
Maine: Fort Fairfield
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +153.2 (Maine: -7.5)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 6 (Maine: 1,466)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 1 (Maine: 1,562)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 183.9 (Maine: 108.6)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 30.7 (Maine: 116.1)
> Population: 3,320
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 43
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Maryland: No town where violent crime increased
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: N/A (Maryland: -54.5)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: N/A (Maryland: 24,215)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: N/A (Maryland: 27,511)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: N/A (Maryland: 399.9)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: N/A (Maryland: 454.4)
> Population: N/A
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 2
Massachusetts: Edgartown
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +296.0 (Massachusetts: -19.9)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 33 (Massachusetts: 21,288)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 20 (Massachusetts: 22,662)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 754.5 (Massachusetts: 308.8)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 458.5 (Massachusetts: 328.7)
> Population: 4,320
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 59
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Michigan: Benton Harbor
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +1,254.0 (Michigan: +39.4)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 310 (Michigan: 47,641)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 190 (Michigan: 43,793)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 3,192.6 (Michigan: 478.0)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,938.6 (Michigan: 438.6)
> Population: 9,843
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 170
Minnesota: Spring Lake Park
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +244.2 (Minnesota: +40.0)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 36 (Minnesota: 15,698)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 19 (Minnesota: 13,395)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 515.9 (Minnesota: 277.5)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 271.7 (Minnesota: 237.5)
> Population: 6,535
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 51
Mississippi: West Point
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +149.6 (Mississippi: +30.0)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 54 (Mississippi: 8,638)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 39 (Mississippi: 7,779)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 523.6 (Mississippi: 291.2)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 373.9 (Mississippi: 261.2)
> Population: 10,626
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 8
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Missouri: Harrisonville
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +258.2 (Missouri: +43.1)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 54 (Missouri: 33,385)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 28 (Missouri: 30,680)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 535.6 (Missouri: 542.7)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 277.4 (Missouri: 499.6)
> Population: 10,043
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 34
Montana: Wolf Point
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +260.9 (Montana: +51.9)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 33 (Montana: 5,077)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 26 (Montana: 4,472)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,202.6 (Montana: 469.8)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 941.7 (Montana: 417.9)
> Population: 2,774
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 15
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Nebraska: Valentine
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +227.6 (Nebraska: +29.5)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 15 (Nebraska: 6,473)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 9 (Nebraska: 5,887)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 554.7 (Nebraska: 334.1)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 327.2 (Nebraska: 304.6)
> Population: 2,760
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 28
Nevada: Winnemucca
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +257.1 (Nevada: -35.8)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 28 (Nevada: 14,445)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 8 (Nevada: 15,334)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 359.6 (Nevada: 460.3)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 102.6 (Nevada: 496.1)
> Population: 7,762
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 3
New Hampshire: Hinsdale
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +154.0 (New Hampshire: -11.8)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 11 (New Hampshire: 2,000)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 5 (New Hampshire: 2,152)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 282.6 (New Hampshire: 146.4)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 128.6 (New Hampshire: 158.1)
> Population: 3,911
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 43
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New Jersey: Seaside Heights
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +820.6 (New Jersey: -11.4)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 36 (New Jersey: 17,353)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 12 (New Jersey: 18,382)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,234.1 (New Jersey: 195.4)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 413.5 (New Jersey: 206.7)
> Population: 2,892
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 210
New Mexico: Taos
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +205.3 (New Mexico: -45.8)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 31 (New Mexico: 16,393)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 19 (New Mexico: 17,302)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 523.9 (New Mexico: 778.3)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 318.6 (New Mexico: 824.0)
> Population: 5,967
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 2
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New York: Oneida
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +240.2 (New York: +2.8)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 67 (New York: 70,339)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 41 (New York: 70,260)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 617.6 (New York: 363.8)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 377.4 (New York: 361.0)
> Population: 10,948
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 34
North Carolina: Laurinburg
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +712.8 (North Carolina: +40.6)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 266 (North Carolina: 44,451)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 160 (North Carolina: 39,773)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,784.6 (North Carolina: 419.3)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,071.8 (North Carolina: 378.7)
> Population: 15,119
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 93
North Dakota: Wahpeton
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +168.7 (North Dakota: +27.6)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 28 (North Dakota: 2,518)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 15 (North Dakota: 2,302)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 362.2 (North Dakota: 329.0)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 193.5 (North Dakota: 301.4)
> Population: 7,802
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 13
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Ohio: Mount Healthy
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +627.2 (Ohio: +12.8)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 70 (Ohio: 36,104)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 25 (Ohio: 34,618)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,040.3 (Ohio: 308.8)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 413.1 (Ohio: 296.0)
> Population: 6,767
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 159
Oklahoma: Watonga
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +532.6 (Oklahoma: +22.3)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 18 (Oklahoma: 18,255)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 3 (Oklahoma: 17,279)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 638.3 (Oklahoma: 458.6)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 105.7 (Oklahoma: 436.3)
> Population: 2,881
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 102
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Oregon: Gervais
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +285.9 (Oregon: -1.8)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 10 (Oregon: 12,380)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 2 (Oregon: 12,382)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 357.8 (Oregon: 291.9)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 71.9 (Oregon: 293.7)
> Population: 2,713
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 49
Pennsylvania: No eligible towns
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: N/A (Pennsylvania: +83.6)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: N/A (Pennsylvania: 49,793)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: N/A (Pennsylvania: 39,160)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: N/A (Pennsylvania: 389.5)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: N/A (Pennsylvania: 306.0)
> Population: N/A
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 0
Rhode Island: Central Falls
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +33.5 (Rhode Island: +8.1)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 89 (Rhode Island: 2,440)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 82 (Rhode Island: 2,357)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 455.7 (Rhode Island: 230.8)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 422.2 (Rhode Island: 222.7)
> Population: 19,429
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 5
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South Carolina: Bennettsville
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +512.8 (South Carolina: +20.6)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 91 (South Carolina: 27,691)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 53 (South Carolina: 26,307)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,198.8 (South Carolina: 530.7)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 686.0 (South Carolina: 510.1)
> Population: 8,062
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 63
South Dakota: Pierre
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +458.0 (South Dakota: +104.3)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 128 (South Dakota: 4,476)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 65 (South Dakota: 3,523)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 921.7 (South Dakota: 501.4)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 463.7 (South Dakota: 397.1)
> Population: 13,961
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 21
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Tennessee: Bolivar
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +755.1 (Tennessee: +73.8)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 110 (Tennessee: 46,328)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 73 (Tennessee: 40,908)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,248.6 (Tennessee: 672.7)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,493.5 (Tennessee: 598.9)
> Population: 5,031
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 101
Texas: Luling
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +429.4 (Texas: +24.7)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 50 (Texas: 131,084)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 25 (Texas: 122,263)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 844.2 (Texas: 446.5)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 414.8 (Texas: 421.8)
> Population: 5,830
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 214
Utah: Roosevelt
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +248.5 (Utah: +23.8)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 49 (Utah: 8,471)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 30 (Utah: 7,588)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 665.9 (Utah: 260.7)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 417.3 (Utah: 236.9)
> Population: 7,041
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 23
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Vermont: Stowe
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +112.6 (Vermont: -33.8)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 6 (Vermont: 1,081)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 1 (Vermont: 1,293)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 135.0 (Vermont: 173.4)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 22.5 (Vermont: 207.2)
> Population: 4,426
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 29
Virginia: Pearisburg
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +306.0 (Virginia: -0.7)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 10 (Virginia: 17,925)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 2 (Virginia: 17,916)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 381.8 (Virginia: 208.7)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 75.8 (Virginia: 209.4)
> Population: 2,652
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 60
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Washington: Fife
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +623.0 (Washington: -9.6)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 142 (Washington: 22,596)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 78 (Washington: 23,095)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,378.5 (Washington: 293.7)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 755.5 (Washington: 303.3)
> Population: 10,096
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 81
West Virginia: Summersville
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +123.8 (West Virginia: +37.0)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 5 (West Virginia: 6,352)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 1 (West Virginia: 5,725)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 154.2 (West Virginia: 355.9)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 30.4 (West Virginia: 318.9)
> Population: 3,368
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 9
Wisconsin: Waterloo
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +330.3 (Wisconsin: +26.3)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 12 (Wisconsin: 18,861)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 1 (Wisconsin: 17,305)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 360.1 (Wisconsin: 323.4)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 29.9 (Wisconsin: 297.1)
> Population: 3,337
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 122
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Wyoming: Torrington
> 1-yr. change in violent crimes per 100K people: +289.4 (Wyoming: +19.3)
> Violent crimes reported in 2020: 32 (Wyoming: 1,364)
> Violent crimes reported in 2019: 13 (Wyoming: 1,247)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 483.2 (Wyoming: 234.2)
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2019: 193.8 (Wyoming: 215.0)
> Population: 6,675
> No. of towns considered in ranking: 11
Methodology
To determine the towns where crime is rising fastest in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the change in violent crime rate per 100,000 people from the FBI’s 2019 and 2020 Uniform Crime Reports. Violent crime includes murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rаpe, robbery, and aggravated assault.
We defined towns based on population thresholds — having at least 2,500 people and less than 25,000 people — using 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 towns in these states were not excluded from analysis. Because some state and local agencies changed reporting practices between 2019 and 2020, the figures in these areas are not comparable, and these areas were excluded.
Population figures are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. However, these estimates were not used to calculate crime rates. Crime rates per 100,000 people were calculated using population figures provided by the FBI in the 2020 and 2019 UCR.
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The thought of burdening your family with a financial disaster is most Americans’ nightmare. However, recent studies show that over 100 million Americans still don’t have proper life insurance in the event they pass away.
Life insurance can bring peace of mind – ensuring your loved ones are safeguarded against unforeseen expenses and debts. With premiums often lower than expected and a variety of plans tailored to different life stages and health conditions, securing a policy is more accessible than ever.
A quick, no-obligation quote can provide valuable insight into what’s available and what might best suit your family’s needs. Life insurance is a simple step you can take today to help secure peace of mind for your loved ones tomorrow.
Click here to learn how to get a quote in just a few minutes.
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