Most dangerous cities in Texas research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data to determine the most dangerous cities in Texas based on violent and property crimes per capita. Here are the results of our analysis:
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The most dangerous city in Texas is Humble based on the most recent FBI crime data.
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The violent crime rate in Texas is 1,046 per 100k people.
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The property crime rate in Texas is 10,212 per 100k people.
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The safest city in Texas is .
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Texas is the most dangerous state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | References
Everything might be bigger in Texas; but in the state’s most dangerous cities, it’s definitely not better.
Yes, the most dangerous places in Texas are dealing with high unemployment, low wages, lack of rehabilitation programs; and thus, high crime. We’re not talking about driving five miles over the speed limit or not being a Dallas Cowboys fan kind of crime, we’re talking about the type of crime that will get you on Fort Worth’s KXAS at five. And lucky for you, RoadSnacks is here to tell you where the most crime is committed in The Lone Star State: we’ve created a list of the top ten most dangerous places in Texas for 2023.
In order to compile our list, we looked at FBI data for violent crimes and property crimes in Texas cities with a population of 5,000. That left us with 360 cities. We discovered that the state as a whole had 438 violent crimes and 2,562 property crimes reported per 100,00 residents. And while that doesn’t seem like that many for the second largest state in the country in both area and population, it is above the national average; and coincidentally the 15th most dangerous state in the country.
It doesn’t end there folks, Texas has 244 police officers for every 100,000 residents, but they just can’t be everywhere, so bigger cities like Houston and Beaumont are really starting to feel the effects.
Have we piqued your interest? Want to know more about our methodology and where the most dangerous places in Texas are located? Keep reading.
Some might wonder why we produced this list. Well, one goal is to definitely help people navigate these dangerous Texas cities when trying to make an informed decision on what city they should call home.
With that in mind, what’s the most dangerous city in Texas? Without further adieu. the most dangerous city in The Lone Star State for 2023 would be Humble.
If you’re curious to see if your city made the list, take a look at our list below. And if you don’t see your city there, head to the bottom.
Learn more about the safest places in Texas.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
For more Texas reading, check out:
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Texas For 2023
It’s good to be humble, but it’s dangerous to live in Humble, Texas, a city 20 miles north of Houston. While Humble took the top spot on this list thanks to its egregious amount of violent crime, Humble actually has the highest overall crime rate statewide, outstripping the national average by over 300%.
That’s mostly due to a crazy high rate of property crime, with a typical resident facing a 1 in 9 chance of having their possessions damaged or stolen.
Sadly, the bad news doesn’t end there. Humble also has the third highest frequency of rape cases in all of Texas, as well as the highest murder rate of any place on this list. If you need a moment to get away from the anxiety of high crime, the Mercer Botanic Gardens make for a good sanctuary.
/10
Population: 15,579
Rank Last Year: 2 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,046 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 10,212 (Most dangerous)
More on Humble: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Houston, we have a problem: namely, crime. As far as the Houston-Dallas rivalry goes, Houston is the definite loser in terms of criminal activity, seeing as Dallas isn’t even in the top fifty most dangerous cities statewide. Violent crime is the major problem in Houston, with 28,325 cases of people being killed, attacked, or raped in 2021. That adds up to a 1 in 82 chance of being the victim of such a crime — not great.
You can still definitely have a nice day out at Discovery Green, downtown Houston’s public urban park, but we do recommend buddying up after dark. That, and doing your best to avoid Houston’s worst neighborhoods.
/10
Population: 2,339,252
Rank Last Year: 4 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,210 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,105 (11th most dangerous)
More on Houston: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
We’re taking a trip down to the border to reach our third most dangerous city in Texas for 2023, Palmview. Palmview earned this unfortunate distinction by having a mix of high property and violent crime. Overall, the city experienced about twice as much crime as your typical American city in 2021.
The good news first: Palmview has the lowest rate of rape cases anywhere on this list. The bad news is you still have a 1 in 27 of being the victim of a property crime.
If you need to get away from the stress of Palmview’s high crime rate, Bensten-Rio Grande Valley State Park offers some anxiety-reducing bird-watching opportunities.
/10
Population: 5,875
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,429 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,693 (20th most dangerous)
More on Palmview: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
/10
Population: 17,102
Rank Last Year: 66 (Up 62)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 818 (17th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,853 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Stafford: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Located in the South Plains region of northwestern Texas, Lubbock comes in as the fifth most dangerous place to call home in the state. Lubbock experienced 26 murders in 2021, greatly contributing to the city’s status as the place with the seventh highest rate of violent crime in the state.
Property crime is also quite high, with an average of 32 such cases happening every day in Lubbock. So when your parents tell you to be safe before sending you off to Texas Tech University, they’re not just being paranoid.
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Population: 265,990
Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,062 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,668 (21st most dangerous)
More on Lubbock: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
/10
Population: 34,934
Rank Last Year: –
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 687 (25th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,044 (12th most dangerous)
More on Lufkin: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
7. Lufkin,
Population: 35,007
Rank Last Year: 13 (Up 6)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 811 (18th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,490 (23rd most dangerous)
More on Lufkin,:
/10
Population: 16,540
Rank Last Year: 28 (Up 20)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 610 (39th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,874 (Third most dangerous)
More on Addison: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
The next stop on our tour of the most dangerous places in Texas is Beaumont, a city about 85 miles east of Houston. To give you some perspective of just how violent Beaumont is, you have a much greater chance of being attacked by a human being than an alligator in Gator Country. Seriously, there’s a 1 in 94 chance of being assaulted, raped, or killed each year in Beaumont. Yikes.
So while Beaumont might have the lowest property crime rate of any city on this list, we think that a eighth highest place ranking in violent crime makes it a whole lot scarier.
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Population: 115,290
Rank Last Year: 11 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,059 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,315 (34th most dangerous)
More on Beaumont: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Dallas represents one of the country’s largest metropolitan areas. Also, one of its most iconic — in many ways, when people outside of Texas think of the state, their minds turn to Dallas.
Given its size and rich history, the city offers its residents wide ranging amenities. From professional sports teams to botanical gardens to art museums, whatever your taste in recreational activities, you can likely find something to do in Dallas.
However, like most big cities, Dallas also faces down a sizable crime problem. Violent crime represents a particular concern. The city reported 212 murders and 583 sexual assaults in a year. Dallas also faces a high rate of car thefts and robberies.
/10
Population: 1,349,185
Rank Last Year: 10 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 825 (16th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,420 (28th most dangerous)
More on Dallas: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Texas for 2023?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Texas. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Texas, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2021 data, specifically the 2021 Crime In The United States Report for Texas. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2023.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Texas cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 360 cities in Texas.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 360 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Texas — Humble. Any ties went to the smaller city.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Texas FAQs
Yes, Texas is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #11 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in texas ranks 15th highest in the United States — 15.13% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Lone Star State ranks 14th highest in the United States — 14.65% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.
Yes, Houston is a dangerous city. Houston ranks as the #29 most dangerous out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Houston might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, West University is the safest in Houston, while Far North is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Houston ranks 20th highest in America — 128.87% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 39th highest in the United States — 57.35% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
Yes, Texas is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #11 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in texas ranks 15th highest in the United States -- 15.13% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Lone Star State ranks 14th highest in the United States -- 14.65% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.
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Yes, Houston is a dangerous city. Houston ranks as the #29 most dangerous out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Houston might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, West University is the safest in Houston, while Far North is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Houston ranks 20th highest in America -- 128.87% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 39th highest in the United States -- 57.35% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
"}}]}
Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Texas
Summary: Locking It All Up In Texas
So what is the most dangerous city in Texas? After analyzing 360 cities in Texas, Humble takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Texas based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2021.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Humble ranks as the most dangerous city in Texas for 2023.
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Humble and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.
Some might wonder why we produced this list. Well, one goal is to definitely help people navigate these dangerous Texas cities when trying to make an informed decision on what city they should call home.
With that in mind, what’s the most dangerous city in Texas? Without further adieu. the most dangerous city in The Lone Star State for 2023 would be Humble.
If you’re curious to see if your city made the list, take a look at our list below. And if you don’t see your city there, head to the bottom.
Learn more about the safest places in Texas.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
Here are the safest cities in Texas:
- San Elizario (Pop. 9,041)
- Bellaire (Pop. 19,114)
- Colleyville (Pop. 27,544)
- Fairview (Pop. 9,595)
- Fair Oaks Ranch (Pop. 10,798)
- Highland Village (Pop. 17,071)
- Fulshear (Pop. 17,318)
- Primera (Pop. 5,394)
- Trophy Club (Pop. 13,205)
- Parker (Pop. 5,649)
For more Texas reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Texas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Texas
- Most Dangerous Places In Texas
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Texas
- Safest Places In Texas
- Worst Places To Live In Texas
Crime By City In Texas
Rank | City | Population |
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1 | Humble | 15,579 |
2 | Houston | 2,339,252 |
3 | Palmview | 5,875 |
4 | Stafford | 17,102 |
5 | Lubbock | 265,990 |
6 | Lufkin | 34,934 |
7 | Lufkin, | 35,007 |
8 | Addison | 16,540 |
9 | Beaumont | 115,290 |
10 | Dallas | 1,349,185 |
11 | San Antonio | 1,592,693 |
12 | Alice | 18,538 |
13 | Sinton | 5,248 |
14 | Lamesa | 9,119 |
15 | Amarillo | 200,515 |
16 | Corpus Christi | 329,538 |
17 | Hutchins | 6,048 |
18 | Texarkana | 36,208 |
19 | Waco | 143,089 |
20 | Cleveland | 8,285 |
21 | La Marque | 17,984 |
22 | Balch Springs | 24,746 |
23 | Alamo | 20,779 |
24 | Aransas Pass | 8,531 |
25 | Webster | 11,359 |
26 | El Campo | 11,484 |
27 | Henderson | 12,989 |
28 | Donna | 16,371 |
29 | Carthage | 6,314 |
30 | Plainview | 19,436 |
31 | Uvalde | 15,999 |
32 | Wichita Falls | 105,468 |
33 | Mesquite | 137,796 |
34 | Galveston | 50,321 |
35 | Livingston | 5,533 |
36 | Paris | 24,833 |
37 | Tomball | 11,826 |
38 | Lancaster | 39,235 |
39 | Brownwood | 18,105 |
40 | Austin | 1,016,721 |
41 | Bellmead | 10,927 |
42 | Beeville | 14,160 |
43 | Pasadena | 149,428 |
44 | Willis | 7,258 |
45 | Fort Worth | 947,862 |
46 | Big Spring | 28,166 |
47 | Arlington | 402,323 |
48 | Palestine | 17,736 |
49 | Bastrop | 10,020 |
50 | Rockdale | 5,444 |
References
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FBI UCR 2022
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Census – American Cumminity Survey
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