15 Most Dangerous Cities in the Western United States

The western United States is home to several cities and towns with exceptionally high crime rates. Below is a detailed look at 15 of the most dangerous Western cities based on the most recent full-year crime statistics (combining violent and property crimes).

For each city, we summarize the latest crime data and explore factors contributing to its high crime — including violence, gang activity, drug-related problems, economic hardships, and policing challenges.

1. Oakland, California

Oakland consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous large cities in America. Its violent crime rate is several times the national average, with frequent shootings, robberies, and assaults. For example, Oakland recorded over 5,500 violent crimes in a recent year (roughly 1,200+ per 100,000 residents) alongside a very high property crime rate.

A long history of gang violence and organized drug activity has plagued the city. Oakland has also struggled with policing challenges – the police force has historically been understaffed relative to the population, falling far below recommended levels. This combination of socio-economic inequality, gang activity, and limited police resources contributes to Oakland’s persistently high crime rates.

2. Stockton, California

Stockton experiences extremely high overall crime, regularly placing among California’s most violent cities. In 2012 Stockton suffered a record 71 homicides, illustrating the intensity of its violence (that year Stockton’s homicide rate was about 23 per 100,000, many times the U.S. average). Much of this violence stems from gang rivalries and drug-related conflicts in the community.

The city’s economic woes — Stockton even filed for municipal bankruptcy in 2012 — led to police layoffs that exacerbated crime. After 2012, Stockton implemented targeted anti-violence programs like Operation Ceasefire, which helped temporarily reduce murders. Still, violent crime remains very high (well above 1,200 violent incidents per 100,000 people), and property crime like burglary and auto theft is rampant. Poverty, gang activity, and a strained police force continue to fuel Stockton’s dangerous reputation.

3. San Bernardino, California

San Bernardino frequently appears near the top of national crime rankings. Even in the mid-2000s, San Bernardino’s murder rate was about 29 per 100,000 (the third highest in California at that time), and the city was ranked among the 25 most dangerous U.S. cities for several years in a row. Today, San Bernardino’s violent crime rate remains among the highest in the state, including a high incidence of shootings and assaults.

Chronic poverty and unemployment (the city has one of the lowest median incomes in California) contribute to crime, as does the presence of street gangs and drug trafficking along the Inland Empire corridor. The city’s financial turmoil — San Bernardino declared bankruptcy in 2012 — led to cuts in law enforcement resources, posing further policing challenges. These factors combined have kept San Bernardino’s overall crime (violent and property crimes) at very dangerous levels.

4. Compton, California

Compton has a long-standing reputation for violence and crime, largely due to entrenched gang activity. A study of FBI crime data once ranked Compton as having the 8th highest overall crime rate in the entire nation. As an illustration, in 2013 Compton’s homicide rate was about 36.8 per 100,000 residents – dozens of murders in a city of under 100,000 people.

Notorious gangs such as the Bloods and Crips have operated in Compton for decades, and gang-related turf wars pushed murder rates extremely high in the 1990s and early 2000s. While violent crime in Compton has dropped from its peak, it remains significantly above average. Gang shootings and retaliatory violence are still a major problem, and the city also sees high rates of robbery and assault.

Despite some community initiatives and increases in policing, Compton continues to struggle with violent crime far in excess of most U.S. cities.

5. Fresno, California

Fresno is a major city in California’s Central Valley that unfortunately has very high crime rates. Violent crime in Fresno (population ~540,000) is well above the national average – the city often records 45–55 homicides per year and a violent crime rate around 700–900 per 100,000. Fresno is also plagued by property crime; thefts, burglaries, and car break-ins are common (total property crime rates often exceed 4,500 per 100,000).

One driver of Fresno’s crime is the presence of active gangs – notably the Fresno Bulldogs, one of California’s largest prison and street gangs, which contributes to gun violence and drug-related crime. The city’s location along major drug trafficking routes has led to significant drug trade activity (methamphetamine in particular), which in turn fuels property crimes like theft.

Economic challenges in Fresno – high poverty and unemployment relative to California’s coastal cities – create conditions that breed higher crime. Law enforcement has targeted gang networks in recent years, but Fresno remains one of the most dangerous cities in the West for both violent and property crimes.

6. Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield has seen surging crime rates in recent years, earning notoriety for its high violence. In fact, Bakersfield’s homicide rate has been reported as the highest of any large city in California in some recent years. For example, the city and surrounding Kern County have struggled with record murder totals (Bakersfield recorded over 45 homicides in 2021, around 12 per 100,000 people, outpacing Los Angeles and San Francisco on a per capita basis).

Much of the violence is linked to gang rivalries and the drug trade – Bakersfield sits at a crossroads for narcotics trafficking in the Central Valley, and gang-related shootings are a persistent issue. The area is also known for widespread methamphetamine use, which correlates with property crimes like burglary and vehicle theft.

Economically, Bakersfield faces hardships (it has relatively high poverty and was hit hard by fluctuations in the oil and agriculture industries), and these conditions contribute to crime. Police and county sheriffs have noted an influx of firearms and drugs on the streets. All these factors make Bakersfield a city with one of the highest overall crime rates in the western U.S., especially for violent offenses.

7. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque is by far the largest city in New Mexico and has a crime problem that dominates the state’s statistics. New Mexico as a state currently has the highest property crime rate in the country and the second-highest violent crime rate (after Alaska). Albuquerque is the epicenter of that trend – about 42.7% of New Mexico’s violent crimes occur in Albuquerque alone (while only 27% of the state’s population lives there).

The city consistently reports very high rates of aggravated assault, robbery, and auto theft. In fact, Albuquerque was labeled the “auto theft capital” of the U.S. a few years ago, with car theft rates several times the national average. Contributing to Albuquerque’s dangerous environment are entrenched gangs and drug cartels (the city lies along major drug trafficking routes like I-40 and I-25).

Widespread methamphetamine and heroin use feed property crime as addicts commit thefts to fund their habit. Parts of the city face serious poverty and unemployment, creating social conditions for crime. Policing in Albuquerque has been challenging as well – the police department has been under federal oversight for use-of-force issues, and officer staffing has struggled to keep up with 911 call volumes.

8. Gallup, New Mexico

Gallup is a smaller town (around 22,000 people) in western New Mexico that unfortunately has one of the highest per capita crime rates in the nation. Despite its size, Gallup’s violent crime rate is roughly double that of Albuquerque, making it exceedingly dangerous relative to population. According to one report, Gallup saw 463 violent crimes in a single year, an 11% increase over the prior year, and about twice Albuquerque’s rate per resident. This is an astonishing level of violence for a small community.

A major factor is chronic alcohol abuse and poverty in the area – Gallup is adjacent to the Navajo Nation and has struggled with a long-term alcoholism crisis that contributes to frequent assaults, domestic violence, and knife attacks. The city has limited economic opportunities and a high poverty rate, fueling property crimes as well. Gallup also sits along the I-40 corridor and has issues with drug trafficking and transient populations.

Policing such a high-crime small town is difficult with limited resources. All these issues have combined to give Gallup the unfortunate distinction of the highest violent crime rate in New Mexico and one of the highest in the entire United States.

9. Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage has the highest crime levels of any city in Alaska and indeed one of the highest in the country for a city its size. Alaska leads the nation in violent crime rates by state, and as Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage accounts for a large share of those offenses. Anchorage’s violent crime rate (approximately 837 incidents per 100,000 people as of 2010) was more than double the national average, and in recent years violent crime has remained elevated (including a spike in homicides in 2019).

Notably, Anchorage (and Alaska generally) endures extremely high rates of sexual assault – the rate of reported rapes in Anchorage is over three times the U.S. average. Several factors contribute to Anchorage’s dangerous environment. The city has a serious substance abuse problem, with high levels of alcohol and drug-related violence. Domestic violence is a significant issue as well, tied in part to isolation and long winter nights.

Anchorage’s geography (spread out over a large area) and relatively thin law enforcement coverage in some parts make policing difficult. Additionally, a substantial proportion of Anchorage’s crime involves or victimizes Alaska Native populations, who face socio-economic disadvantages.

10. Pueblo, Colorado

Pueblo is a smaller city (population ~112,000) that has the highest crime rates in Colorado. Pueblo’s violent crime rate is roughly three times the national average, with recent years seeing around 1,000–1,100 violent crimes per 100,000 residents (extraordinarily high for Colorado). The city also experiences very high property crime – neighborhood crime maps show pervasive burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft, giving Pueblo one of the worst total crime rates in the West.

A key factor is gang activity: Pueblo has active gangs and is a distribution hub for drugs coming along Interstate 25. The city’s location on that north–south highway corridor, and along U.S. Highway 50, makes it a convenient center for drug trafficking (particularly meth and heroin), which brings associated violence.

Economic decline has also played a role – Pueblo’s economy suffered after the collapse of the steel industry, leading to blighted neighborhoods with poverty and unemployment that contribute to crime. Policing in Pueblo has at times struggled to keep up with the volume of calls, and the city has had to coordinate with federal and state authorities on major gang crackdowns.

11. Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is known for its glitzy tourism, but it also contends with a serious crime problem. The city of Las Vegas (not counting the Strip resorts in neighboring Paradise) consistently shows a high overall crime rate well above national averages. Property crime is especially pronounced – theft, burglary, and fraud targeting tourists and locals alike contribute to a property crime rate in Las Vegas on the order of 4,500–5,000 per 100,000 people annually.

This is driven in part by the huge visitor population and 24/7 entertainment economy (crowded casinos, hotels, and parking areas create opportunities for theft). Violent crime in Las Vegas is also notably high: the city’s violent crime rate often approaches 900 per 100,000 (including aggravated assaults and robberies on or near the Strip and in certain neighborhoods).

Gang presence in the Las Vegas Valley has grown as the city’s population expanded – authorities have identified hundreds of gangs, some transplanted from California, contributing to murders and drug-related violence. Additionally, Las Vegas has areas of concentrated poverty away from the tourist corridor, and these neighborhoods suffer from drug trade and violent crime.

Policing Las Vegas is challenging because the Metropolitan Police must cover both the needs of residents and the massive tourist industry. While the department has implemented many community policing and surveillance programs (especially in tourist areas), crime remains a significant concern.

12. Tucson, Arizona

Tucson has one of the highest crime rates in Arizona, with problems spanning both violent and property offenses. The city’s overall crime rate is roughly two times higher than the national rate. Property crime is a major issue – Tucson historically has had exceptionally high rates of burglary and auto theft. (At times it has led Arizona in vehicle thefts, and theft from vehicles is very common.) This means Tucson’s property crime rate often exceeds 5,000 per 100,000 people in a year, well above average.

Violent crimes are also elevated: Tucson records a few dozen homicides per year and a high number of aggravated assaults and armed robberies, yielding a violent crime rate around 700–800 per 100,000 (significantly above the U.S. average of ~400).

Several factors drive Tucson’s crime. The city lies about an hour from the Mexican border on a known smuggling route (I-19 to I-10), so drug trafficking activity is prevalent – cartels use Tucson as a logistics hub, which brings associated violence and gang activity. Tucson has numerous local street gangs that engage in turf wars and drug trade, contributing to shootings.

The city also faces economic challenges: pockets of poverty on the south and west sides see higher crime. Additionally, the Tucson Police Department has at times been understaffed for a city of over half a million, which can slow response times.

13. Spokane, Washington

Spokane is the second-largest city in Washington and unfortunately has the highest crime rate in the state. Crime in Spokane is driven particularly by an epidemic of property crime. The city’s property crime rate is roughly double the national average – Spokane frequently reports on the order of 6,000–7,000 property crimes per 100,000 people per year, among the highest rates in the country for a city its size.

Vehicle theft is a huge problem (Spokane has at times led the nation in car theft rates), and residents commonly experience home and vehicle break-ins. This property crime wave is tied to the region’s serious methamphetamine and opioid abuse problem; law enforcement notes that many thefts are committed by individuals addicted to drugs, stealing items to sell or trade for their next fix.

Spokane’s violent crime rate, while not as extreme as its property crime, is still significantly above average. Assaults and robberies occur at high rates (the city sees hundreds of aggravated assaults annually and a violent crime rate well over 500 per 100,000). There is some gang presence in Spokane, including outlaw motorcycle gangs and local street gangs, which contributes to sporadic gang-related violence.

14. Tacoma, Washington

Tacoma, a mid-sized port city south of Seattle, has long struggled with crime rates that exceed those of larger Pacific Northwest cities. Tacoma’s violent crime rate is nearly double the U.S. average, with high levels of shootings, assaults, and gang violence for a city of its size (~219,000 people).

In past years, Tacoma’s homicide rate per capita has rivaled or exceeded Seattle’s. The city’s Hilltop neighborhood was infamous in the late 1980s and 1990s for gang shootouts, and while the gang situation improved, Tacoma continues to battle multiple gangs involved in drug trafficking and violence.

The proximity to the I-5 corridor and Port of Tacoma means drug flow and organized crime (including trafficking of meth and fentanyl) can impact the city. Property crime is also very prevalent – vehicle prowls, theft, and burglary keep Tacoma’s overall crime rate high.

Some downtown and South Tacoma areas experience frequent property crimes, pushing the city’s property crime rate to around 5,000 per 100,000 annually. Economic struggles contribute as well: Tacoma has neighborhoods with concentrated poverty and a history of unemployment higher than the Washington state average, which can lead to higher crime.

15. Portland, Oregon

Portland has generally had lower crime than many other cities on this list, but recent trends have pushed it into dangerous territory. In 2021, Portland suffered a record number of homicides (around 90 killings, the most the city has ever recorded in one year). This spike in deadly violence coincided with a general surge in shootings and gang-related violence in the city.

Portland’s violent crime rate, which historically was modest, has risen closer to that of other high-crime cities, with more frequent assaults and armed robberies in certain neighborhoods. Property crime in Portland is also high – the city has thousands of car thefts and car break-ins reported annually, contributing to a property crime rate above 5,000 per 100,000 people.

A convergence of factors explains the rising crime. Since 2020, Portland’s Police Bureau has faced severe staffing shortages and budget cuts, leading to longer response times and the disbanding of specialized units (such as the Gun Violence Reduction Team) for a period. This happened just as the city saw civil unrest and an uptick in gang activity, resulting in more unchecked violence.

Additionally, Portland is dealing with a homelessness and drug addiction crisis — open-air drug use (often meth and heroin) and mental health emergencies have strained police and led to more disorder and property crimes in downtown and other areas. These challenges have left Portland with an elevated crime rate.

Sources:

Crime statistics are drawn from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting data and state/local law enforcement reports (most recent full-year data available). For example, New Mexico’s 2016 crime report showed it leading the nation in property crime and second in violent crime (Crime in New Mexico – Wikipedia), with Albuquerque shouldering a large share of those offenses (Crime in New Mexico – Wikipedia). In small Gallup, NM, an analysis found its per capita violent crime was about twice that of Albuquerque (Gallup, New Mexico – Wikipedia). Historical rankings by CQ Press and others have consistently listed Oakland, Stockton, Compton, and San Bernardino among America’s most dangerous cities (Oakland, California – Wikipedia) (Stockton, California – Wikipedia) (Compton, California – Wikipedia). Anchorage’s police reports underscore its unusually high rates of sexual assault (three times the national average) (Anchorage, Alaska – Wikipedia), and cities like Compton and Stockton have recorded homicide rates far above average in past years (Compton, California – Wikipedia) (Stockton, California – Wikipedia). These data and reports from state authorities confirm that the cities above have exceptionally high overall crime rates, combining both violent and property crimes, compared to other Western U.S. communities. Each city’s profile of gangs, drugs, economic struggles, and policing challenges contributes to why it ranks as one of the most dangerous in the region.

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