Stay away from these dangerous neighborhoods!
When you are looking to buy a new home or rent one, you are probably looking around the neighbors and imagining your life there. The schools and the kids attending them, the restaurants, the stores, and the people who live in that area are all incredibly important factors.
Also, when you are going on a trip and you have to stay in a specific city, you will check online or ask people about the place you are planning to stay. It should be in a good neighborhood, right?
No one wants to live in areas where crime is high and everything can pose a threat. This is why it is good to be aware of the worst neighborhoods in America. Read on and learn more about these places you probably would prefer to avoid if you don’t want to get in trouble.
1. Bayview, San Francisco
Bayview is a neighborhood located in the southeastern part of San Francisco, and due to the crime and social issues, it has long been considered one of the bad neighborhoods of this city.
Compared to the city and national crime rates, the rates from this area are much higher. Most crimes are property-related, such as burglaries, larceny, and car thefts, but violent crimes are also present. The total crime rate in Bayview stands at approximately 6,900 per 100,000 people, with property crime being the largest contributor at a rate of 5,500 per 100,000 people.
One of the main factors that has led to these numbers is homelessness. We know that San Francisco has a homelessness crisis, and the Bayview area has the second-highest concentration of homeless individuals in the city.
2. Shelby Forest-Frayser, Memphis
You can find this neighborhood in the northern part of Memphis and is well known as one of the most dangerous in the US. With a population of 34,345, the neighborhood has a staggering total crime rate of 10,400 incidents per 100,000 people!
The most alarming thing is that the rate of violent crimes is very high, 705% higher than the national average. Murders, assaults, and robberies make this place the most dangerous area of Memphis.
In 2023, many US neighborhoods saw a reduction in murder rates but not Shelby Forest-Frayser. Here it only escalated, and the key factor is the economic struggles. The unemployment rate is significantly higher compared to other neighborhoods, and this easily fuels the crimes.
Memphis is also the place where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, so we can say that the city has a long history of crimes.
3. Belmont, Detroit
This is a small neighborhood on the northwest side of Detroit, Michigan, but the high crime rates made this place one of the worst neighborhoods in America and also contributed to Detroit’s long-standing reputation as a very dangerous city.
With a population of about 2,700, Belmont has a total crime rate of 7,050 per 100,000 people, which includes both violent and property-related offenses. What is even more concerning is the rate of violent crimes. 2,200 incidents per 100,000 people—this is 494% higher than the national average! Homicides and aggravated assaults are common in Belmont, and this is enough to make it one of the scariest places in this country.
Again, the main thing that causes all of this is economic hardship. Most residents are struggling with money, and in the end, they choose crime.
4. Peabody-Darst-Webbe, St. Louis
St. Louis is one of the cities that already has a bad reputation, but Peabody-Darst-Webbe is the most dangerous neighborhood, with a crime rate of over 12,000 incidents per 100,000 people.
Violent crimes, assaults, and robberies all happen pretty often here, and the police are always busy. Also, property crime has a rate of 9,000 per 100,000 people. Residents here have a 1 in 8 chance of becoming a victim of crime!
Poverty is a significant problem even if the median household income is somewhat better than other neighborhoods with similar crime issues. People don’t have access to quality education, and this only makes people stuck in their cycle of poverty and crime.
5. Downtown LA, Los Angeles
Yes, this is an amazing urban area where the arts scene flourishes and is close to Hollywood. On the other hand, this is also one of the most crime-affected areas in California. With a population of 82,703, downtown LA has a total crime rate of 4,000 incidents per 100,000 people.
Out of these 4,000 incidents, 941 are violent crimes, such as assaults and robberies, and the rest are thefts and burglaries. According to a 2022 survey, the criminality rate in Downtown L.A. has risen by 11%, and most of this is caused by the growing homeless population.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority estimates that over 46,000 people are unhoused in LA on any given night.
However, this is not the only factor that contributes to a high crime rate. The increase in drug consumption and gang activity also play a role.
If you want to feel safer while walking alone this might help you: She’s Birdie–The Original Personal Safety Alarm
You should also read: Top 10 WORST States in USA for Quality of Life
