By Texas is a large state with diverse cities and towns and a population of over 29 million people. As with any large population, there are varying factors that contribute to the livability and safety of its communities. To identify the most dangerous cities in Texas, we conducted a thorough analysis using data from various sources, including the FBI’s 2021-2022 Uniform Crime Report and State and Local crime data from 2022. Our methodology focused on assessing crime rates per capita, specifically for violent crimes and all crimes combined. This allowed us to identify the top ten cities in Texas with the highest rates of violent crime.
10 Most Dangerous Cities in Texas
- Houston
- San Antonio
- Lubbock
- Beaumont
- Dallas
- Mesquite
- Austin
- Corpus Christi
- Waco
- Pasadena
1. Humble
- Population: 17,127
- Violent Crime Rate: 9.82
- Property Crime Rate: 81.63
- Poverty Rate: 16.5%
- Unemployment Rate: 8.0%
Houston has been identified as the most dangerous city in Texas, with a population of 2.33 million and a violent crime rate of 2.67 per 1,000 residents, along with a property crime rate of 10.70 per 1,000 residents. In 2022, the city witnessed 6,241 violent crimes, including 399 murders, and 95,926 incidents of property crime. As a result, the likelihood of falling victim to property crime is estimated at 1 in 23, while the odds of becoming the victim of a violent crime are approximately 1 in 78.
Among the most dangerous neighborhoods in Houston are Sunnyside, MacGregor, Sharptown, and Greenspoint.
2. San Antonio
San Antonio is another city in Texas that has been identified as being particularly dangerous. With a population of 1.59 million, the city experienced 2,918 incidents of violent crime in 2022, resulting in a violent crime rate of 1.83 per 1,000 people, and a property crime rate of 10.83 per 1,000 people. In 2016, the city experienced its highest homicide rate in 20 years, with 151 murders recorded. This rate has continued to increase, reaching a 30-year high of 195 in 2022. Most of the violent crimes in San Antonio are linked to gang activity, with many of the murders being associated with drug-related or domestic incidents.
The worst neighborhoods in San Antonio in terms of crime rates are Pecan Valley, East Terrell Hills, Arena District, Villa De San Antonio, and Westwood Village.
3. Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas, with a population of 327,424, has a violent crime rate of 2.23 per 1,000 individuals, indicating that the city is 121% more dangerous than the national average. In the period from 2021 to 2022, Lubbock’s crime rate has increased by 10%, exacerbating the situation further. Shockingly, the number of homicides in Lubbock surged by 182% from 11 in 2019 to 31 in 2020. As of 2022, the local homicide rate is at 9.5 incidents per 100,000 individuals, which is considerably higher than the national rate of 6.5 per 100,000 people.
4. Beaumont
Beaumont is another city in Texas that is known for its high levels of violence. The city has a population of 112,556, and the rate of violent crime is 2.5 per 1,000 individuals, which is 93% higher than the national average. The overall rate of violent crime in the Beaumont metropolitan area has risen by nearly 12% between 2019 and 2022. The district attorney for Jefferson County, which covers both Beaumont and Port Arthur, has attributed the increase in violent crime to delays in criminal trials caused by the pandemic. This has led to a backlog of cases, resulting in violent offenders remaining on the streets longer than they would under normal circumstances.
5. Dallas
Dallas is one of the largest cities in Texas with a population of 1,304,379, but unfortunately, it’s also one of the most dangerous. The city has a crime rate of 4,291 per 100,000 individuals, which is 83% higher than the national average. The likelihood of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Dallas is 1 in 113. In 2020 alone, there were 11,534 violent crimes, which included 235 murders, 3,296 robberies, and 7,428 aggravated assaults. Gang activity often leads to shootings in Dallas.
Some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Dallas include South Boulevard Park Row, Cedar Crest, South Dallas, Convention Center District, and Northwest Dallas.
6. Mesquite
Mesquite, with a population of 147,691, has a crime rate that is 69% higher than the national average. In 2020, there were 617 reported incidents of violent crime, including 11 murders, 149 robberies, and 390 assaults. Property crime was also a significant problem, with 5,000 incidents reported in 2020. Among these, burglary and vehicle theft were the most common, with 735 cases of burglary and 854 cases of vehicle theft reported.
The most dangerous areas in Mesquite are located in the Northwest and Southeast parts of the city.
7. Austin
Austin is among the cities in Texas with a high crime rate, where the number of total violent crimes reported has been on the rise, from 1,139 in 2021 to 1,282 in 2022. The violent crime rate stands at 1.24 per 1000 persons, while the property crime rate is 8.36 per 1000 people. Compared to the 30 largest cities in the US, Austin ranks 28th in terms of violent crime rate per 100,000 residents.
Some of the neighborhoods considered to be the most dangerous in Austin include Riverside, Rosewood, Bouldin, and MLK.
8. Corpus Christi
According to recent statistics, crime in Corpus Christi has decreased from 686 cases in 2021 to 619 in 2022. However, the violent crime rate remains high at 1.88 per 1000 persons, with property crime at 7.52 per 1000 people. In 2021, there were 2,824 incidents of violent crime, making the chance of becoming a victim of such crime 1 in 133, which is 75% higher than the national average. Interestingly, your likelihood of being a victim of crime in Corpus Christi varies depending on where you are in the city, with a high risk of 1 in 12 in northern areas and a lower risk of 1 in 67 in the southwest part of the city.
9. Waco
Waco, a city with a population of 138,486, has a crime rate of 7.18 per 1000 people, making it 74% more dangerous than the national average. The year 2020 saw 911 violent crimes, which included 14 murders, 143 robberies, and 671 assaults. There were also over 5,000 property crimes, with 882 cases of burglary and 422 incidents of vehicle theft.
10. Pasadena
Pasadena, with a population of 135,732, has a crime rate of 2,428 per 100,000 people, which is only 5% higher than the national average. The chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Pasadena are 1 in 332. In 2020, the city recorded 7 cases of murder, 119 cases of robbery, and 241 cases of assault. Property crimes were also reported at 3,000 incidents, with 678 cases of burglary, 2,038 cases of theft, and 361 incidents of motor vehicle theft.
Most Dangerous Cities in Texas Bottom Line
Texas offers several advantages that attract people to move there, such as its low cost of living, delicious Tex-Mex cuisine, and mild winters. However, when planning to move to Texas, it’s important to be aware of the crime rates in some of its cities, which can be high. Nevertheless, having high crime rates doesn’t necessarily make these cities bad places to live in. Cities like Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio are centers for economic and cultural growth, and there are safe neighborhoods in every Texas city.
