Top 10 most dangerous cities in Arkansas

Arkansas, known for its diverse landscapes ranging from the Ozark Mountains to the fertile Mississippi Delta, provides a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. The state is rich in outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking, fishing, and boating, particularly in locations such as Hot Springs National Park and the Buffalo National River. Arkansas is also home to a growing arts and music scene, with vibrant cultural events in cities like Little Rock and Fayetteville. Despite these attractions, certain areas in Arkansas face significant safety challenges. The most dangerous cities in Arkansas are marked by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, which highlight the regions requiring increased caution and awareness.

Addressing safety concerns in Arkansas involves a combination of community policing and social programs aimed at reducing violence and improving quality of life. Urban areas, in particular, face higher crime rates, which necessitate focused efforts to enhance public safety. The state's commitment to tackling these issues is evident in various local initiatives designed to foster safer communities. While the most dangerous cities in Arkansas present ongoing challenges, the resilience of its residents and the state's natural and cultural offerings continue to make it an appealing place to live and visit. The balance between addressing safety concerns and promoting the state's many attractions is a testament to Arkansas's enduring spirit.

West Memphis Population: 24,656 2,472 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 6.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 40 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,377

West Memphis, AR holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Arkansas with 2,472 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (2,118), robbery (205), rape (119) and homicide (30) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 299% higher than the Arkansas average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Forrest City Population: 14,062 1,868 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 54 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,315

The second most dangerous city is Forrest City. With a population of 14,062 and a violent crime rate that is 201% higher than the Arkansas average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Forrest City are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,868 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 54 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Little Rock Population: 198,067 1,801 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.93 chance of being a victim: 1 in 56 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,229

Home to 198,067 residents, Little Rock, AR ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Arkansas. Unfortunately for residents of Little Rock, crime is widespread, with more than 1,801 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 4.93 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 191% higher than the Arkansas violent crime rate.

El Dorado Population: 17,826 1,772 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.86 chance of being a victim: 1 in 56 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,245

With a violent crime rate that is 186% higher than the Arkansas average, it's not hard to see why El Dorado made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (66), assault (1,587), rape (60) and homicide (60). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make El Dorado more vulnerable to high crime.

Pine Bluff Population: 42,323 1,658 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.54 chance of being a victim: 1 in 60 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,545

The ongoing battle with crime in Pine Bluff, AR, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 1,658 and a 1 in 60 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Pine Bluff has a violent crime rate that is 168% higher than the Arkansas average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Pine Bluff.

Stuttgart Population: 8,617 1,369 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 73 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,869

Stuttgart, AR comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,369 per 100,000 people, which is 121% higher than the Arkansas average. Stuttgart has a population of 8,617, which translates to 3.75 crimes per day and 1 in 73 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Stuttgart which are much safer than others.

Paragould Population: 28,821 1,261 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.46 chance of being a victim: 1 in 79 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,891

A 1 in 79 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.46 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Paragould makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,261 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 103% higher than the Arkansas average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,110), robbery (36), rape (108) and homicide (7).

North Little Rock Population: 66,079 1,247 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.42 chance of being a victim: 1 in 80 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,353

North Little Rock, AR is another one of the most dangerous cities in Arkansas and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 66,079 and a violent crime rate of 1,247 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 1,028 counts of assault, 145 counts of robbery, 48 counts of rape and 26 counts of homicide. All told, the North Little Rock violent crime rate is 101% higher than the Arkansas average.

Helena-West Helena Population: 10,487 1,214 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 82 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,044

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Helena-West Helena, AR comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Arkansas with a violent crime rate of 1,214 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 3.33 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 82 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Trumann Population: 7,000 1,199 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.28 chance of being a victim: 1 in 83 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,043

Rounding out our list at #10 is Trumann, AR. With a population of 7,000 and a violent crime rate of 1,199 per 100,000 people (93% higher than the Arkansas average), some parts of Trumann are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 1,061 counts of assault, 28 counts of robbery, 110 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 83 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Arkansas

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	West Memphis	24,656	2,472	7,377
2	Forrest City	14,062	1,868	5,315
3	Little Rock	198,067	1,801	7,229
4	El Dorado	17,826	1,772	5,245
5	Pine Bluff	42,323	1,658	6,545
6	Stuttgart	8,617	1,369	4,869
7	Paragould	28,821	1,261	4,891
8	North Little Rock	66,079	1,247	5,353
9	Helena-West Helena	10,487	1,214	5,044
10	Trumann	7,000	1,199	5,043
11	Camden	10,877	1,192	4,778
12	Jacksonville	28,442	1,123	5,379
13	Hope	9,668	1,037	4,771
14	Fort Smith	87,788	1,022	5,189
15	Texarkana	29,864	933	4,847
16	Wynne	7,773	833	4,067
17	Newport	7,552	818	3,839
18	Blytheville	13,735	710	4,500
19	Ward	5,195	666	1,998
20	Batesville	10,749	654	2,348
21	Malvern	10,886	653	3,493
22	Osceola	6,786	644	1,212
23	Jonesboro	77,391	642	3,948
24	Marion	12,371	629	3,352
25	Monticello	9,392	596	2,731
26	Sherwood	31,225	569	2,856
27	Springdale	80,433	561	3,221
28	Conway	66,776	548	3,021
29	Russellville	29,227	544	2,631
30	Hot Springs	38,697	516	6,535
31	Beebe	8,131	508	2,719
32	Morrilton	6,638	477	3,946
33	Clarksville	9,661	477	2,414
34	Searcy	23,673	460	3,760
35	Benton	36,360	458	3,011
36	Alma	5,816	438	2,391
37	Siloam Springs	17,031	436	2,416
38	Pocahontas	6,582	433	2,822
39	Fayetteville	86,622	419	3,644
40	Cabot	26,376	404	2,342
41	Heber Springs	7,156	382	2,922
42	Walnut Ridge	5,104	379	1,589
43	Warren	5,596	370	1,968
44	Rogers	67,787	367	1,954
45	Van Buren	23,600	341	3,173
46	Magnolia	11,537	339	2,998
47	Mena	5,524	339	3,439
48	Harrison	13,124	334	2,308
49	Pea Ridge	5,960	328	762
50	White Hall	5,017	295	1,454

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Arkansas is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Arkansas cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.