Top 10 most dangerous cities in Arizona

Arizona, with its dramatic desert landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. The state is home to the Grand Canyon, one of the natural wonders of the world, and boasts a vibrant arts scene in cities like Phoenix and Tucson. The blend of Native American, Mexican, and Western influences is evident in the state's festivals, cuisine, and architecture. However, alongside its many attractions, Arizona also faces challenges related to safety. The most dangerous cities in Arizona are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, emphasizing areas where vigilance is necessary. Despite these concerns, Arizona's diverse landscapes and cultural vibrancy continue to make it a compelling place to live and visit.

Efforts to improve safety in Arizona's urban areas include enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs. These initiatives aim to reduce crime and foster a sense of security among residents. While the most dangerous cities in Arizona present significant challenges, they also highlight the importance of community-driven solutions and proactive measures. The state's commitment to addressing these issues is evident in various local government and non-profit organization efforts, which work towards creating safer environments. Ultimately, Arizona's appeal lies in its ability to offer both stunning natural beauty and a rich cultural tapestry, even as it navigates the complexities of urban safety.

South Tucson Population: 5,692 2,402 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 6.58 chance of being a victim: 1 in 42 Total Crimes / 100k: 15,693

South Tucson, AZ holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Arizona with 2,402 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,962), robbery (331), rape (66) and homicide (44) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 457% higher than the Arizona 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.

Globe Population: 7,351 1,593 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 63 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,611

The second most dangerous city is Globe. With a population of 7,351 and a violent crime rate that is 269% higher than the Arizona average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Globe are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,593 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 63 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Phoenix Population: 1,658,422 825 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.26 chance of being a victim: 1 in 121 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,727

Home to 1,658,422 residents, Phoenix, AZ ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Arizona. Unfortunately for residents of Phoenix, crime is widespread, with more than 825 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.26 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 91% higher than the Arizona violent crime rate.

Page Population: 7,551 819 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 122 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,281

With a violent crime rate that is 90% higher than the Arizona average, it's not hard to see why Page made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (27), assault (641), rape (136) and homicide (14). 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 Page more vulnerable to high crime.

Eloy Population: 18,306 694 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.90 chance of being a victim: 1 in 144 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,628

The ongoing battle with crime in Eloy, AZ, 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 694 and a 1 in 144 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Eloy has a violent crime rate that is 61% higher than the Arizona 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 Eloy.

Show Low Population: 11,280 658 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 152 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,665

Show Low, AZ comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 658 per 100,000 people, which is 53% higher than the Arizona average. Show Low has a population of 11,280, which translates to 1.80 crimes per day and 1 in 152 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 Show Low which are much safer than others.

Tempe Population: 191,607 584 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.60 chance of being a victim: 1 in 171 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,919

A 1 in 171 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.60 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Tempe makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 584 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 35% higher than the Arizona average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (402), robbery (95), rape (83) and homicide (4).

Casa Grande Population: 57,318 576 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.58 chance of being a victim: 1 in 174 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,245

Casa Grande, AZ is another one of the most dangerous cities in Arizona and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 57,318 and a violent crime rate of 576 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 431 counts of assault, 73 counts of robbery, 64 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. All told, the Casa Grande violent crime rate is 34% higher than the Arizona average.

Yuma Population: 97,428 561 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.54 chance of being a victim: 1 in 178 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,249

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, Yuma, AZ comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Arizona with a violent crime rate of 561 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.54 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 178 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Coolidge Population: 13,016 555 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.52 chance of being a victim: 1 in 180 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,070

Rounding out our list at #10 is Coolidge, AZ. With a population of 13,016 and a violent crime rate of 555 per 100,000 people (29% higher than the Arizona average), some parts of Coolidge are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 431 counts of assault, 69 counts of robbery, 31 counts of rape and 25 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 180 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Arizona

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	South Tucson	5,692	2,402	15,693
2	Globe	7,351	1,593	6,611
3	Phoenix	1,658,422	825	3,727
4	Page	7,551	819	5,281
5	Eloy	18,306	694	2,628
6	Show Low	11,280	658	2,665
7	Tempe	191,607	584	4,919
8	Casa Grande	57,318	576	3,245
9	Yuma	97,428	561	2,249
10	Coolidge	13,016	555	3,070
11	Glendale	250,290	545	3,785
12	Payson	15,708	493	2,116
13	Mesa	508,918	427	2,197
14	Avondale	86,091	420	3,577
15	Prescott	43,463	401	1,729
16	Kingman	30,433	382	3,543
17	Sedona	10,341	376	2,116
18	Snowflake	5,873	351	1,763
19	Cottonwood	12,228	339	2,382
20	El Mirage	35,702	330	1,748
21	Apache Junction	41,863	328	2,241
22	Prescott Valley	45,592	283	1,036
23	Sierra Vista	43,756	281	1,899
24	Lake Havasu City	55,463	275	1,634
25	Litchfield Park	6,228	272	1,545
26	Bisbee	5,199	244	937
27	Nogales	20,182	243	3,797
28	Peoria	172,109	195	1,577
29	Maricopa	50,358	188	950
30	Buckeye	74,467	186	1,224
31	Camp Verde	11,241	186	1,561
32	Chandler	257,076	182	1,990
33	Goodyear	83,519	169	2,030
34	Queen Creek	52,162	145	1,138
35	Florence	26,777	134	507
36	Surprise	139,007	118	1,521
37	Gilbert	248,349	117	1,133
38	Douglas	16,292	115	1,379
39	Wickenburg	7,708	102	2,110
40	Chino Valley	11,362	101	598
41	Sahuarita	30,679	99	1,021
42	Paradise Valley	14,502	95	1,524
43	Marana	47,164	86	2,316
44	Somerton	16,301	62	615
45	San Luis	33,875	52	602
46	Thatcher	5,122	37	671
47	Oro Valley	45,303	33	1,220

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Arizona 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 Arizona 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.