Top 10 most dangerous cities in Connecticut

Connecticut, a state rich in history and New England charm, offers a blend of picturesque towns and bustling urban centers. Known for its prestigious educational institutions like Yale University and its beautiful coastline along Long Island Sound, Connecticut provides a diverse array of attractions. The state is also home to significant cultural sites such as the Mark Twain House and the Mystic Seaport Museum. However, despite its many positives, Connecticut faces safety challenges in certain areas. The most dangerous cities in Connecticut are distinguished by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, indicating regions where extra vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Connecticut's historic charm and urban crime issues highlights the state's diverse landscape.

Addressing safety concerns in Connecticut involves targeted law enforcement efforts and community-based programs designed to reduce violence and enhance public safety. The state's initiatives aim to tackle the underlying social issues contributing to crime in the most dangerous cities in Connecticut. While these areas present notable challenges, they also showcase the potential for positive change and community revitalization. Connecticut's ongoing efforts to improve safety, combined with its rich cultural heritage and educational opportunities, continue to make it an attractive place to live and visit. The balance between addressing safety concerns and promoting the state's numerous attractions reflects Connecticut's commitment to fostering a secure and vibrant community.

Hartford Population: 122,549 568 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.56 chance of being a victim: 1 in 176 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,252

Hartford, CT holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Connecticut with 568 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (332), robbery (142), rape (65) and homicide (30) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 278% higher than the Connecticut 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.

New Haven Population: 130,381 542 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 184 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,231

The second most dangerous city is New Haven. With a population of 130,381 and a violent crime rate that is 261% higher than the Connecticut average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in New Haven are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 542 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 184 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

New Britain Population: 72,543 489 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.34 chance of being a victim: 1 in 204 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,784

Home to 72,543 residents, New Britain, CT ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Connecticut. Unfortunately for residents of New Britain, crime is widespread, with more than 489 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.34 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 226% higher than the Connecticut violent crime rate.

Waterbury Population: 107,841 401 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 249 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,462

With a violent crime rate that is 167% higher than the Connecticut average, it's not hard to see why Waterbury made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (149), assault (197), rape (40) and homicide (16). 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 Waterbury more vulnerable to high crime.

Bridgeport Population: 145,014 391 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 256 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,800

The ongoing battle with crime in Bridgeport, CT, 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 391 and a 1 in 256 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Bridgeport has a violent crime rate that is 161% higher than the Connecticut 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 Bridgeport.

Derby Population: 12,420 218 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.60 chance of being a victim: 1 in 459 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,972

Derby, CT comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 218 per 100,000 people, which is 45% higher than the Connecticut average. Derby has a population of 12,420, which translates to 0.60 crimes per day and 1 in 459 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 Derby which are much safer than others.

Norwich Population: 39,112 215 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 465 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,503

A 1 in 465 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.59 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Norwich makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 215 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 43% higher than the Connecticut average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (103), robbery (40), rape (68) and homicide (5).

Danbury Population: 84,650 213 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.58 chance of being a victim: 1 in 470 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,327

Danbury, CT is another one of the most dangerous cities in Connecticut and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 84,650 and a violent crime rate of 213 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 153 counts of assault, 37 counts of robbery, 21 counts of rape and 2 counts of homicide. All told, the Danbury violent crime rate is 42% higher than the Connecticut average.

Meriden Population: 59,512 198 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.54 chance of being a victim: 1 in 505 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,624

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, Meriden, CT comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Connecticut with a violent crime rate of 198 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.54 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 505 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

New London Population: 27,001 191 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.52 chance of being a victim: 1 in 524 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,568

Rounding out our list at #10 is New London, CT. With a population of 27,001 and a violent crime rate of 191 per 100,000 people (27% higher than the Connecticut average), some parts of New London are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 67 counts of assault, 46 counts of robbery, 74 counts of rape and 4 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 524 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Connecticut

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Hartford	122,549	568	3,252
2	New Haven	130,381	542	4,231
3	New Britain	72,543	489	2,784
4	Waterbury	107,841	401	3,462
5	Bridgeport	145,014	391	1,800
6	Derby	12,420	218	2,972
7	Norwich	39,112	215	1,503
8	Danbury	84,650	213	1,327
9	Meriden	59,512	198	2,624
10	New London	27,001	191	1,568
11	Stamford	130,057	171	1,333
12	Groton	8,999	171	803
13	East Hartford	50,036	148	2,408
14	East Haven	28,645	120	2,752
15	Milford city	52,902	119	2,511
16	Torrington	34,259	118	1,457
17	Willimantic	18,669	118	1,083
18	Stratford	52,300	116	2,046
19	Orange	13,928	112	4,330
20	Manchester	35,946	111	1,882
21	Norwalk	88,755	109	1,665
22	Naugatuck	31,201	94	1,397
23	West Haven	54,666	91	1,796
24	Windsor Locks	12,732	88	1,590
25	Newington	30,114	79	3,000
26	Middletown	46,406	79	1,524
27	Putnam	7,138	75	1,167
28	Wethersfield	26,068	74	1,536
29	New Milford	6,749	56	729
30	Portland	5,937	53	476
31	West Hartford	63,023	53	3,125
32	Bristol	60,039	52	1,230
33	Shelton	41,162	52	655
34	Trumbull	36,477	51	2,179
35	Ansonia	18,709	48	1,721
36	Bethel	10,839	34	489
37	Greenwich	12,967	24	960
38	North Haven	23,665	21	2,741
39	Westport	27,511	18	1,202
40	Darien	21,519	9	1,051
41	Ridgefield	7,228	4	204

Methodology

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