Top 10 most dangerous cities in Indiana

Indiana, a state known for its Midwestern charm and diverse cultural heritage, offers a variety of attractions. From the bustling city life of Indianapolis, home to the famous Indianapolis 500, to the serene beauty of the Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana provides a unique blend of urban and rural experiences. The state's history is rich with contributions to industry, sports, and education. However, despite its many positives, Indiana faces safety challenges in certain areas. The most dangerous cities in Indiana are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Indiana's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Indiana involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Indiana. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Indiana's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, economic opportunities, and natural beauty continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

South Bend Population: 102,686 1,208 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.31 chance of being a victim: 1 in 83 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,739

South Bend, IN holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Indiana with 1,208 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,026), robbery (104), rape (67) and homicide (11) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 264% higher than the Indiana 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.

Elkhart Population: 52,657 1,177 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 85 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,279

The second most dangerous city is Elkhart. With a population of 52,657 and a violent crime rate that is 254% higher than the Indiana average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Elkhart are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,177 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 85 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Evansville Population: 118,414 1,133 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,778

Home to 118,414 residents, Evansville, IN ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Indiana. Unfortunately for residents of Evansville, crime is widespread, with more than 1,133 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.10 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 241% higher than the Indiana violent crime rate.

Indianapolis Population: 869,387 1,031 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.82 chance of being a victim: 1 in 97 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,653

With a violent crime rate that is 210% higher than the Indiana average, it's not hard to see why Indianapolis made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (174), assault (782), rape (56) and homicide (19). 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 Indianapolis more vulnerable to high crime.

Gary Population: 75,486 898 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.46 chance of being a victim: 1 in 111 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,726

The ongoing battle with crime in Gary, IN, 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 898 and a 1 in 111 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Gary has a violent crime rate that is 170% higher than the Indiana 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 Gary.

East Chicago Population: 28,044 803 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.20 chance of being a victim: 1 in 125 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,045

East Chicago, IN comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 803 per 100,000 people, which is 142% higher than the Indiana average. East Chicago has a population of 28,044, which translates to 2.20 crimes per day and 1 in 125 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 East Chicago which are much safer than others.

Hammond Population: 76,141 662 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 151 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,040

A 1 in 151 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.81 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Hammond makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 662 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 99% higher than the Indiana average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (524), robbery (96), rape (33) and homicide (9).

Cumberland Population: 5,840 591 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.62 chance of being a victim: 1 in 169 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,450

Cumberland, IN is another one of the most dangerous cities in Indiana and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 5,840 and a violent crime rate of 591 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 373 counts of assault, 155 counts of robbery, 31 counts of rape and 31 counts of homicide. All told, the Cumberland violent crime rate is 78% higher than the Indiana average.

Kokomo Population: 58,066 539 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 185 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,212

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, Kokomo, IN comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Indiana with a violent crime rate of 539 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.48 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 185 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Beech Grove Population: 15,148 514 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 195 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,167

Rounding out our list at #10 is Beech Grove, IN. With a population of 15,148 and a violent crime rate of 514 per 100,000 people (55% higher than the Indiana average), some parts of Beech Grove are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 320 counts of assault, 90 counts of robbery, 90 counts of rape and 14 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 195 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Indiana

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	South Bend	102,686	1,208	3,739
2	Elkhart	52,657	1,177	4,279
3	Evansville	118,414	1,133	4,778
4	Indianapolis	869,387	1,031	4,653
5	Gary	75,486	898	3,726
6	East Chicago	28,044	803	3,045
7	Hammond	76,141	662	4,040
8	Cumberland	5,840	591	3,450
9	Kokomo	58,066	539	2,212
10	Beech Grove	15,148	514	2,167
11	Terre Haute	60,690	513	4,769
12	Lafayette	72,556	506	2,632
13	Boonville	6,512	465	1,874
14	Muncie	67,739	441	3,272
15	Anderson	54,476	423	3,365
16	Michigan City	31,191	401	2,888
17	Bloomington	84,691	398	2,888
18	Speedway	12,327	398	3,478
19	Lawrence	49,020	317	2,575
20	Warsaw	15,757	313	2,053
21	New Albany	36,730	294	3,373
22	North Vernon	7,167	290	1,727
23	Lebanon	16,317	286	1,192
24	Huntingburg	6,301	275	581
25	Fort Wayne	268,378	271	2,624
26	Goshen	34,586	271	2,847
27	Jeffersonville	47,932	270	2,088
28	Tell City	7,243	256	1,644
29	Mount Vernon	6,535	252	1,673
30	Mishawaka	49,675	250	2,329
31	La Porte	21,328	235	1,734
32	Portage	36,524	223	1,283
33	McCordsville	7,237	214	981
34	New Haven	15,934	213	1,353
35	Crawfordsville	16,088	205	1,323
36	Elwood	8,435	202	771
37	Jasper	15,681	197	787
38	Bluffton	10,298	192	1,037
39	Washington	12,514	188	899
40	Clarksville	21,825	186	4,122
41	Shelbyville	18,918	183	1,198
42	Marion	27,730	183	2,349
43	Greenfield	22,561	177	921
44	Kendallville	9,365	176	1,049
45	Linton	5,293	155	2,531
46	Seymour	19,780	148	1,901
47	Highland	22,479	145	1,710
48	Lawrenceburg	5,009	134	537
49	Columbia City	9,115	128	1,044
50	Vincennes	17,091	122	2,971

Methodology

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