Top 10 most dangerous cities in Oklahoma

Oklahoma, known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Oklahoma City to the scenic beauty of the Wichita Mountains, Oklahoma provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Oklahoma faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Oklahoma are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Oklahoma's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Oklahoma'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, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Anadarko Population: 6,600 1,214 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.33 chance of being a victim: 1 in 82 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,563

Anadarko, OK holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Oklahoma with 1,214 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,086), robbery (37), rape (74) and homicide (18) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 194% higher than the Oklahoma 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.

Ardmore Population: 24,834 1,195 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 84 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,636

The second most dangerous city is Ardmore. With a population of 24,834 and a violent crime rate that is 189% higher than the Oklahoma average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Ardmore are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,195 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 84 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Muskogee Population: 37,337 1,052 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.88 chance of being a victim: 1 in 95 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,481

Home to 37,337 residents, Muskogee, OK ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Oklahoma. Unfortunately for residents of Muskogee, crime is widespread, with more than 1,052 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.88 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 154% higher than the Oklahoma violent crime rate.

Tulsa Population: 402,441 912 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 110 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,851

With a violent crime rate that is 121% higher than the Oklahoma average, it's not hard to see why Tulsa made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (100), assault (702), rape (101) and homicide (9). 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 Tulsa more vulnerable to high crime.

Lawton Population: 93,535 770 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.11 chance of being a victim: 1 in 130 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,218

The ongoing battle with crime in Lawton, OK, 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 770 and a 1 in 130 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Lawton has a violent crime rate that is 86% higher than the Oklahoma 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 Lawton.

Oklahoma City Population: 649,821 638 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 157 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,572

Oklahoma City, OK comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 638 per 100,000 people, which is 54% higher than the Oklahoma average. Oklahoma City has a population of 649,821, which translates to 1.75 crimes per day and 1 in 157 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 Oklahoma City which are much safer than others.

Okmulgee Population: 11,768 602 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 166 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,578

A 1 in 166 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.65 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Okmulgee makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 602 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 46% higher than the Oklahoma average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (515), robbery (35), rape (26) and homicide (26).

Ponca City Population: 23,940 518 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.42 chance of being a victim: 1 in 193 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,625

Ponca City, OK is another one of the most dangerous cities in Oklahoma and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 23,940 and a violent crime rate of 518 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 354 counts of assault, 25 counts of robbery, 132 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. All told, the Ponca City violent crime rate is 25% higher than the Oklahoma average.

Miami Population: 13,176 504 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.38 chance of being a victim: 1 in 198 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,606

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, Miami, OK comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Oklahoma with a violent crime rate of 504 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.38 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 198 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Shawnee Population: 31,361 482 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.32 chance of being a victim: 1 in 207 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,499

Rounding out our list at #10 is Shawnee, OK. With a population of 31,361 and a violent crime rate of 482 per 100,000 people (17% higher than the Oklahoma average), some parts of Shawnee are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 382 counts of assault, 47 counts of robbery, 47 counts of rape and 6 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 207 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Oklahoma

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Anadarko	6,600	1,214	4,563
2	Ardmore	24,834	1,195	4,636
3	Muskogee	37,337	1,052	4,481
4	Tulsa	402,441	912	4,851
5	Lawton	93,535	770	3,218
6	Oklahoma City	649,821	638	3,572
7	Okmulgee	11,768	602	3,578
8	Ponca City	23,940	518	3,625
9	Miami	13,176	504	4,606
10	Shawnee	31,361	482	3,499
11	Pauls Valley	6,128	465	3,520
12	Enid	50,116	460	3,303
13	Hugo	5,114	457	2,876
14	Vinita	5,367	445	2,883
15	Sallisaw	8,536	432	3,843
16	Pryor Creek	9,417	426	3,511
17	Seminole	7,155	406	2,783
18	Woodward	12,213	386	2,258
19	Bartlesville	36,495	382	3,152
20	Clinton	9,117	379	1,541
21	Poteau	8,866	377	4,109
22	Midwest City	57,392	374	2,801
23	Holdenville	5,662	372	2,367
24	Purcell	6,508	366	3,560
25	Chickasha	16,326	357	2,917
26	Duncan	22,529	357	2,912
27	Tecumseh	6,721	347	2,317
28	Altus	18,533	346	1,791
29	Blackwell	6,634	346	2,108
30	Del City	21,762	345	3,800
31	Warr Acres	10,169	319	4,209
32	Wagoner	9,061	310	2,673
33	Norman	124,086	308	2,587
34	Catoosa	7,930	295	2,616
35	Durant	18,516	284	3,349
36	The Village	9,500	279	2,382
37	McAlester	18,042	271	2,654
38	Moore	61,683	257	1,962
39	Ada	17,399	247	2,094
40	El Reno	19,539	243	1,719
41	Claremore	18,875	230	2,684
42	Guthrie	11,296	228	1,807
43	Bethany	19,292	227	2,043
44	Harrah	6,480	215	1,508
45	Sand Springs	19,912	214	3,936
46	Elk City	11,544	206	1,431
47	Sapulpa	21,170	205	1,787
48	Broken Arrow	108,875	205	1,560
49	Cushing	7,759	203	2,165
50	Tuttle	7,348	202	915

Methodology

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