List Of Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Texas (2023)

Texas boasts a wide range of towns and cities, making it a vast and diverse state with a population of over 29 million people. As with any large form, livability and safety vary greatly depending on the city. In this article, we’ll focus on the ten most dangerous cities in Texas, considering factors such as crime rates and overall safety.

Our ranking of the most violent cities in Texas was determined by analyzing data from the FBI’s 2021-22 Uniform Crime Report and state and local crime data from 2022. The analysis was based on the number of crimes and violent crime rates per capita, specifically per 1,000 individuals.

10 Most Dangerous Cities in Texas

Houston

Houston, Texas, has been identified as the most dangerous city in the state. With a population of 2.33 million, Houston’s violent crime rate stands at 2.67 per 1,000 residents, while property crime is at 10.70 per 1,000 residents. Shockingly, there were 6,241 violent crimes reported only in 2022, including 399 murders. Property crime is also rampant, with 95,926 incidents reported in the same year. This means that the overall chance of falling victim to property crime is 1 in 23, while the possibility of becoming a victim of violent crime is 1 in 78.

According to statistics, Sunnyside, MacGregor, Sharptown, and Greenspoint have been identified as the most dangerous neighbourhoods in Houston.

San Antonio

San Antonio, with a population of 1.59 million, is considered one of the most unsafe cities in Texas. In 2022, there were 2,918 reported incidents of violent crime, resulting in a violent crime rate of 1.83 incidents per 1,000 people. Property crime is also a significant concern in the city, with a rate of 10.83 incidents per 1,000 people. In 2016, San Antonio saw its highest homicide rate in 20 years, with 151 murders. Unfortunately, the murder rate has continued to rise, reaching a 30-year high of 195 in 2022. Gang activity significantly contributes to the high rates of violent crime in the city, with most of the murders being drug-related or domestic incidents.

San Antonio has some neighbourhoods that are considered less desirable than others. Pecan Valley, East Terrell Hills, Arena District, Villa De San Antonio, and Westwood Village are among these.

Lubbock

With a population of 327,424, Lubbock, Texas, faces a severe issue of violent crimes. The city has a violent crime rate of 2.23 per 1,000 persons, 121% higher than the US average. Unfortunately, the crime rate has increased by ten per cent from 2021-22. The situation is even worse when it comes to homicides. From 2019 to 2020, there was a staggering 182% increase in homicides from 11 to 31. The current homicide rate of 9.5 incidents per 100,000 people in 2022 is well above the national rate of 6.5 per 100,000. It is indeed a concerning issue that needs to be addressed immediately.

Beaumont

Beaumont is among the cities with the highest rates of violence in Texas, with a population of 112,556. The city’s violent crime rate is 2.5 per 1,000 individuals, making it 93% higher than the national average. From 2019 to 2022, the overall violent crime rates in the Beaumont metropolitan area have increased by almost 12%. The district attorney responsible for Jefferson County, which encompasses both Port Arthur and Beaumont, has attributed the backlog of cases and the resulting release of violent offenders to pandemic-related delays in criminal trials. As a result, violent offenders spend more time on the streets than usual.

Dallas

Dallas, a populous city in Texas, is unfortunately known for its high crime rate. With 4,291 crimes per 100,000 people, it is 83% more dangerous than the national average. Shockingly, the chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Dallas are 1 in 113. The city recorded 11,534 violent crimes in 2020, including 235 murders, 3,296 robberies, and 7,428 assaults. It’s common to hear about shootings in Dallas, often linked to gang activity.

According to statistics, some of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in Dallas include South Boulevard Park Row, Cedar Crest, South Dallas, Convention Center District, and Northwest Dallas. These areas have been identified as having higher crime rates and may pose a greater risk to residents and visitors. It’s essential to exercise caution and take appropriate safety measures when in these neighbourhoods.

Mesquite

Mesquite, with a population of 147,691, has a crime rate of 69% higher than the national average. The year 2020 saw 617 violent crime cases, including 11 murders, 149 robberies, and 390 assaults. In terms of property crime, there were about 5,000 incidents reported, with 735 cases of burglary and 854 cases of vehicle theft. Theft and burglary were the most commonly reported property crimes, with approximately 5,000 incidents reported.

Mesquite’s Northwest and Southeast neighbourhoods have been identified as the most hazardous areas in the city.

Austin

According to recent statistics, Austin is also considered one of the most challenging cities in Texas. The total number of violent crimes reported in Austin has risen from 1,139 in 2021 to 1,282 in 2022. The city’s violent crime rate is 24 per 1,000 persons, while the property crime rate is 8.36 per 1,000 individuals. Regarding the violent crime rate per 100,000 residents, Austin ranks 28th out of the 30 largest US cities.

The city of Austin has a few neighbourhoods that are considered to be particularly dangerous. These include Riverside, Rosewood, Bouldin, and MLK. It’s essential to exercise caution and be aware of your surroundings if you find yourself in these areas.

Corpus Christi

In 2021, there were 686 crime cases in Corpus Christi, which dropped slightly to 619 in 2022. The violent crime rate is 1.88 per 1000 persons, while property crime is 7.52 per 1000 individuals. Shockingly, there were 2,824 incidents of violent crime in 2021, resulting in a 1 in 133 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime – a staggering 75% higher than the national average. The likelihood of falling prey to crime in Corpus Christi can vary significantly depending on your location, with the northern parts of the city posing the highest risk (1 in 12 chance) and the southwest being the safest (1 in 67 cases).

Waco

With a population of 138,486, Waco has a higher crime rate than the national average, with 7.18 incidents per 1000 people. This makes the city 74% more dangerous than the rest of the country. In 2020, a total of 911 violent crimes were committed, which included 14 cases of murder, 143 robberies, and 671 assaults. Additionally, there were over 5,000 property crimes, including 882 burglaries and 422 cases of vehicle theft.

Pasadena

According to statistics, Pasadena, with a population of 135,732, has a crime rate of 2,428 per 100,000 individuals, which is 5% higher than the US average. Residents face a 1 in 332 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Last year, there were 7 reported murders, 119 robberies, and 241 assaults. In addition, there were 3,000 property crimes, including 678 burglaries, 2,038 thefts, and 361 motor vehicle thefts.

Also Read:

• List Of Top 9 Most Dangerous Cities in Virginia
• The Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Georgia 
• Top 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Dallas
• The Top 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Miami