Memphis Continues Its Struggle with Violence
Memphis, the second-biggest city in the red state of Tennessee, tops the list with 2,501 violent crimes per 100,000 people, according to data from the FBI. The city has been grappling with alarming levels of violence that put residents and visitors at significant risk. The city has recorded 145 murder victims in the first eight months of the year. What makes Memphis particularly concerning is the persistence of these high crime rates despite ongoing efforts to address the problem.
City police say overall crime has decreased by 22 percent compared to last year. This shows that while Memphis remains at the top of dangerous cities lists, local authorities are working hard to turn things around.
Detroit Shows Dramatic Improvement Despite High Rankings
Detroit closely trails Memphis with a violent crime rate of 1,781 per 100,00 and a rate of 31.2 homicides per 100,000 residents. Last year, there were 203 homicides, the lowest number since 1965, according to city data. This represents a remarkable turnaround for the Motor City. The numbers tell a story of significant progress rather than deterioration.
The number marks a 19 percent decrease from 2023 and 34 percent from 2022 for the Motor City. Detroit’s mayoral office told Newsweek: “In 2025, Detroit is seeing the fewest homicides, shootings, and carjackings it has in more than 50 years. A major part of that success is the excellent partnership we have with US Atty Jerome Gorgon and the other federal agencies.”
Baltimore’s Complex Crime Picture
Baltimore had 1,606 violent crimes and 34.8 homicides per 100,000 people last year. The city has long struggled with violent crime, but recent data shows some encouraging trends. City leaders have also touted a 15 percent drop in the murder rate, in part crediting local violence intervention initiatives. Despite these improvements, Baltimore remains one of the most dangerous cities in America.
Despite its top ranking, Baltimore has seen its murder rate drop recently. While new public policies and educational initiatives are possible reasons, experts cite “collective fatigue” as a leading cause for the improvement. Residents are fed up with the violence and are making a communal effort to reduce it.
St. Louis Experiences Significant Decline
According to STLPR St. Louis has experienced its lowest homicide rate in a decade, attributed to targeted investments in crime prevention, intervention, and enforcement. According to Spectrum News, 116 homicides were reported, down from 126 in 2023 and 154 in 2022. This represents one of the most dramatic improvements among major American cities.
According to the City of St. Louis: January 2025: Homicides dropped by roughly 55% compared to January 2024. Through Q1 2025 (as of March 31): Homicides remained 45% lower year-over-year, signaling continued declines. These numbers show that St. Louis is moving in the right direction after years of struggle.
Milwaukee Faces Mixed Results
The city of Milwaukee had 1,431 violent crimes per 100,000. So far this year, police have recorded 100 homicides and 293 rapes, marking a 10 percent and 1 percent year-on-year increase, respectively. Milwaukee represents one of the few cities where certain violent crimes have actually increased in 2025.
In January, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) created a statewide violence prevention office and poured $66 million into support services for victims. Evers noted in a press release that violent crime was going down statewide. This shows that while Milwaukee struggles, the state is taking comprehensive action.
Nashville Maintains Concerning Crime Levels
Tennessee’s capital and its largest city, Nashville reported 1,124 violent crimes per 100,000 people; local police face a shortage of 100 officers, and leaders have struggled to increase staffing, the Nashville Banner reported. Still, crime rates in 2025 are 10 percent lower than last year, according to the city. The officer shortage appears to be a significant challenge in addressing crime effectively.
The death toll reached 104 in 2024, one more death than the year before. This suggests that while overall crime decreased, the most serious violent crimes remained steady or slightly increased.
Denver Shows Promise with Targeted Efforts
Denver saw 993 violent crimes per 100,000 people, according the FBI. Democratic Gov. Jared Polis has set a goal of reducing violent crime statewide by 6 percent year over year. The city has been working systematically to address its crime challenges with measurable goals.
But overall, I’m very proud that violent crime has gone down just in the last two years, 13.9 percent,” Polis said, as reported by ABC7. Denver Police Department said total violent crime is down 7.31 percent as of August. These statistics demonstrate that Denver’s approach is yielding positive results.
Little Rock’s Persistent Violence Issues
Little Rock’s crime landscape is heavily marked by violent crime, particularly aggravated assault, which significantly influences the community’s sense of safety. The violent crime rate of Little Rock is 18.25 per 1,000 residents, according to recent statistics. The city continues to face challenges that affect residents’ daily lives and sense of security.
Community leaders in Little Rock have been working on various intervention programs, but the results have been mixed. The high rate of aggravated assault suggests that conflicts are escalating to dangerous levels more frequently than in many other cities.