Map shows most dangerous cities in the US

The five most dangerous cities in the US, according to StudyFinds (Picture: Metro graphics/Datawrapper)

The most dangerous places in the US include well-known urban centers – but some small cities overtake the largest and most famous metros.

America’s two biggest cities, New York City and Los Angeles, surprisingly did not make the list of the five most dangerous cities released by StudyFinds on Sunday.

‘When it comes to crime rates and safety concerns, it’s often the smaller cities at the top of the list,’ stated StudyFinds. ‘These cities, which might not dominate the headlines as much, face significant challenges contributing to their high crime rates.’

Yet some of the cities in the ranking are big and tourists destinations.

Vehicles drive through downtown Bessemer, Alabama (Picture: Getty Images)

Other lists often determine the most dangerous cities using crime rates, socioeconomic factors, levels of conflict, how effective law enforcement is, health risks and global safety reports.

Noting that different lists weigh the elements in various ways, StudyFinds’ ranking includes the most dangerous cities cited across seven websites.

Topping the list is a city many people, including Americans, have not heard of. Bessemer, Alabama, is located about 15 miles south of Birmingham and has a population of 27,000. It was once called The Marvel City because of how rapidly it grew. But it now has the highest crime rate in the country with 33.18 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.

‘The odds of becoming a crime victim in Bessemer are 1 in 9,’ stated Traveling Lifestyle.

Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of the city (Picture: Getty Images)

The Gateway Arch in St Louis, Missouri, is a tourist attraction (Picture: Getty Images)

In second place is Memphis, Tennessee, where the famed American singer and actor Elvis Presley had his Graceland mansion. But the city with a population of over 600,000 has a crime rate that is 237% higher than the national average.

The most dangerous neighborhoods within Memphis are the downtown, Berclair-Highland Heights and Parkway Village-Oakhaven, according to Property Club. Cops have made efforts to lower the crime rate for decades.

Third on the list is St Louis, Missouri, which is known for The Gateway Arch that symbolizes the gate to the West. There is a one in 50 chance of being a target of crime in St Louis. The city with a population of roughly 270,000 has high poverty and high unemployment. Its crime cost per capita is $11,055, per The Hill.

‘The concentration of poverty in certain neighborhoods amplifies the strain on social systems and increases the risk of criminal involvement,’ stated Norada Real Estate Investments.

Detroit, Michigan, has many abandoned buildings in its downtown (Picture: Getty Images)

Birmingham, Alabama, is one of the largest banking centers in the US and has a long history as a steel and iron producer (Picture: Getty Images)

Ranked the fourth most dangerous city is Detroit, Michigan, which as a center of automobile manufacturing is nicknamed Motor City. Its crime cost per capita is $9,291, according to The Hill.

Many abandoned structures in Detroit, which has a population of around 600,000, ‘illicit drug trade, squatters, and gang-related activities’, according to Norada Real Estate Investments.

Rounding out StudyFinds’ list of top five most dangerous US cities is Birmingham, Alabama. The city that founded Veterans Day and has a population of nearly 200,000 has a crime index that ‘encompasses homicides, robberies, and assaults’, stated Norada Real Estate Investments.

The crime cost per capita is $11,392. Birmingham has tried to reduce its crime rate, according to Traveling Lifestyle, but it remains 98% higher than other places in the state.

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