America was built on dreams — but some of those dreams were left behind in cities that now struggle under the weight of economic decline, crime, and neglect.
Once filled with laughter, music, and ambition, these places now carry the echoes of lost industry and forgotten communities.
This list of the 10 most hated and unsafe cities in the U.S. isn’t just about crime rates — it’s about what happens when opportunity fades and cities fight to survive.
⚠️ What Makes a City “Unsafe”?
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program defines violent crime as murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Other factors — such as poverty, unemployment, homelessness, and urban decay — also influence safety and perception.
👉 FBI Crime Data Explorer – Official Statistics
Top 10 Most Hated and Unsafe Cities in the United States (2025 Report)
10. Flint, Michigan
Infamous for its water crisis, Flint became a national symbol of government neglect.
Once a booming General Motors hub, the city has lost more than half its population since the 1950s.
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Violent crime rate: ~1,800 per 100,000 (FBI data)
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Poverty rate: ~40%
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Median income: ~$33,000
Flint’s story reflects environmental injustice and economic abandonment. Yet, locals continue to rebuild through arts, small businesses, and new housing projects.
🔗 Learn more – Flint Water Crisis Overview (EPA)
9. St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is a city of contradictions — rich culture, deep history, and one of the highest homicide rates in the U.S.
Industrial decline and racial division have left deep scars.
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Violent crime rate: ~1,900 per 100,000
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Homicides: ~200 annually
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Poverty rate: ~22%
Tourists love the Gateway Arch and baseball pride, but locals warn of safety concerns at night.
St. Louis remains a powerful example of a city struggling to redefine itself.
8. Birmingham, Alabama
Once called the Magic City for its explosive industrial growth, Birmingham now faces deep economic inequality.
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Violent crime rate: ~1,700 per 100,000
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Poverty rate: ~30%
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Median income: ~$42,000
Despite the crime, Birmingham’s civil rights legacy and growing downtown arts scene show hope beneath the hardship.
🔗 City of Birmingham Economic Report
7. Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland’s decline mirrors the fall of America’s manufacturing heartland.
Once home to nearly a million residents, it now faces high poverty and persistent crime.
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Violent crime rate: ~1,600 per 100,000
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Poverty rate: ~30%
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Population: ~360,000
Despite improvements along the waterfront and sports pride, the “Mistake on the Lake” stigma still haunts its image.
🔗 Cleveland Police Annual Report
6. Memphis, Tennessee
The birthplace of blues and soul is also one of America’s most dangerous cities.
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Violent crime rate: ~2,300 per 100,000
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Homicide rate: ~80 per 100,000
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Poverty rate: ~27%
Memphis’s rhythm is resilience — it hurts, but it fights back through music, community programs, and culture.
🔗 Memphis Police Department Crime Dashboard
Also Read: How America’s Tourism Industry Shows the U.S. Is No Longer the World’s Most Loved Destination
5. Baltimore, Maryland
Known as Charm City, Baltimore balances beauty and danger.
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Violent crime rate: ~1,900 per 100,000
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Homicide rate: ~55 per 100,000
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Poverty rate: ~22%
The same city that gave us The Wire struggles with systemic inequality and opioid abuse, yet it thrives with activism and art.
4. Los Angeles, California
The City of Angels is both glamorous and gritty. Beneath the Hollywood shine lies deep inequality.
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Violent crimes: ~30,000 annually
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Homeless population: 45,000+
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Median rent: ~$2,700/month
LA’s contrasts — from luxury to poverty — define its reputation as beautiful but broken.
🔗 LA Homeless Services Authority Report
3. New Orleans, Louisiana
Jazz, Mardi Gras, and danger — New Orleans is one of America’s most soulful yet unsafe cities.
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Violent crime rate: ~1,600 per 100,000
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Homicide rate: ~70 per 100,000
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Poverty rate: ~23%
The city’s beauty coexists with crime and corruption, yet its people keep dancing through the chaos.
🔗 City of New Orleans Safety Data
2. Trenton, New Jersey
Despite being the state capital, Trenton struggles with high crime and economic decay.
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Violent crime rate: ~1,700 per 100,000
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Poverty rate: ~30%
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Population: <90,000
Surrounded by wealth but plagued by poverty, Trenton symbolizes urban neglect in a rich state.
🔗 Trenton City Government – Economic Development
1. Gary, Indiana
The story of Gary is the story of forgotten America. Once a proud steel town, it’s now one of the most dangerous small cities in the U.S.
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Violent crime rate: ~1,900 per 100,000
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Poverty rate: ~35%
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Unemployment: ~10%
Abandoned homes and limited resources define Gary’s landscape. But behind the decay lies a quiet determination to rebuild.
🔗 Gary Economic Redevelopment Plan
🏚️ The Bigger Picture
These cities aren’t hated because of their people — they’re symbols of America’s deeper problems:
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Deindustrialization
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Poverty
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Inequality
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Institutional neglect
And yet, each city still holds the same hope that built America in the first place — the hope of rebirth.