Is Michigan Dangerous?
Michigan is one of the most dangerous states in the US due to its high violent crime rate of 473 per 100,000 people, which is 24% higher than the national average. Michigan also suffers from the eighth-highest aggravated assault rate in America as well as a murder rate that is 11% above the US average.
Crime rates in Michigan have also been on the rise in recent years, with the state's violent crime rate increasing by 13% over the last ten years.
11 Most Dangerous Cities in Michigan
- Detroit
- Benton Harbor
- Kalamazoo
- Muskegon Heights
- Albion
- Highland Park
- Jackson
- Harper Woods
- Saginaw
- Pontiac
- Flint
1. Detroit
The most dangerous city in Michigan is Detroit. The city has a population of 635,000 and was long known as a center of the US car industry. Unfortunately, it also experiences high violent and property crime rates. Considered one of America’s most dangerous large cities, Detroit has a crime rate of 6,389 per 100k people making it 170% more dangerous than the national average.
The chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 44, with 252 murders, 1,392 robberies, and 11,096 assaults being recorded in 2023. Gun violence is rampant in Detroit, and much of the city’s crime can be attributed to gang activity. Although Detroit is the worst city in Michigan, crime rates have been slowly droping in recent years and in 2023 the city recorded its lowest murder rate in over 50 years.
2. Benton Harbor
Benton Harbor is another one of the most dangerous cities in Michigan. With a population of 8,892, Benton Harbor has a crime rate of 6,365 per 100k people, making the city 169% more dangerous than the national average. The chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 29. In 2021, the city recorded two murders, eleven robberies, and 285 assaults. Property crime is equally problematic, with 67 burglaries being recorded in 2023. Benton Harbor has a high poverty rate, with the annual resident income being $32,236 and few employment opportunities.
3. Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo has a population of 75,834 and a crime rate of 6,018 per 100,000 residents, which is 164% higher than the national average. Residents have a 1 in 17 chance of becoming victims of any crime. In 2023, there were 14 murders, 137 robberies, and 873 assaults. This makes the chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime 1 in 67. In the same year, there were over 700 burglaries and home invasion incidents. The unemployment rate in the city is 6.7%, and high poverty rates contribute to the high crime rate.
4. Muskegon Heights
Muskegon Heights is also one of the most dangerous cities in Michigan. Muskegon Heights suffers from a very high rate of gun violence. The city has a population of 10,730 and a notoriously high crime rate. Muskegon Heights may have a small population, but the amount of violent and property crime is grossly disproportionate to its size. In 2022, the overall crime rate was 130% higher than the national average, with a crime rate of 5,390. This means that each resident has a 1 in 19 chance of becoming a victim of any type of crime. In addition, incidents involving burglary and destruction of property are extremely high, with home invasions being common.
5. Albion
Albion is also among the most dangerous cities in Michigan. It's a small city in Calhoun County that's within the Battle Creek metro area. Albion is known for its small-town atmosphere and Midwestern charm and has a population of 7,700 residents. However, despite its size, Albion has rougher areas. It has a total crime rate of 4,671 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is 105% higher than the national average. The violent crime rate is also 196% higher than the national average, and your odds of being the victim of a crime in Albion are 1 in 22.
6. Highland Park
Highland Park is also one of the worst places to live in Michigan due to its high violent crime rates. Highland Park has a population of 10,978 and a crime rate of 4,541 per 100,000 people, making the city 94% more dangerous than the national average. The overall chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime is 1 in 23. In 2022 there were six murders, 25 robberies, and 164 assaults. Highland Park suffers from urban decay, and many buildings are left abandoned and in disrepair.
7. Jackson
Jackson is also one of the worst cities in Michigan due to its high violent crime rate. It has a population of 32,188 and a crime rate of 4,179 per 100k, making the city 127% more dangerous than the Michigan average. The chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 84, with seven murders, 33 robberies, and 277 assaults being recorded in 2021. Property crime is also high in Jackson, with residents having a 1 in 31 chance of becoming a victim. In 2021, there were 178 incidents of Burglary, 736 counts of personal theft, and 111 counts of motor vehicle theft.
8. Harper Woods
Located near Detroit in Wayne County, it’s no surprise that Harper Woods is one of the most dangerous places in Michigan. The city has a population of 15,492, and the crime rate in Harper Woods is 4,057 per 100,000 people, making the city 121% more dangerous than the average city in Michigan. The chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 108. In 2021, there were 3 murders, 10 robberies, and 126 assaults.
9. Saginaw
Saginaw is also one of the worst cities in Michican for crime. It has a population of 49,892 and a crime rate of 3,662 per 100,00 people. This means that Saginaw is 99% more dangerous than other cities in Michigan. Violent crimes are 46% higher than the national average, and residents have a 1 in 28 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. In 2020, the city recorded 234 burglaries, 109 motor thefts, and 409 thefts. The poverty rate is 34.85%, and the murder crime rate is 0.57 per 1,000 people.
10. Pontiac
Pontiac is another one of the worst cities in Michigan due to its high violent crime rate. Situated about 32 miles northeast of Detroit, Pontiac is known for being the birthplace of the famous Pontiac cars. It has a population of 61,606 residents. Pontiac experiences a high rate of violent crime, which makes it one of the most dangerous cities in Michigan. The total crime rate is 2,793 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is 20% higher than the national average. The property crime rate is actually 9% lower than the rest of the country, but the violent crime rate is 177% higher. Your chances of being the victim of a crime in Pontiac.
11. Flint
Flint has made the news for several reasons, including its high crime rate. Flint’s population is 98,762, and the city has a crime rate of 2,752 per 100,000 people making the city 50% more dangerous than the state average. In 2021, Flint saw a steep increase in the number of murders, resulting in a 9-year high. In that year, there were 60 recorded murders, marking a 21% increase from 2020 to 2021. The overall chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 78. Per year, Flint averages around 47 murders, 84 robberies, and 827 assaults. Property crime is also high, with residents having a 1 in 49 chance of becoming victims.
Most Dangerous Cities in Michigan Bottom Line
Due to the likelihood of becoming a victim, these cities are better avoided if you plan to visit or move to Michigan. Places like Detroit and Flint carry great cultural significance to Michigan and still serve as regional economic hubs. However, these cities made this list because they are statistically more violent and dangerous. All of the places on this list suffer from high murder rates, gang activity, urban decay, and poverty.