Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Washington State (2024)
- Tukwila
- Fife
- Tacoma
- Toppenish
- SeaTac
- Union Gap
- Seattle
- Lakewood
- Spokane
- Shelton
1. Tukwila
The most dangerous city in Washington state is Tukwila, due to its incredibly high crime rate that is 631% above the national average. This small city has a population of 21,798 and is located in King County, south of Seattle. In 2023, there were 165 incidents of violent crime and 3,341 incidents of property crime in Tukwila. Burglary, theft, robbery, and assault are common in Tukwila. Being located near Seattle, Tukwila has problems with homelessness and drug addiction. With so much crime, Tukwila is easily the worst city in Washington.
2. Fife
Fife is also one of the worst cities in Washington. This dangerous suburb of Tacoma is located in Pierce County and has a population of 11,000. Fife suffers from a crime rate that is 488% above the national average. Fife suffers from extremely high violent and property crime rates that are well above the national average. Common crimes include burglary, theft, assault, and robbery. There were multiple drive by shootings and murders recorded in Fife during the 2023 year.
3. Tacoma
Tacoma is another one of the worst cities in Washington. This port city is located along Washington’s Puget Sound and several national parks. Tacoma has a population of 219,346 and a crime rate that is 237% above the national average. Tacoma has both a high violent and property crime rate, including assaults, burglary, and theft being common. There were 30 murders and 518 robberies recorded in 2022.
4. Toppenish
Toppenish is a dangerous town of 8,854 people that is located within the Yakama Indian Reservation. The town has a total crime rate that is 200% above the national average and a property crime rate that is 232% above the national average. There were 569 property crimes and 47 violent crimes recorded in the 2022 year. Toppenish struggles with poverty, unemployment, and drug addiction in the surrounding area.
5. SeaTac
SeaTac is also one of the most dangerous cities in Washington State. SeaTac is part of the Seattle metropolitan area and is located adjacent to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. SeaTac has a population of 31,454 and a total crime rate that is 176% above the national average. Property crime is a major problem in SeaTac, with break-ins and thefts occurring regularly. Violent crime is also a problem, with three murders, fifty robberies, and eight-six assaults.
6. Union Gap
Union Gap is also one of the worst cities in Washington for crime. Union Gap is located in Yakima County and is a local economic hub in the rural Yakima Valley. The city has a population of 6,568 people and a total crime rate that is 164% above the national average. Property crime is the most prevalent, with many types of theft, such as burglary, larceny, and car theft being common. There were four murders recorded in Union Gap in 2022.
7. Seattle
Seattle is also one of the most dangerous cities in Washington. It’s also the largest city in Washington, home to many of the state’s top tourist destinations. Seattle’s population is 749,256, and the city suffers from a total crime rate that is 149% above the national average. Seattle’s crime rate has consistently been rising in recent years, with much of the city’s problems stemming from homelessness and drug addiction. Property crime is an epidemic in Seattle, with car thefts, larceny, and petty crime numbering in the tens of thousands annually. Seattle has 41 murders and 1,736 robberies recorded in 2022.
8. Lakewood
Lakewood is a dangerous city located on the southwestern edge of Tacoma in Pierce County, Washington. Lakewood has a population of 63,612 and a local crime rate that is 138% higher than the national average. Property crime is extremely high in Lakewood, with almost 3,000 crimes recorded in 2022. Violent crime is a problem in Lakewood as well, with almost 500 violent incidents recorded in 2022. Lakewood has many issues stemming from homelessness, drug trafficking, and general urban decay.
9. Spokane
Spokane is a city in eastern Washington near the Rocky Mountains. The city has a population of 228,989 and a total crime rate that is 132% above the national average. Property crime is common in Spokane, with over 10,600 incidents recorded in 2022. Common crimes include robbery, assault, burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. There were 14 murders recorded in Spokane in the 2022 year, making it one of the most violent cities in Washington.
10. Shelton
Shelton is a city along the westernmost shore of the Puget Sounds in Mason County. The town has a population of 10,371 and a total crime rate that is 66% above the national average, making it one of the worst places to live in Washington due to its high crime rate. The most common types of crime include theft, larceny, vehicle theft, and assault. There was one murder and three robberies recorded in 2022.