Map Shows Which States Have The Highest Crime Rate

Understanding crime rates across different states is crucial for policymakers, law enforcement, and the general public, and a new map gives fresh insight into the social and economic factors impacting safety across the U.S.
According to a February report from Pew Research Center, 58 percent of U.S. adults – around 70 percent of Republicans and 50 percent of Democrats – believe reducing crime “should be a top priority for the president and Congress.” This figure has risen from 47 percent at the start of the Biden presidency in 2021.
Crime rates become an especially hot topic during election cycles, with candidates brandishing their “tough on crime” credentials in an effort to win over the U.S. public.
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However, while the national crime rate has been steadily falling since the 1990s, according to Pew, rates of crime vary greatly from state to state.
Using research by Data Pandas, Newsweek created a map showcasing which states have the highest, and lowest, reported crime rates in the U.S.
New Mexico topped the list of states by reported crime rate, at 6,462 per 100,000 residents, more than double the bottom 11 states on the list.
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This is perhaps unsurprising, as the state performs poorly in measures, such as education and wealth, that have historically been linked to higher crime rates.
New Mexico ranks as the worst state in the U.S. in terms of educational quality, according to the U.S. News & World Report.
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U.S. Census Bureau data also lists New Mexico one as of the nation’s poorest states, with around 18 percent of its residents living below the poverty line.
In mid-July, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham called for “immediate legislative action” to address the state’s crime problem, and submitted an 11-bill proposal to the state legislature focused on mental health treatment, crime reporting, and gun violence, among other things.
However, New Mexico lawmakers not pass any of the governor’s proposed bills during a special session on July 18.
New Mexico is closely followed by Louisiana, with a reported crime rate of 6,408 per 100,000.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Louisiana has the third-highest homicide rate in the country, bested only by Mississippi and Washington D.C.
Notably, large states such as California and Texas and the densely populated states of New Jersey and Rhode Island had relatively low crime rates.
California sits at number 19 on the rankings, while Texas holds the 15th spot.
New Jersey, the most densely populated state according to Census Bureau data, has the fifth lowest crime rate in the nation at 2,512, contradicting the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which lists population density as one of the key variables impacting regional crime rates.
On the bottom on the list, and taking the title for least crime-ridden state is New Hampshire.
The Granite State’s success can be attributed to a combination of factors, including strong socio-economic conditions and high levels of education.
U.S. News & World Report had New Hampshire seventh in its list of richest states, with a median household income of $89,992, and places it ninth in the rankings of educational quality.
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