Whether you’re thinking about moving or traveling soon, it’s important to consider what neighborhoods you visit and reside in. This list of the highest crime rate cities in Indiana will give you a head start when it comes to figuring out which towns and metropolitan areas might have places to avoid. Our friends at RoadSnacks have compiled the most recent FBI statistics (we used the numbers from 2021 for this list), and we’ve worked with them to bring you the most important information. Visit RoadSnacks for the updated list of the most dangerous cities in Indiana and our updates for each city below. (Note: 2022 is the most recent info currently available) Scroll on to check it out:

1. South Bend
South Bend, IN, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Cntrlaltdel33t
The fourth-largest city in Indiana, the crime rates across the board here are about twice the state average. Robberies are exceptionally high, with 261.9 taking place per year per 100,000 people. Property crime rates are also high, with more than 4,200 taking place per year per 100,000 people. Update: For the 2022 updated list, South Bend moved to the 2nd most dangerous city in Indiana, and interestingly, it happens to be the snowiest city in Indiana.

Take a driving tour through South Bend:

2. Clarksville
Clarksville, IN, USA
William Alden/Flickr
Technically a suburb of Louisville, Kentucky, this Indiana city comes in at #2 this year. Violent crime and property crime are both more than twice the state average. Here you have a 1 in 17 chance of having your stuff stolen from you! Update: In the 2022 updated list, Clarksville is no longer in the top ten for Indiana's most dangerous cities! If you'd like to visit, check out the smallest state park in Indiana found there.
3. East Chicago
East Chicago, IN, USA
Jonathan Fischer/Google
This town is home to 27,717 residents, and there are definitely some pockets of the city that are quite dangerous. The crime rate here is higher than the city of Chicago! There are 725 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. Update: East Chicago has moved off the top ten list for 2022!
4. Evansville
Evansville, IN, USA
Goodfreephotos/Nyttend
Our state's third-largest city sits on the Ohio River and though it has far fewer residents (117,000), the murder rate is just as high. Property crime is twice as high as the state average as well. You have a 1 in 23 chance of becoming a victim of a property crime in Evansville. Update: For 2022, Evansville moved to the 3rd spot in the top ten list, unfortunately. There's a great used book warehouse in Evansville, though, if you love to read and want to swing by to check it out.
5. Gary
Gary, IN, USA
Flickr/Marc Tarlock
Not quite as violent as some might think, this town of 74,000 and suburb of Chicago is still one of the most dangerous cities in Indiana. It has seen twice as many car robberies, burglaries, and violent crimes than the state average. When it comes to violent crime, the city averages about 554 per 100,000 people per year, and there are about 3,556 property crimes per 100,000 people per year, which is more than two times the state and national average. Update: For 2022, Gary has moved out of the top ten! Check out the abandoned church that was once like a palace in Gary.

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6. Anderson
Anderson, IN, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Publichall
Although only about 54,800 people reside in this charming town, theft is common. Car theft is nearly twice the state and national average as is burglary and robbery. Update: For 2022, Anderson has moved out of the top ten! Do you like vintage shops? Check out the 3 Rusty Nails Shoppe in Anderson!
7. Hammond
Hammond, IN, USA
artistmac/Flickr
Home to about 75,000 people, this small town has reported plenty of violent crime. The rate of property crime is well above the state average. Update: For 2022, Anderson has moved out of the top ten! It's a great place to visit as one of the most walkable towns in Indiana.
8. Speedway
Speedway, IN, USA
formulanone/Flickr
Home to just over 12,000 residents, this town sees more crime than the state average across the board. Violent crime comes in at 311 per 100,000 residents. Update: For 2022, Speedway has moved out of the top ten! Interestingly, it is the location of a chilling unsolved murder mystery in Indiana.
9. Kokomo
Kokomo, IN, USA
David Wilson/Flickr
This town of 57,000 people sees slightly elevated crime rates compared to the rest of the state. Property crime and larceny are especially troublesome here. Update: For 2022, Kokomo has moved out of the top ten! And it has a really cool waterfront aquatic park you should check out for warm weather fun.
10. Lafayette
Lafayette, IN, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Qsthomson
For the 72,000 residents of this popular city, murder is right on target with the state average; about 6 take place per year per 100,000 people. When it comes to all other crime, rates are just slightly higher than the state average, meaning this city definitely has some dangerous pockets worth avoiding. Update: For 2022, Lafayette moved to the 6th spot in the top ten list, unfortunately. Even so, Indiana's most famous restaurant is found here!

Take a look at how Lafayette is improving:

On the flip side, here are 10 perfect cities in Indiana you’ll find are just right.

What other most dangerous cities in Indiana would you have put on this list? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

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More to Explore

Most Dangerous Cities in Indiana

Tori Jane | January 05, 2022

What are the crime rates in Indiana like?  

Indiana is the 22nd most dangerous state.

Indiana isn’t the best, but it’s certainly not the worst when it comes to crime (both violent and property types). Overall, it ranks 22nd when it comes to a list of the most dangerous states, and this is due to an unusually high murder rate in certain towns (like Gary). In 2018, there were 3.56 violent crimes for every 1,000 residents, and you generally stand a 1 in 281 chance of being the victim of a violent crime yourself. As for property crime, there was more of this than violent crimes (thank goodness, we guess?). Your odds of becoming the victim of a property crime (things like burglary and theft) are 1 in 56 – quite a jump from the violent crime odds. Overall, Indiana sees about 23 crimes per square mile per year.  

What is a dangerous place to avoid in Indiana? 

A dangerous place to avoid in Indiana is Gary.

If you ask almost any Hoosier this question, most of them will say the same exact thing: stay away from Gary. It’s clear why: it’s only safer than 7% of other US cities. Its crime rates are much higher than the state averages, with 5.40 violent crimes per 1,000 residents and 33.11 property crimes per 1,000 residents. In total, that’s 38.51 crimes for every 1,000 people, and that’s nothing to shake a stick at. While in Indiana you have a 1 in 281 chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime, in Gary, those odds shift to a 1 in 185 chance. As for property crimes, you have a 1 in 30 chance of being a victim. Gary was once known as the “murder capital of the United States” in the 1990s, and though it’s cleaned up its act in recent years, it’s still not the safest place to find yourself alone outside at night. However, if you do decide you want to check it out, Gary is a hotspot for artists and urban explorers.  

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