We, Missourians, take great pride in our state, which is why many of us have never given much thought to what the most dangerous cities in Missouri are. Missouri is, after all, our home, and it’s brimming with pure natural beauty (and pretty awesome people). However, as our home, maybe we should be wondering, “What are the worst cities in Missouri?” or “What city has the highest crime rate in Missouri?” Just like any state, Missouri has its fair share of problems. The FBI’s statistics, in fact, list the following as the 10 most dangerous cities in Missouri.

1. Springfield
Springfield, MO, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Trint Williams
With a population of 168,537, Springfield comes in at the top of the list of the most dangerous cities in Missouri. Violent crimes totaled 2,218, which breaks down to 1,574 aggravated assaults, 333 rapes, 295 robberies, and 16 murders. Property crimes, on the other hand, added up to 11,830, the majority of which were larceny/theft. The city does have its fair share of perks, though, including offering one of the most unique tours in Missouri.
2. St. Louis
St. Louis, MO, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Daniel Schwen
When it comes to the highest crime rate in Missouri, St. Louis ranks pretty high up there. Of course, with over 300,000 residents, it is on the larger side; however, its crime rates are rather alarming. Over the course of a single year, there were 5,525 violent crimes, including 187 murders, 309 rapes, 1,452 robberies, 3,577 assaults, 2,979 burglaries, 12,413 incidents of larceny, 188 cases of arson, and 2,750 motor vehicle thefts - and that’s in addition to 18,000 property crimes. But don’t make the mistake of avoiding the city altogether. There are lots of great attractions in St. Louis.
3. Branson
Branson, MO 65616, USA
Flickr/Paul Sableman
Branson is most known for being one of the best summertime destinations in Missouri. However, despite its relatively small population of 11,589, Branson tallied 85 violent crimes in 2018. The breakdown of those violent crimes came to 65 aggravated assaults, 10 robberies, and 10 rapes. In comparison, property crimes totaled 1,244, with 999 of them falling under larceny/theft.

Get an aerial view of Branson:

4. Vinita Park
Vinita Park, MO, USA
Google Maps
Vinita Park comes in right behind Branson. A city of 11,003 residents, Vinita Park saw 144 violent crimes – 44 robberies, 13 murders, and three rapes. Property crimes, however, were significantly higher at 592, 375 of which were larceny/theft.
5. Maplewood
Maplewood, MO, USA
Flickr/Paul Sableman
Though just a town of 8,130, Maplewood saw 48 violent crimes in 2018. Aggravated assaults totaled 31, with 14 robberies and three rapes. Property crime, on the other hand, was significantly higher. Of the 700 property crimes, 636 were larceny/theft.

Related Stories

More Than 90% Of Missouri Is Now Officially Experiencing Drought

More Than 90% Of Missouri Is Now Officially Experiencing Drought

 There Were A Shocking 9 Mercury Spills In Missouri In 2023, And Now The State Is Fighting Back

There Were A Shocking 9 Mercury Spills In Missouri In 2023, And Now The State Is Fighting Back

 The Most Terrifying Drive You Can Possibly Take In Missouri

The Most Terrifying Drive You Can Possibly Take In Missouri
6. Caruthersville
Caruthersville, MO 63830, USA
Flickr/formulanone
Caruthersville, with 5,640 residents, saw 70 violent crimes in 2018 – 57 aggravated assaults, eight robberies, three rapes, and two murders. Of the 270 property crimes, the majority (177) were larceny/theft.
7. Aurora
Aurora, MO 65605, USA
Google Maps
Next on the list of top 10 most dangerous cities in Missouri is Aurora, a town with nearly 7,500 residents. In 2018, the town saw 74 violent crimes, with 63 aggravated assaults, seven robberies, and four rapes. Property crimes were more than four times higher, with 349; 261 were larceny/theft.
8. Bridgeton
Bridgeton, MO, USA
Flickr/Aaron Volkening
Over the course of one year, 68 violent crimes occurred in Bridgeton, a town of 11,663. Aggravated assaults accounted for 42 of those violent crimes while there were 19 robberies, six rapes, and one murder. Property crimes came in 10 times higher at 680. Larceny/theft totaled 557 of property crimes.
9. Poplar Bluff
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901, USA
Wikipedia/Skye Marthaler
Despite being home to one of the best water parks in Missouri, it's not all fun and games in Poplar Bluff. With 17,074 residents, the city tallied 85 violent crimes. Forty-nine of those violent crimes were aggravated assaults followed by 19 robberies, 15 rapes, and two murders. Property crime was significantly higher with a total of 1,163, with 854 larceny/thefts.
10. Kansas City
Kansas City, MO, USA
Flickr/Stuart Seeger
Rounding out the top 10 is Kansas City, with a population of nearly half a million residents. The city experienced 7,842 violent crimes – 5,665 aggravated assaults, 1,637 robberies, 403 rapes, and 137 murders. Property theft was nearly triple that at 21,236, of which 13,305 were larceny/theft.

Learn about the history of Kansas City:

Do you agree that these are the most dangerous cities in Missouri? Were you surprised at any that made the list? What other places would you say are among the worst cities in Missouri? Tell us what you think in the comments!

Let’s move away from the serious now, for just a few minutes. Do you live near one of the eight best places to hide from zombies?

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Most Dangerous Cities In Missouri

Daniella DiRienzo | May 31, 2022

What is the most scenic town in Missouri?

The most scenic town in Missouri is Eminence.

The most dangerous cities in Missouri are slim in comparison to the state’s charming towns, like Eminence. Easy to overlook, it’s a small town with just several hundred (very lucky) residents. However, don’t let its small size fool you. One of the most scenic towns in Missouri, Eminence delivers in a big way when it comes to natural beauty and eye-catching sights. The “beautiful small town” is home to some of Mother Nature’s best creations, including Rocky Falls, Round Spring Cave, and Blue Spring. It’s also got some pretty great man-made creations, like Alley Mill, a historic grist mill.

Where is the creepiest town in Missouri?

The creepiest town in Missouri is Times Beach.

Ghost towns are undeniably creepy. From the eerie silence to the foreboding feeling in the air, the abandoned locales are quite unnerving, and that’s especially true for Times Beach, the creepiest ghost town in Missouri. Founded in 1925 as a summer resort, it quickly flourished into a popular weekend and summer destination. However, its success was short-lived, and by the 1980s, the entire community had to be evacuated due to a mix of human error and environmental factors.

Related Articles

Explore Missouri