Is Missouri a good place to live? We think so. Now, we don't want to tell you where you should not live in Missouri, but just like any other state, some parts are just more dangerous than others. It's pretty common for anyone living in or moving to a new state to understand how safe an area is. Luckily, there are helpful resources that allow certain statistics regarding these areas to be made public. These specific rankings for the most dangerous towns in Missouri are based solely on the amount of crime and the likelihood of being the victim of a crime. Nothing else was considered, so while they may be "dangerous" on paper, you may have never seen or experienced anything dangerous while there. These statistics were brought to you by Road Snacks, which analyzed 84 cities using the FBI’s latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents.

1. Springfield, Missouri

As with any larger town, neighborhoods are a big factor, but the overall crime rate in Springfield is significantly higher than Missouri's average with a higher-than-average amount of both violent and property crimes. It may not be the worst city in Missouri, but you do have a 1 in 12 chance of being involved in a property crime. However, being the home of Fantastic Caverns, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Dickerson Park Zoo, and Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, as well as lots of great places to stay and things to eat, there is still much to love.

2. St. Louis, Missouri

The fact that St. Louis is on this list should be no surprise. Most bigger cities have higher crime rates, and many consider St. Louis to be one of the best places to live in Missouri. The thing to remember with such large cities is that the crime rate can be radically different from neighborhood to neighborhood. The overall crime rate for St. Louis is higher than the national average as well as the Missouri average. Violent crime is up and according to statistics, St. Louis stands out as having the highest murder rate in the state. On another note, St. Louis is filled with history, art, architecture, natural beauty, and so many things to do, see, and eat, that it may be worth the risk.

3. Vinita Park, Missouri

Vinita Park, Missouri is a smaller city located in St. Louis County that holds a population of just a few thousand people. However, this city jumped up one spot this year, earning it the title of being the worst city in Missouri in terms of safety. Vinita Park is considered one of the least-safe cities in the state, with seven murders in 2019 alone; statistically, this city has the second-highest murder rate in Missouri.

4. Branson, Missouri

A surprise on this list for some might be that this tourist mecca and "Live Music Capital of the World" has a crime rate much higher than the national average! You have a 1 in 8 chance of being the victim of a crime in Branson. However, crime rates have decreased recently, and there is a stable housing market, high graduation rates, and a low cost of living. With 50 live performance theaters, a dozen or so golf courses, Silver Dollar Theme Park, and museums galore, the crime rate may not be your main concern.

5. Joplin, Missouri

In southwestern, Missouri, Joplin is ranked the fourth most dangerous in terms of property crimes and the 15th most dangerous in terms of violent crimes. Burglary rates are also ranked the sixth highest in the state. Overall, though, Joplin is considered the least violent place on this whole list.

6. Caruthersville, Missouri

Caruthersville, Missouri has not changed from last year’s rankings and remains at #6 on the list. The reason why this small town of around 5,000 residents makes the list at all is due to the fact that it’s ranked fifth most dangerous in terms of violent crimes.

7. Kansas City, Missouri

Another large city, Kansas City is another "non-shocker" on this list. The crime rate is slightly higher than the Missouri average, which doesn't sound so bad compared to some of the others on the list, but the problem is that they are much higher than average on violent crime. There is a 1 in 16 chance of being a victim. Kansas City has so much to do for out-of-towners. Also, Kansas City is quite beautiful. Known as the "City of Fountains", it has more fountains than any other city besides Rome, Italy. Oh, and don't forget Kansas City barbecue.

8. Sedalia, Missouri

Coming in at #8 on the list is the city of Sedalia, Missouri. This city of 20,000 residents is known for events like the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival and the Missouri State Fair, but it also sees a bit of crime. Ranked as the eighth most dangerous for violent crimes, larceny is also a big issue for this city. In fact, in 2019, there were 700+ larcenies in total for Sedalia.

9. Berkeley, Missouri

Berkeley, Missouri is ranked 7th in terms of the most violent crimes in the state. While there are plenty of parks, shops, and green space throughout this city, there is still a reason it made the list. In 2019, a reason had to do with auto theft, as Berkeley reported 101 car thefts overall. This is quite high due to the low population of 8,000 people!

10. Raytown, Missouri

Raytown jumped 13 spots to be on this list, coming from 23rd in the state. In fact, Raytown even had the third-highest murder rate in Missouri at one time. In addition, there were many property crimes committed, plus car thefts and burglaries. This one might not be recommended for anyone looking to visit after dark.

It is once again worth mentioning, that different neighborhoods within these communities might be more dangerous than others. It is worth looking into this before a visit to any town so that you are aware of the more dangerous areas.  And also, just because a place has a problem with crime, doesn't mean it's not worth visiting or that it isn't working on overall improvement. Do you know of any other areas that may be a little dangerous and worth being cautious of?  Share in the comments section!

To swing things in the other direction, here are some of the best places to live in Missouri.