Most dangerous cities in Arizona research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data using Saturday Night Science to determine the most dangerous cities in Arizona.
We examined the violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 53 Arizona cities. Here are the results of our analysis:
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The most dangerous city in Arizona is Globe based on the most recent FBI crime data.
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The violent crime rate in Arizona is 1,593 per 100k people.
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The property crime rate in Arizona is 5,017 per 100k people.
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The safest city in Arizona is San Luis.
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Arizona is the 10th most dangerous state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Methodology | FAQs | References
You not only have to worry about killer snakes, killer cacti, and killer heat in Arizona, you have to worry about the most dangerous cities.
Why did we put the research into identifying the top ten most dangerous cities in Arizona? We’re trying to help you navigate these dangerous cities when deciding what city to call home. Our analysis compares the violent and property crimes per capita in the towns with a population of 5,000. That left us with 53 Arizona cities.
There are neighborhoods in these Arizona cities like Phoenix and Mesa that are not all bad. We recommend that you spend some time studying them before you make a move.
What is the most dangerous place in Arizona? The most dangerous place in Nebraska is Globe.
The Arizona cities on our most dangerous list could use some good luck. So, if you’re looking to take a gamble or are curious to see if your city is dangerous, look at our list below.
For more Arizona reading, check out:
- Most dangerous cities in the US
- Best Places To Live In Arizona
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arizona
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Arizona
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Arizona For 2024
/10
Population: 7,155
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,593 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,017 (Third most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Globe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Globe retains its top spot on our list of Arizona’s most dangerous places for the second year running, thanks to high rates of both violent and property crime.
Folks in Globe had a 1 in 62 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in 2022, with a whopping 108 aggravated assaults reported.
Property crime also ranked as the third highest in Arizona, with 283 larcenies recorded over the year. Besides protecting your pockets and purses, you should also keep your doors locked here, because Globe also had the third highest burglary rate in Arizona.
If you want to drive as far away from Globe’s crime as possible, you’re in luck, because the Salt River Canyon Scenic Drive starts here.
/10
Population: 7,351
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,033 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 10,964 (Most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Tolleson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Located on the west side of the Phoenix metro area, Tolleson is far from safe.
In fact, the total crime rate in Tolleson is the highest in Arizona, about four times higher than the national average.
That’s mostly because Tolleson’s residents had a 1 in 9 chance of being the victim of a property crime in 2022 — a crazy high rate. In other words, check to make sure you still have all your valuables after a hike at Monument Hill.
Violent crime is also a pretty big problem in Tolleson, considering the small city of 7,351 had 11 robberies and 55 aggravated assaults over the year.
/10
Population: 5,098
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 804 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,786 (Second most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Holbrook: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Yet another city in Navajo County, Holbrook ranks as Arizona’s third most dangerous place. Holbrook is home to the Petrified Forest National Park, but the trees aren’t the only things that are petrified here.
Holbrook’s residents have good reason to be petrified, given that the city had the highest burglary rate in Arizona, with 71 such cases reported in 2022.
On top of that, folks in Holbrook had a 1 in 124 shot of being the victim of an attack, so it’s not the type of place you want to let your guard down.
/10
Population: 9,298
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,150 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,710 (Sixth most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Winslow: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
The Eagles put Winslow on the map with their hit song “Take it Easy,” but folks in Winslow must have a tough time taking it easy with such high crime rates.
The violent crime rate in Winslow is more than twice as high as the national average, with 107 cases recorded in 2022. That’s super high for a city of just 9,298.
And it’s not like property crime in Winslow is much better; the city averaged more than one property crime per day over the year.
/10
Population: 7,328
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 818 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,462 (Fourth most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Page: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Page is a popular tourist spot thanks to all the great outdoors opportunities that surround it, but having random people come and go has contributed to the city’s high crime rate.
Certainly, a lot of that crime is stolen phones and wallets, given Page’s status as the place with the fourth highest rate of property crime in Arizona.
But there’s even more sinister stuff going down in Page. The city had the highest rate of rape cases and the sixth highest murder rate in Arizona. Overall, folks had a 1 in 122 chance of being violently attacked in Page in 2022.
/10
Population: 550,448
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 698 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,620 (Seventh most dangerous)
Murders: 61
More on Tucson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Tucson bills itself as “America’s biggest small town,” but if small-town values imply low crime rates, then we’re calling shenanigans on that title.
Tucson residents have more to fear from criminals than any wildlife they might run into at Sabino Canyon, considering the city had the seventh highest violent crime rate in the state.
That includes the fourth highest rape rate and ninth highest murder rate in Arizona.
You also have to worry about your house or car getting broken into in Tucson, which recorded 2,097 burglaries and 1,878 car thefts in 2022.
/10
Population: 187,473
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 584 (Tenth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,334 (Fifth most dangerous)
Murders: 7
More on Tempe: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
A city of 187,473 located in Phoenix’s East Valley section, Tempe comes in as Arizona’s seventh most dangerous place to call home.
Tempe is home to Arizona State University, and while we’re not exactly blaming college students for the high crime rates, it can’t help having the population swell by up to 50,000 for the academic year.
Tempe had the fifth highest rate of rape cases in Arizona for 2022, but other violent crime stats here are actually not so bad.
The property crime rate, on the other hand, ranks as the fifth highest statewide.
/10
Population: 1,637,902
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 825 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,901 (13th most dangerous)
Murders: 217
More on Phoenix: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
From the top of Camelback Mountain, Phoenix looks peaceful, but it’s actually the eighth most dangerous place in Arizona.
Phoenix had the seventh highest rate of rape cases and eighth highest murder rate in Arizona. And those cases only make up a small proportion of the 13,515 violent crimes committed in Phoenix in 2022.
On top of that, residents of Phoenix faced a whopping 1 in 34 chance of having their stuff stolen or damaged, with a staggeringly high 6,266 burglaries and 7,633 car thefts.
/10
Population: 250,466
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 544 (14th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,239 (Tenth most dangerous)
Murders: 20
More on Glendale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Glendale, a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, ranks as the ninth most dangerous place to live in the state for 2024. With a population of 250,466, Glendale reported 1,365 violent crimes, including 20 murders. Additionally, there were 8,115 property crimes.
/10
Population: 61,271
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 576 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,668 (16th most dangerous)
Murders: 5
More on Casa Grande: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Casa Grande, the tenth most dangerous place to live in Arizona, has a reputation for its high crime rates. With a population of 61,271, this city in Pinal County has seen a significant number of violent crimes, including 353 incidents, which include 5 murders. The overall crime rate in Casa Grande is a cause for concern, with 3,244/100k crimes per capita.
The property crime rate in Casa Grande is also alarmingly high, with 2,668/100k incidents reported per capita.
Crime By City In Arizona
Rank | City | Population | Total Crimes Per 100K | Violent Crimes Per 100K | Property Crimes Per 100K | Murders |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Globe | 7,155 | 6,610 | 1,593 | 5,017 | 0 |
2 | Tolleson | 7,351 | 11,998 | 1,033 | 10,964 | 1 |
3 | Holbrook | 5,098 | 6,590 | 804 | 5,786 | 0 |
4 | Winslow | 9,298 | 4,861 | 1,150 | 3,710 | 2 |
5 | Page | 7,328 | 5,281 | 818 | 4,462 | 1 |
6 | Tucson | 550,448 | 4,319 | 698 | 3,620 | 61 |
7 | Tempe | 187,473 | 4,918 | 584 | 4,334 | 7 |
8 | Phoenix | 1,637,902 | 3,727 | 825 | 2,901 | 217 |
9 | Glendale | 250,466 | 3,784 | 544 | 3,239 | 20 |
10 | Casa Grande | 61,271 | 3,244 | 576 | 2,668 | 5 |
11 | Flagstaff | 75,013 | 3,404 | 519 | 2,884 | 1 |
12 | Coolidge | 16,027 | 3,069 | 555 | 2,514 | 4 |
13 | Avondale | 91,467 | 3,577 | 419 | 3,157 | 6 |
14 | Show Low | 12,157 | 2,665 | 658 | 2,007 | 0 |
15 | Eloy | 15,717 | 2,627 | 693 | 1,934 | 0 |
16 | Kingman | 34,803 | 3,542 | 382 | 3,160 | 1 |
17 | Nogales | 19,725 | 3,797 | 243 | 3,553 | 1 |
18 | Safford | 9,916 | 3,559 | 221 | 3,338 | 0 |
19 | Yuma | 98,164 | 2,249 | 561 | 1,687 | 19 |
20 | Cottonwood | 12,680 | 2,381 | 339 | 2,042 | 0 |
21 | Mesa | 513,116 | 2,197 | 427 | 1,769 | 27 |
22 | Bullhead City | 41,035 | 2,968 | 263 | 2,705 | 1 |
23 | Payson | 16,638 | 2,115 | 492 | 1,622 | 0 |
24 | Sedona | 9,829 | 2,116 | 376 | 1,739 | 0 |
25 | Apache Junction | 41,099 | 2,240 | 328 | 1,912 | 4 |
26 | Scottsdale | 245,886 | 2,569 | 214 | 2,355 | 5 |
27 | Snowflake-Taylor | 10,834 | 1,762 | 350 | 1,412 | 1 |
28 | El Mirage | 36,039 | 1,748 | 330 | 1,417 | 5 |
29 | Sierra Vista | 45,611 | 1,898 | 280 | 1,618 | 1 |
30 | Prescott | 47,878 | 1,729 | 401 | 1,328 | 1 |
31 | Goodyear | 107,212 | 2,029 | 168 | 1,860 | 2 |
32 | Chandler | 281,373 | 1,989 | 182 | 1,807 | 11 |
33 | Wickenburg | 7,868 | 2,109 | 101 | 2,008 | 0 |
34 | Lake Havasu City | 59,166 | 1,634 | 275 | 1,358 | 0 |
35 | Marana | 57,119 | 2,316 | 85 | 2,230 | 1 |
36 | Litchfield Park | 6,989 | 1,545 | 271 | 1,273 | 0 |
37 | Peoria | 197,894 | 1,576 | 195 | 1,381 | 3 |
38 | Camp Verde | 12,362 | 1,561 | 186 | 1,375 | 0 |
39 | Prescott Valley | 49,422 | 1,035 | 283 | 752 | 2 |
40 | Surprise | 154,128 | 1,521 | 118 | 1,403 | 2 |
41 | Buckeye | 110,002 | 1,223 | 186 | 1,037 | 1 |
42 | Paradise Valley | 12,663 | 1,524 | 94 | 1,429 | 0 |
43 | Maricopa | 66,525 | 950 | 187 | 762 | 1 |
44 | Douglas | 16,529 | 1,379 | 114 | 1,264 | 1 |
45 | Queen Creek | 72,229 | 1,138 | 145 | 992 | 0 |
46 | Gilbert | 277,123 | 1,133 | 116 | 1,016 | 2 |
47 | Sahuarita | 36,229 | 1,021 | 99 | 921 | 0 |
48 | Florence | 26,814 | 507 | 134 | 372 | 0 |
49 | Oro Valley | 48,441 | 1,220 | 33 | 1,187 | 1 |
50 | Chino Valley | 13,875 | 598 | 100 | 497 | 0 |
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Arizona for 2024?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Arizona. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Arizona, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2022 data, specifically the 2022 Crime In The United States Report for Arizona.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Arizona cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 53 cities in Arizona.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 53 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Arizona — Globe. Any ties went to the smaller city.
This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Arizona and is updated for 2024.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Arizona FAQs
Yes, Arizona is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #10 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Arizona ranks ninth most dangerous in the United States — 31.1% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Grand Canyon State ranks 15th most dangerous in the United States — 13.98% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
Yes, Phoenix is a dangerous city. Phoenix ranks as the #112 most dangerous out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Phoenix might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Desert View is the safest in Phoenix, while Central City is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Phoenix ranks 64th highest in America — 49.07% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 12highest in the United States — 6.34% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Arizona
Summary: Locking It All Up In Arizona
So what is the most dangerous city in Arizona? After analyzing 53 cities in Arizona, Globe takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Arizona based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2022.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Globe ranks as the most dangerous city in Arizona for 2024.
The most dangerous cities in Arizona are .
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Globe and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.
What is the most dangerous place in Arizona? The most dangerous place in Nebraska is Globe.
The Arizona cities on our most dangerous list could use some good luck. So, if you’re looking to take a gamble or are curious to see if your city is dangerous, look at our list below.
Learn more about the safest places in Arizona.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
Here are the safest cities in Arizona:
- Douglas (Pop. 16,529)
- Queen Creek (Pop. 72,229)
- Gilbert (Pop. 277,123)
- Sahuarita (Pop. 36,229)
- Florence (Pop. 26,814)
- Oro Valley (Pop. 48,441)
- Chino Valley (Pop. 13,875)
- Somerton (Pop. 14,480)
- Thatcher (Pop. 5,369)
- San Luis (Pop. 38,528)
For more Arizona reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Arizona
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arizona
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Arizona
- Safest Places In Arizona
- Worst Places To Live In Arizona
Page Motto correction.. “You don’t lose your girlfriend, you lose your turn.” Years ago, you could buy bumper stickers and magnets that said that.
Theft is probably out highest crime in the area. We have out fair share of runaways, more rape and molestation then reported because of corruption in police and courts. Shit hole.
This is a very lame ‘article’ and roadsnacks is a waste of time and downright stupid.
I dont know cities, only counties. How safe is Cochise county? What about Navajo County?
Casa Grande isn’t on this list, yet has over 50,000 people
Ive lived in glendale over 17yrs and it use to be very people friendly and clean turned to south phx all the bums and money bummers yeah its dangerous moved away from glendale awhile not what it usd to be trashy people walking down the road south phx is just as trashy as glendale
What about Mesa? Seems like they are in the news a lot.