The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In New Hampshire

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In New Hampshire For 2024

Compared to the other safe cities in New Hampshire, Manchester is the most dangerous. It is one of the most populous cities in the state, with 114,650 current residents. In 2022, there were 2,381 cases and 2,854, making it a place where your residence or stuff are in danger.

In the state of New Hampshire, Manchester is highest in violent crimes. Its central location along the Merrimack River puts it within an hour or so of Boston, Massachusetts. While it might also have a reputation for small business and successes with new retailers in downtown, its nickname of Queen City underplays the danger of living there.

Berlin is the second most dangerous place to live in New Hampshire. With a population of 9,717, this city in Coos County has experienced 18 violent crimes, including 3 rapes and 2 robberies. The property crime count stands at 172 incidents, including 13 burglaries.

Located along the Androscoggin River in northern New Hampshire, Berlin is the northernmost city in the state. Despite its scenic surroundings, Berlin has struggled economically, experiencing a decline in population over the years. The city’s history includes industrial challenges, such as bankruptcy filings and mill closures, contributing to higher crime rates.

Claremont, the third most dangerous place to live in New Hampshire, has a concerning crime rate. With a population of 13,153, the city experienced22 incidents, including 7 robberies and 10 aggravated assaults. This puts Claremont at the 14th highest rank for violent crime in the state.

Located in Sullivan County, Claremont is the only city in the county. Historically, it was home to Native American tribes before European settlement. The city was named after Claremont, the country mansion of Thomas Pelham-Holles, Earl of Clare. While Claremont has a rich history, its current crime statistics make it dangerous to live in New Hampshire.

Rochester is the fourth dangerous city in New Hampshire. Although its overall murder rate is low, it has a significant number of property crimes, violent crimes and aggravated assaults. You have a 1 in 52 chance of being involved in a violent or property crime here.

It is so dangerous that it outranks both larger cities and smaller towns in its overall crime rate. In reporting year 2022, Rochester had 63 crimes and 574 crimes in. Not all of this crime is centered downtown.

Located in the southeast part of the state, the Lilac City is one of the largest in New Hampshire. It is located close to the White Mountains.

Keene, New Hampshire is known for repeating its world record for setting the most jack o lanterns on display at once during New Hampshire’s annual pumpkin festival. However, the city is also known as one of the most dangerous. At the time of this writing, Keene ranks fifth highest for total crime in all of New Hampshire.

Overall, Keene is more dangerous than most of the other cities in New Hampshire, although not that dangerous for the country overall. This college town will still feel safe for the students of the two colleges located there: Keene State College and Antioch University New England. Despite the relative safety risk, there are a lot of things to do in Keene that keep tourists visiting the area, such as Mount Monadnock and the unique Hannah Grimes Marketplace.

Plymouth ranked as the sixth most dangerous place to live in New Hampshire. With a population of 6,658, this rural town in Grafton County has seen a notable crime rate, including instances of violent crime.

Although Plymouth’s ranking suggests a level of danger, it is important to note that improvements can be made with concentrated efforts. As the economic, medical, commercial, and cultural center for the predominantly rural Plymouth area, this town plays a vital role in the region. The town is home to Plymouth State University, Speare Memorial Hospital, and Plymouth Regional High School.

Farmington sounds rural. Like, if you were creating a video game for little kids and needed a name for your farming town, you’d probably call it “Farmington.” And yes, the community has a small-town charm today — sporting a population of just 6,872.

But, despite the name, the community actually has something of an industrial past, at one time selling itself as “The Shoe Capital of New Hampshire.” It’s even the birthplace of a vice president of the United States — Henry Wilson, who served under Ulysses S. Grant in the 1870s.

These days? Well, shoe production has mostly moved overseas and the town’s reputation has shifted somewhat. Today, it’s known as the number 7 most dangerous spot in New Hampshire. This comes with a high rate of burglaries and violent crime.

Despite New Hampshire’s reputation for being a safe place to live with your family, Conway might be an exception. Its large tourism industry and seasonal resident population contribute to its growing crime rate, as many of the crimes are committed against out of town visitors. In 2022, Conway ranked number 17 for rapes, 6 for property crimes, and as sixth highest for overall crimes.

It is the most populous community in Carroll County, with around 20% of the county’s population living there. It is located near the White Mountain National Forest and the popular Echo Lake State Park. Visiting climbers like to visit Cathedral Ledge.

Located near lakes and mountains, the picturesque beauty of Laconia, New Hampshire hides the fact that it is the ninth most dangerous city in the state. With a whopping 470 per year, there is a very large number of property crimes for its relatively small population of 17,109. This makes Laconia #1 in property crimes and #2 in overall crimes for 2024.

While most of the crime is centered in the downtown area and its surroundings, this doesn’t make the other parts of town particularly safe. The town continues to try to clean up its crime rate but it hasn’t been successful. Combined with an overall lack of employment opportunities, you probably won’t find Laconia on our best places to live in New Hampshire list.

Located in Sullivan County, Newport is ranked as the tenth most dangerous place to live in the state. With a population of 6,342, Newport has experienced a concerning level of crime.

While the town’s murder rate remains at 0, the overall crime rate per capita stands at 1,450/100k. This places Newport at a high rank for both violent and property crime, among other places in New Hampshire. However, it is essential to note that with dedicated efforts from law enforcement and community members, there is potential for improvement in Newport’s safety.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In New Hampshire FAQs