Texas, famous for its vast landscapes and dynamic cities, also faces diverse degrees of violence in its urban areas. As safety concerns grow, several localities in the Lone Star State face considerable hurdles in controlling crime rates.
From high rates of violent crime to frequent property theft, several Texas cities are dealing with issues that make them stand out in crime statistics. Understanding the most dangerous cities is critical for inhabitants, visitors, and officials working to address these issues.
In this guide, we’ll look at the five cities in Texas with the highest crime rates, providing insights into their specific difficulties and what’s being done to enhance safety.
1. Humble
- Population: 16,085
- Violent Crimes Per 100,000: 1,100 (sixth most dangerous).
- Property Crimes Per 100,000: 10,811 (Most risky).
- Murders: Two
Being humble is fine, but living in Humble, Texas, 20 miles north of Houston, is risky. While Humble topped this list due to its high rate of violent crime, it also has the highest total crime rate in the state, exceeding the national average by more than 300%.
This is primarily owing to a staggeringly high rate of property crime, with the average resident facing a one-in-nine chance of having their belongings destroyed or stolen.
Sadly, the bad news does not stop there. Humble also has the most rape cases in Texas and the highest murder rate of any city on this list. If you need a break from the stress of high crime, the Mercer Botanic Gardens are an excellent choice.
2. San Antonio
- Population: 1,465,608.
- Violent Crimes Per 100,000: 882 (11th most dangerous).
- Property Crimes per 100,000: 5,068 (Tenth most hazardous).
- Murders: 230.
San Antonio, Texas’ second-largest city and home to the Alamo, is no longer a combat zone like it was in 1836. Nonetheless, the city recorded 230 murders in 2022 and 12,935 violent offenses overall.
You should also keep an eye on your pockets and handbags when visiting the River Walk, as San Antonio recorded 52,586 larceny instances in the previous year. There are a lot of stolen phones and wallets.
Your car is also not very safe in San Antonio, where more than 20 cars are stolen every day.
3. Livingston
- Population: 5,937.
- Violent Crimes per 100,000: 757 (19th most dangerous).
- Property Crimes Per 100,000: 5,861 (sixth most hazardous)
- Murders: zero.
Livingston, a town of 5,937 people located 60 miles north of Houston, is the smallest on our list, demonstrating that residing in a tiny town does not ensure a safe society. In fairness, Livingston was not even among the top 30 most dangerous places in Texas last year, so 2024 could be a fluke.
Property crime accounts for the majority of Livingston’s problem, with 348 such cases documented in 2024. Make sure nobody steals your catch after a day of fishing at Lake Livingston.
In addition to property damage and theft, a violent crime happened in Livingston around once every ten days, which is not exactly a good track record for such a small community.
4. Alice
- Population: 17,727.
- Violent Crimes per 100,000: 987 (Tenth most hazardous).
- Property Crimes Per 100,000: 3,768 (23rd most dangerous).
- Murders: five.
Alice has a diverse cultural background. The town is renowned as the “Birthplace of Tejano Music,” which stems from the presence of a recording studio that helped create the genre in the 1940s. Beyond that, Alice has a long background in science. This southeast Texas hamlet produced two Nobel Prize winners.
But Alice has another, less enticing distinction. It is also the eighth most deadly location in Texas. This is the effect of high rates of burglary and arson.
5. Dallas
- Population: 1,286,121
- Violent Crimes Per 100,000: 778 (15th most dangerous)
- Property Crimes Per 100,000: 3,812 (21st most dangerous).
- Murders: 157.
Dallas is one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. Also, one of its most iconic – when people outside of Texas think of the state, they often think of Dallas.
Given its size and rich history, the city provides its citizens with a wide range of amenities. From professional sports teams to botanical gardens to art museums, whatever your recreational interests are, Dallas has something for you.
However, like most major cities, Dallas has a significant crime problem. Violent crime is a specific problem. In a single year, the city recorded 157 murders and 492 sexual assaults. Dallas also has a high rate of auto theft and robbery.