Texas is home to a diverse array of cities, each with its unique character. Despite the vibrant culture and bustling communities, some cities face a concerning issue – high violent crime rates due to poverty, gang activity, and the availability of firearms. But which are the most dangerous cities in Texas to live in 2025?
Texas is known for its strong economy and a thriving business sector. The state is a leader in oil and gas, manufacturing, and agriculture. Despite its economic success, it faces challenges such as income inequality and access to healthcare and education. Which are the most dangerous cities in Texas to live in 2025? We ranked Texas’ most dangerous cities by considering violent and property crime rates, along with social factors like poverty and gang activity. This ensures a nuanced view, beyond just crime numbers, to understand a city’s overall safety.
We also relied on data from reliable sources like Express Legal Funding and PropertyClub. Below are the most dangerous cities in Texas: City Crime rate per 100,000 people Lubbock 1,704 Beaumont 1,052 Houston 787 Corpus Christi 640 San Antonio 542 Amarillo 540 Dallas 532 Pasadena 466 Waco 393 Mesquite 392 Midland 338 Odessa 317 1. Lubbock Lubbock, West Texas. Lubbock has a violent crime rate of 1,704 incidents per 100,000 people. With a population of 264,142, it is 121% more dangerous than the US average, making it the worst city to live in Texas. The city has experienced a 10% growth in its crime rate between 2021 and 2022 and a staggering 182% increase in homicides from 2019 to 2020, rising from 11 to 31 incidents. Lubbock’s high crime rates are driven by factors such as drug use, firearms, and domestic violence. The city’s property crime rate is also significantly elevated, with a 1 in 26 chance of being a victim. To address these challenges, Lubbock is implementing a juvenile curfew and online reporting systems, urging residents to take safety precautions.
2. Beaumont Beaumont, Southeast Texas. Photo: @Visit Beaumont, TX Source: Facebook Beaumont tops the list as the most dangerous city in Texas. With a population of 112,556, Beaumont has a violent crime rate of 1,052 incidents per 100,000 people, making it 93% higher than the national average. The city has seen a nearly 12% increase in overall violent crime rates from 2019 to 2022, which the local district attorney attributes to pandemic-related delays in criminal trials and a resulting backlog of cases. The most dangerous neighbourhoods in Beaumont are West Oakland and Helbig.
3. Houston Houston, Texas.Houston is known for its diverse culture and thriving economy. However, it also ranks as one of the most dangerous cities in Texas, with a violent crime rate of 787 incidents per 100,000 people. Out of a population of 2.33 million, Houston reported 6,241 violent crimes in 2022, including 399 murders. The most dangerous neighbourhoods in Houston are Sunnyside, MacGregor, Sharptown, and Greenspoint. Despite these challenges, Houston remains a vibrant and resilient city, committed to addressing crime and promoting safety for all its residents.
4. Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, South Texas. Corpus Christi has a violent crime rate of 640 incidents per 100,000 people. With a population of 317,694, the city has seen 2,034 reported incidents of violent crime in 2022. Corpus Christi’s high crime rate can be attributed to factors such as poverty, lack of economic opportunities, and the presence of gangs and drug trafficking organisations. The city’s crime index is rated at 7.5/10, indicating a higher crime rate compared to other metropolitan areas of similar size.
5. San Antonio San Antonio has a violent crime rate of 542 incidents per 100,000 people. Out of a population of 1.59 million, San Antonio had 2,918 reported incidents of violent crime in 2022. The city’s murder rate has reached a 30-year high of 195 for the year 2022, with much of the violence attributed to gang activity and drug-related or domestic incidents. San Antonio has implemented various strategies, including increased police presence in high-crime areas, community outreach programs, and initiatives to address the root causes of crime, such as poverty and lack of education.
6. Amarillo An aerial view of Amarillo, Texas, at night. Photo: @Mike Garza Source: Facebook Amarillo has a violent crime rate of 540 incidents per 100,000 people. With a population of 201,572, Amarillo reported 1,088 violent crimes in 2022. Vehicle theft is also a major issue, with Amarillo reporting 462 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents in 2020, placing it in the bottom 10% of cities.
7. Dallas Dallas, Texas. Dallas has a violent crime rate of 532 incidents per 100,000 people. With a population of 1,304,379, Dallas is 83% more dangerous than the national average. In 2020, there were 11,534 violent crimes reported in the city, including 235 murders, 3,296 robberies, and 7,428 aggravated assaults. The most dangerous neighbourhoods in Dallas are South Boulevard Park Row, Cedar Crest, South Dallas, Convention Center District, and Northwest Dallas.
8. Pasadena Pasadena has a violent crime rate of 466 incidents per 100,000 people. With a population of 145,954, Pasadena reported 680 violent crimes in 2022. Crime rates vary across different neighbourhoods in Pasadena. Your chance of being a victim of crime may be as high as 1 in 14 in the western neighbourhoods or as low as 1 in 47 in the southeast part of the city.
9. Waco A street in Waco, Texas. Photo: @Waco, Tx Exposed Source: Facebook Waco has a violent crime rate of 393 incidents per 100,000 people. With a population of 140,911, Waco reported 555 violent crimes in 2022. Property crimes like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft are also common, with a property crime rate of 65.2% above the US average.
10. Mesquite Mesquite, Texas. Mesquite has a violent crime rate of 392 incidents per 100,000 people. With a population of 147,691, Mesquite’s local crime rate is 69% higher than the national average. In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Mesquite increased by 10.3%, with violent crime decreasing by 4.9% but property crime increasing by 12.6%.
11. Midland Midland, a city in West Texas, has a violent crime rate of 338 incidents per 100,000 people. With a population of 129,945, Midland reported 439 violent crimes in 2022. Midland’s violent crime rate is 108.4% higher than the national average and 81% higher than the Texas state average. The murder rate is 52.8% above the US average, making it a city in Texas with the most murders. The city’s high crime rate can be attributed to factors such as poverty, lack of economic opportunities, and the presence of gangs and drug trafficking organisations.
12. Odessa Odessa, Texas. Odessa has a violent crime rate of 317 incidents per 100,000 people. With a population of 110,163, Odessa reported 349 violent crimes in 2022. Odessa’s crime rate is in the 38th percentile for safety, meaning 62% of US cities are safer. The rate is 36.38 crimes per 1,000 residents annually.
by Ryan Mutuku
