Baltimore Deadliest Large City Based On FBI’s Crime Reports, Surpasses Detroit and Memphis

Baltimore, Maryland, now holds the grim title of being the deadliest large city in the United States in 2024, according to an April survey by Safehome.org. The survey draws from the latest FBI crime reports, submitted by police departments nationwide and shared federally, analyzing cities with populations of 500,000 or more.

For years, Baltimore has grappled with high crime rates, but this new ranking puts it at the top of the list for murders, surpassing two other cities that have previously held the title. Memphis, Tennessee, which was the deadliest city last year, now ranks third, while Detroit, Michigan, ranks second.

Top Cities by Murder Rate

1. Baltimore, Maryland
2. Detroit, Michigan
3. Memphis, Tennessee

Crime Rankings Beyond Murder

While Baltimore is first for murders, Memphis and Detroit also rank highly across various other violent crime categories. Memphis, in particular, ranks in the top three in nearly every category of violent crime except for rape. Despite its improvement in homicide rankings, the city continues to face serious crime issues in other areas.

Rape

1. Detroit, Michigan
2. Columbus, Ohio
3. Denver, Colorado

Aggravated Assault

1. Memphis, Tennessee
2. Detroit, Michigan
3. Kansas City, Missouri

Robbery

1. Baltimore, Maryland
2. Memphis, Tennessee
3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Property Crime Rates in Large Cities

(per 100,000 residents)

In addition to violent crime, the survey highlights the property crime rankings in major cities across the U.S. Memphis appears repeatedly across various categories of property crime as well.

Motor Vehicle Theft

1. Denver, Colorado
2. Memphis, Tennessee
3. Portland, Oregon

Burglary

1. Seattle, Washington
2. Memphis, Tennessee
3. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Larceny-Theft

1. San Francisco, California
2. Memphis, Tennessee
3. Portland, Oregon

The 2024 crime survey paints a troubling picture for many of America’s large cities. Baltimore’s new ranking as the deadliest city for murders raises concerns about public safety and law enforcement challenges. Similarly, Memphis remains near the top in multiple categories, showing the persistence of high crime rates despite efforts to improve. Detroit, which ranks first in rape, continues to struggle with violent crime as well. These rankings emphasize the ongoing need for crime prevention strategies and community safety initiatives in large urban areas across the nation.

Check out the FBI Crime Data Explorer for more reports.

2024 Crime Rates in U.S. Cities Report