Murder Rate by State

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Murder Rates Across America

The stark reality of violent crime in America is something that we cannot turn a blind eye towards. Understanding the homicide rates by state is an essential part of formulating policies aimed at crime reduction and improving overall safety. This discussion is more relevant than ever, given the surge in violent crime that many U.S. cities experienced in recent years.

In 2022, the states with the highest homicide rates per 100,000 people were Mississippi (23.7), Louisiana (21.3), and Alabama (15.9), reflecting the continuing struggle with violent crime in some regions. At the same time, states like New Hampshire (1.1), Vermont (1.5), and Maine (1.7) reported the lowest rates.

Several factors contribute to these disparities, including socio-economic conditions, law enforcement policies, access to firearms, the prevalence of drug abuse, and the effectiveness of local judicial systems. It is also important to remember that murder rates can fluctuate from year to year and that a high murder rate in one year does not necessarily translate into a trend.

Key findings from the data include:

  • The murder rate is notably higher in the southern region, with  Mississippi (23.7), Louisiana (21.3), and Alabama (15.9) leading.
  • The northeastern region generally reports lower murder rates, with New Hampshire (1.1), Vermont (1.5), and Maine (1.7) having the least.
  • Out of the top ten states with the highest murder rates, six are located in the South, two in the Midwest, and two in the West.
  • Contrarily, among the ten states with the lowest murder rates, five are located in the Northeast, four in the West, and one in the Midwest.
  • The Midwestern state with the highest murder rate is Missouri (14), while the western state with the highest rate is New Mexico (10.8).

In understanding these homicide rates and their variations, we gain vital insights into the effectiveness of existing policies and what further interventions are needed. While tackling violent crime is a complex issue requiring multifaceted solutions, analyzing such public data provides the foundation for these efforts.

States With Highest Murder Rates

The ten states with the highest murder rates per 100,000 people in the United States are Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, New Mexico, South Carolina, Missouri, Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Mississippi takes the unenviable top spot with a startling rate of 23.7 homicides per 100,000 people. Louisiana closely follows with a murder rate of 21.3 per 100,000 people. Alabama reports a murder rate of 15.9 per 100,000 people, which places it third in the list, while New Mexico comes closely behind with a rate of 15.3 homicides per 100,000 people. South Carolina's murder rate stands at 13.4 per 100,000 people. With a rate of 12.4 homicides per 100,000 individuals, Missouri ranks sixth on our list. Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee, and Arkansas round out the top ten states with the highest murder rates with rates of 12.3, 12.2, 12.2, and 11.7 homicides per 100,000 people, respectively.

The top ten states with the highest murder rates per 100,000 people:

  1. Mississippi - 23.7
  2. Louisiana - 21.3
  3. Alabama - 15.9
  4. New Mexico - 15.3
  5. South Carolina - 13.4
  6. Missouri - 12.4
  7. Illinois - 12.3
  8. Maryland - 12.2
  9. Tennessee - 12.2
  10. Arkansas - 11.7

States With The Lowest Murder Rates

The ten states with the lowest murder rates are New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Idaho, Massachusetts, Wyoming, Utah, Hawaii, Iowa, and North Dakota. The state with the lowest murder rate is New Hampshire, reporting an average of 1.1 homicides. Vermont follows closely with an average of 1.5 homicides. The third lowest murder rate is found in Maine with 1.7 homicides. Idaho has an average of 2.2 homicides, and Massachusetts has an average of 2.3 homicides. Wyoming, Utah, and Hawaii all have an average of 2.7 homicides. Finally, Iowa and North Dakota share the same rate of 3.2 homicides.

The ten states with the lowest murder rates per 100,000 people are:

  1. New Hampshire - 1.1
  2. Vermont - 1.5
  3. Maine - 1.7
  4. Idaho - 2.2
  5. Massachusetts - 2.3
  6. Wyoming - 2.7
  7. Utah - 2.7
  8. Hawaii - 2.7
  9. Iowa - 3.2
  10. North Dakota - 3.4

Murder Rate by State

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