10 Dangerous Neighborhoods to Avoid in St. Louis

While St. Louis offers many positive aspects, there are also quite a few dangerous neighborhoods. The crime rate in St. Louis is 234% higher than in other U.S. cities, so it’s helpful to know which areas to avoid if you can.

However, don’t let these details sway you from visiting the safer parts of St. Louis because there are some extraordinary landmarks and places to see. 
Northern St. Louis has the most dangerous neighborhoods, with the southern parts of the city experiencing much less. Here are some of the most dangerous areas you’ll want to avoid:

1. Gravois Park

Gravois Park is a neighborhood in St. Louis with 5,567 citizens. The crime rate in this area is 323% higher than the U.S. average, so you’ll want to avoid it if you can. Your chance of being a victim of crime is 1 in 11, with a high chance of robberies, assaults, burglaries, and stolen vehicles.

2. Jeff-Vander-Lou (JVL)

JVL is in central St. Louis and has a crime rate higher than 341% of the U.S. average. Between murders, robberies, aggravated assaults, and burglaries, many crimes are committed in this area. 

3. Central West End

With a population of 15,762 and a crime rate of 7,217, Central West End is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods to avoid in St. Louis. It is 208% more dangerous than other cities in the U.S., and there’s a one in 14 chance of being the victim of violence, burglaries, homicides, and car thefts.

4. Hyde Park

This part of St. Louis has a crime rate 428% higher than the United States average. Citizens fear both violent and property crime here, and many visitors prefer to avoid it altogether. 

5. Tower Grove South

Located in south St. Louis, Tower Grove South has a crime rate that is 66% higher than the state’s average. The crimes committed in this area include larcenies, assaults, burglaries, and stolen vehicles. 

6. Bevo Mill

The crime rate in Bevo Mill results in it making the list of dangerous neighborhoods to avoid in St. Louis. With a crime rate of 4,731 per 100,000, it is 102% higher than the United States average. With this being the case, there is a one in 22 chance of being a crime victim.

7. Carondelet

Carondelet’s crime rate is 196% higher than the average in the United States. With a population of 8,588 in 2022, this St. Louis neighborhood experienced 15 robberies, 47 assaults, 41 burglaries, 165 larcenies, and 40 vehicle thefts. The only bonus of these numbers is that there were no murders recorded that year, although there were in other years. 

8. Downtown St. Louis

Downtown St. Louis is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods to avoid because it is one of the most violent parts of the city. Reports indicate there were two murders, 27 robberies, 26 burglaries, and hundreds of larceny in 2022. 

9. Downtown West

While the crime rate in Downtown West is much lower than some other St. Louis locations, it is still 38% higher than the national average. With 3,241 crimes per 100,000 people, there’s a 1 in 31 risk of becoming a victim. Downtown West had reports of 16 burglaries, 311 larcenies, 42 robberies, and 52 assaults in 2022. 

10. Dutchtown

With a crime rate 200% higher than the U.S. average, Dutchtown is one of the more dangerous neighborhoods to avoid in St. Louis. The area has a history of poverty and urban decay, which could be a contributing factor to the crime rate.

Summary of 10 Dangerous Neighborhoods to Avoid in St. Louis