Discover the 10 Most Dangerous Places in Missouri

The St. Louis arches, barbeque, and baseball are hallmarks of this state. Despite its advantages, Missouri is plagued by high crime rates. Of the U.S. states, Missouri ranks number eight for crime rates, averaging 542.7 crimes per 100k residents, and thirteen among all states for violent crime, with 33,385 violent crimes reported per year. We’ve ranked the most dangerous places in Missouri by population.

Sociologists have pointed to several factors as explanations for Missouri’s crime rate. The state has a high number of residents living below the poverty line, combined with unequal law enforcement funding. The state averages a nearly three percent unemployment rate and a thirteen percent poverty rate among residents.

While Missouri may have high crime, the Show-Me state is home to entertainers, artists, authors, and advancements in medicine and industries. Eminem, Dick Van Dyke, Walter Cronkite, Maya Angelou, Mark Twain, and 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman were all born in Missouri. For more on Missouri, don’t miss our article detailing Missouri’s National Parks and historic sites.

Kansas City

Kansas City has a population of 499,335. The city reported 1,585 violent crimes and 4,119 property crimes per 100, 000 people in 2020. Founded as a Port at St. Louis River, the city has maintained growth. Heavy industrial growth and the early establishment of a public transportation system aided St. Louis in attracting new residents. A diverse population, enriched arts and museum district, strong baseball economy, and strong job growth have contributed to Kansas City’s continued success.

St. Louis — Missouri’s Most Dangerous City

With a total population of 298,422: 2,016 violent crimes, and 5,830 property crimes reported per 10,000 residents, St. Louis takes the spot as the most dangerous city in Missouri. Known as the Gateway to the West, St. Louis was founded in 1764 by French fur traders. Today, framed by the iconic arch, St. Louis still has many claims of fame. The city is home to the Cardinals, the only National League baseball team in the world to have won eleven World Series championships. The St. Louis Zoo, recognized as one of the top zoos in the world, receives thousands of visitors a year. The St. Louis Art Museum, Washington University, and its rich culture of blues and unique cuisine round out the reasons why the city remains popular despite its crime rate.

Springfield

With 168,856 residents, Springfield dropped to two in the most dangerous cities in Missouri between 2019 and 2020. The city has recorded 1,507 violent crimes and 6,951 property crimes per 100,000 residents. As the third most-populated city in the state, Springfield has established itself as an educational and medical hub. Missouri State, Drury University, and Evangel University are all located within Springfield.

Springfield is also the birthplace of Route 66, America’s famed early highway, and the Queen City of the Ozarks. Due to its proximity to the mountain region, Springfield contains more than 100 parks, miles of biking trails, and the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium, the largest wildlife attractions in the world. Notably, the city contains portions of the historic Trail of Tears.

Joplin — Missouri’s Least Dangerous City with a High Crime Rate

A city with 50,935 residents, 663 violent crimes and 6,431 property crimes per 100,000 residents were reported, establishing Joplin as the lowest-risk crime area in Missouri. Founded as a mining town, Joplin attracts residents and visitors because of its numerous museums and monuments, waterfalls, and industry.

Ferguson

A smaller St. Louis suburb, Ferguson has 20,545 residents. In 2020 they documented 689 violent crimes and 5,192 property crimes. The city grew after William Ferguson donated ten acres to the Wabash Railroad in 1855, with the stipulation that a depot was to be built on the land. Originally called Ferguson Station, the city grew by an estimated five percent each year until the 1960s.

Branson City’s High Property Crime Rate

A total of 11,745 people call Branson home, the world’s Live Entertainment Capital. Many more visit each year due to the city’s fifty theaters, the Ozark Natural History Museum, and shopping in the restored historic downtown strip. Despite heavy tourism, Branson recorded 681 violent crimes and 7,952 property crimes in 2020.

Bridgeton

This city was a very small town in the 1950s with only a few hundred residents. Within twenty years, the city’s population grew to almost 20,000, declining to 11,521. With dramatic fluctuations in residency, it is unsurprising that Bridgeton recorded 633 violent crimes and 7,039 property crimes per 100,000 residents. Historically the city of transit, Bridgeton has an airport, highways, and rail system.

Kennett

For Kennett’s 10,005 residents, 899 violent crimes and 5,717 property crimes were reported. This gives the city a rate of sixty-five crimes per 1,000 residents. Kennett is the hometown of some of the world’s famous musicians, such as Sheryl Crow and Davil Nail. While Kennett may be a smaller town that focuses primarily on agriculture, it is not without an interesting history. Kennet is part of Dunklin County. Dunklin County motioned to secede during the Civil War, declaring itself the “Independent State of Dunklin.” Unfortunately, Civil War battles destroyed much of the town, requiring it to be rebuilt when the war ended.

Nevada

This city makes the list of the most dangerous cities, perhaps even more so due to its small population. With only 8,246 residents, the city has reported 1,976 violent crimes and 5,748 property crimes per 100,000 residents. The city developed around the Welmer Institute of Suggestive Therapeutics. The institute proved so popular that the railroad built a new stop for the city of Nevada, and the post office began receiving sufficient mail to be classified as a first-class postal service station. The institute closed in 1933, but the city of Nevada remained.

Vinita Park

Residents in Vinita Park have an overall risk of one in 68 becoming victims of crime. Of these 1,951 people, 1,461 violent crimes in addition to 4,620 property crimes were reported. Vinita Park has a higher than national average crime rate for both violent and property crime. The city began as a subdivision in the early 1900s, growing around Vinita Station, an electric rail-car system. After becoming a city in 1950, Vinita Park established the North County Police Cooperative in 2015, partnering with neighboring communities to establish local law enforcement resources.

Finally, several Missouri cities have established crime prevention efforts in response to high crime rates. St. Louis registers nineteen, while Kansas City and Springfield register thirteen and three, respectively. If you want to know more about Missouri, don’t miss our post on the biggest cities in the state.