The Top 5 Most Dangerous Places in Indiana

Indiana, like much of the country, struggles with high crime in certain areas of the state. Knowing where these areas are is an important factor in keeping yourself and your family safe. This article lists the top five most dangerous places in Indiana.

These areas share high poverty rates and skyrocketing crime rates. In Indiana, your chance of becoming a victim of a crime could be as high as one in 15 in a central neighborhood. In the south part of the state, however, your chances drop to as low as one in 55, according to CrimeGrade.org.

Is Indiana Safe?

The Centers for Disease Control ranks the Hoosier State as the 14th most dangerous state in the country for murder. However, Indiana sits comfortably as the 22nd safest state overall in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report research. Indiana has a violent crime rate higher than that of the country as a whole. FBI data shows that violent crimes occur at a rate of 610.56 per 100,000 people in Indiana versus the U.S. rate of 405.94 per 100,000.

Overall, Indiana can be a safe place to live depending on the area. If you’re thinking of moving, or even just visiting, you might want to avoid these five most dangerous places in Indiana.

The 5 Most Dangerous Places in Indiana

Relying on data from the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System, CrimeData.io looked at the total number of violent crimes reported in each city in Indiana. The site then calculated the violent crime rate per 100,000 people for each city. Only cities with a population of 5,000 or more people were included in the list.

#5 East Chicago

Situated on Lake Michigan, East Chicago is located in northwestern Indiana on the border with Illinois. The city’s 25,968 residents live within East Chicago’s 14.86 square miles. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 27 percent of the city’s population lives in poverty. That number is more than double the national poverty rate of 12.8 percent. The per capita annual income is only $22,539. The mean value of homes in East Chicago is $84,900.

Violent crime occurs in East Chicago at a rate of 672 per 100,000 people. That’s 10.16 percent more than Indiana’s average and 65.68 percent above the national average. While the most serious criminal offenses such as assault, robbery, homicide, and rape are problems in East Chicago, the city outperformed the state in total crime by 84.7 percent. Although the numbers for overall crime in East Chicago highlight a trend toward a safer environment, the city’s violent crime rate is enough to make it Indiana’s fifth most dangerous place.

#4 Gary

Home to the largest steel mill complex in the United States, Gary, IN, shares its eastern border with East Chicago. Its population of 67,972 makes it Indiana’s ninth-largest city. Although it is one of the bigger cities in Indiana, it was once much larger. Gary’s population has been steadily falling since the 1960s after manufacturing jobs disappeared in the area.

At its peak in 1960, Gary was home to approximately 178,000 people. The 61 percent drop in population has left the city with thousands of homes and structures that have been left to rot. Violent crime has accompanied Gary’s urban decay. The city is the fourth most dangerous place in Indiana with a crime rate of 673 per 100,000 people. That rate is 10.24 percent above Indiana’s average and 65.81 percent above the U.S. average, according to CrimeData.io. Gary has a poverty rate of 32.2 percent and a per capita income of just $20,954.

#3 South Bend

South Bend is located near Indiana’s northern border with Michigan and about 60 miles east of Gary. Like Gary, South Bend suffered from a loss of manufacturing jobs after its population peaked in the 1960s. The city’s current population of 103,110 is down from 132,445 in 1960. While South Bend’s population has not experienced as steep a decline as Gary’s, its crime rate is substantially higher.

At 931 per 100,000 people, South Bend’s violent crime rate is 52.59 percent higher than Indiana’s average and 129.5 percent above the national average. The city’s poverty rate is 23.2 percent with an income per capita of $28,071. South Bend is Indiana’s fourth largest city and third most dangerous place.

#2 Elkhart

Just 15 miles east of South Bend is the city of Elkhart, Indiana’s second most dangerous city. Elkhart is just over 28 square miles with a population of 53,913. Known for decades as the “RV Capital of the World,” Elkhart suffers from a high rate of violent crime. Your chance of becoming a victim of a crime in this northern city is one in 25. The chance of falling victim to a violent crime in Elkhart is one in 94. Neighborhood Scout reports that Elkhart has “one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities.”

Elkhart’s violent crime rate of 1,110 out of 100,000 puts the city 81.89 percent above the state average and 173.58 percent above the U.S. average. The city has an overall crime rate of 39 per 1,000 people. Motor vehicle theft in Elkhart is particularly high. Your chance of getting your car stolen in the city is one in 256. Crimes such as murder, rape, assault, and armed robbery plague the city. Your chance of being a victim of one of these crimes is one in 94.

#1 Indianapolis

Located in the center of the state, Indianapolis is Indiana’s most populous city and the 16th most populous in the United States. Indianapolis is home to 880,621 people, two major league sports teams, and five university campuses. Despite the city’s many positive attributes, Indianapolis is Indiana’s most dangerous place. Beyond the state, Neighborhood Scout found that Indianapolis is one of the top 100 most dangerous cities in the country.

The violent crime rate in Indiana’s most populous city is 1,156 per 100,000, putting the capital 89.45 percent above the state average and 185 percent higher than the national average. Your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Indianapolis is one in 100. More than 8,815 violent crimes are committed in the city annually at a rate of 10.1 per 1,000.

Although violent crime is a substantial concern in the city, property crime eclipses the safety concerns that accompany Indianapolis’ violent crime epidemic. Your chance of becoming a victim of a property crime in Indianapolis is a staggering one in 30. While the country’s 16th biggest city offers an impressive variety of culture, entertainment, and recreation, it’s definitely not a place where you can leave your doors unlocked. Stay alert when visiting the most dangerous place in Indiana.

Summary Table of the 5 Most Dangerous Places in Indiana