There was a near 30% surge in homicides in the United States in 2020, the largest one-year increase ever recorded. Homicides increased once again in 2021, but by a smaller, 6% margin. Preliminary data from 2022 suggests that murders may finally be declining.

There are a total of 91 U.S. cities with populations of at least 250,000, an average of 10 homicides per year, or both that have also published 2022 homicide data. Based on early reports from police departments in these cities, homicides are down by about 3% compared to the same period last year.

While these early figures are encouraging, there are still several large American cities where murders have increased in 2022. In Colorado Springs, Colorado, for example, there have been 26 murders reported from Jan. 1 to August 14, 2022, up from the 13 homicides that were reported in the city over the same period in 2021.

The 100.0% year-over-year increase in homicides in Colorado Springs ranks as the second highest of the 91 cities reviewed.

All homicide data used in this story is preliminary and not necessarily indicative of how 2022 will compare to previous years’ homicide data by the time annual homicide data are finalized.

 

Rank	City	YoY change in homicides (%)	2022 murders, YTD	2021 murders, YTD	YTD range; 2021 & 2022
1	Virginia Beach, VA	114.3	15	7	Jan. 1 – Aug. 9
2	Colorado Springs, CO	100.0	26	13	Jan. 1 – Aug. 14
3	Chula Vista, CA	66.7	5	3	Jan. 1 – June 30
4	Honolulu, HI	36.4	15	11	Jan. 1 – June 30
5	Aurora, CO	35.3	23	17	Jan. 1 – June 30
6	Milwaukee, WI	34.6	148	110	Jan. 1 – Aug. 9
7	New Orleans, LA	28.4	172	134	Jan. 1 – Aug. 14
8	Tulsa, OK	28.1	41	32	Jan. 1 – June 30
9	Raleigh, NC	26.7	19	15	Jan. 1 – June 30
10	Phoenix, AZ	25.6	113	90	Jan. 1 – June 30
11	Birmingham, AL	23.4	79	64	Jan. 1 – Aug. 7
12	Denver, CO	23.3	53	43	Jan. 1 – June 30
13	Little Rock, AR	22.5	49	40	Jan. 1 – Aug. 8
14	Stockton, CA	21.1	23	19	Jan. 1 – June 30
15	Lexington, KY	20.8	29	24	Jan. 1 – Aug. 13
16	Pittsburgh, PA	19.4	37	31	Jan. 1 – June 30
17	San Antonio, TX	18.2	39	33	Jan. 1 – March 31
18	Long Beach, CA	15.8	22	19	Jan. 1 – June 30
19	San Diego, CA	15.4	30	26	Jan. 1 – June 30
20	Tampa, FL	13.0	26	23	Jan. 1 – June 30
21	Spokane, WA	12.5	9	8	Jan. 1 – Aug. 13
22	Dallas, TX	12.2	147	131	Jan. 1 – Aug. 15
23	Baltimore, MD	9.6	218	199	Jan. 1 – Aug. 6
24	Washington, DC	8.9	134	123	Jan. 1 – Aug. 15
25	Greensboro, NC	8.7	25	23	Jan. 1 – July 31
26	Charlotte, NC	8.5	51	47	Jan. 1 – June 30
27	Jacksonville, FL	6.0	71	67	Jan. 1 – Aug. 3
28	Atlanta, GA	5.6	95	90	Jan. 1 – Aug. 6