Methodology

Based on figures published by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the metropolitan statistical area where crime rates rose the most in each state from 2012 to 2017. In order to be considered, areas had to retain the same geographic boundaries during the period covered, and they had to retain consistent reporting practices. A number of states have no metropolitan areas that met these criteria. These states were Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, and Vermont. In addition, seven other states have no metropolitan area where the violent crime rate increased between 2012 and 2017. We also reviewed annual unemployment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2012 and 2017 as well as unemployment figures from December 2018. We also considered data from the Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey on household income, educational attainment rates, and poverty.