Violent crime inched up by about 5% in the United States in 2020. The increase was led by a 29% surge in homicides — the largest such increase on record. Not all forms of criminal violence increased in frequency last year, however. Continuing a multi-decade downward trend, the robbery rate declined in the U.S. in 2020 and is now at its lowest level since at least the mid-1980s.
According to the FBI, robbery is a crime in which force or the threat of force or violence is used to take, or attempt to take, anything of value from another person. The largest share of robberies in the United States are committed on streets or sidewalks. Handguns are the most commonly used weapon in robberies, and more often than not, among the cases where a suspect can be identified, the offender and victim are strangers to one another.
Despite the long-term decline in robberies nationwide, there were still nearly a quarter of a million robbery cases reported in the U.S. in 2020, accounting for about 19% of all reported violent crimes — and in some parts of the country, robbery is far more common than average.
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the cities with the most robberies. Cities are ranked by their robbery rate — specifically, the number of reported robberies for every 100,000 residents. Only cities with populations of 25,000 or more were considered.
In every city on this list, the robbery rate is at least three times higher than the national rate of 73.9 per 100,000 people. Though these cities span the country, California is home to a dozen of them, far more than any other state.
Robbery is only one of four broad categories of violent crime — along with rаpe, aggravated assault, and homicide — and every city on this list also has a higher than average overall violent crime rate.
Click here to see the cities with the most robberies
To determine the cities with the most robberies, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed robbery figures from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report. The rate of robberies per 100,000 people was calculated using population data from the FBI.
We included cities that have more than 25,000 people based on five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. Limited data was available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though cities in these states were not excluded from analysis.
Additional information on the violent crime rate is also from the 2020 FBI UCR. Poverty rates are five-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
50. Richmond, California
> Robberies per 100k people: 228.1
> Number of robberies: 254 — 106th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 964.4 — 76th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 14.7% — 511th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 111,367 — 243rd highest of 1,288 cities
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49. Springfield, Massachusetts
> Robberies per 100k people: 228.6
> Number of robberies: 350 — 72nd highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 966.8 — 74th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 26.9% — 74th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 153,084 — 152nd highest of 1,288 cities
48. Hartford, Connecticut
> Robberies per 100k people: 230.0
> Number of robberies: 280 — 90th highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 992.2 — 67th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 28.1% — 66th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 121,749 — 209th highest of 1,288 cities
47. South Bend, Indiana
> Robberies per 100k people: 233.1
> Number of robberies: 238 — 115th highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,728.4 — 9th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 23.6% — 140th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 102,119 — 282nd highest of 1,288 cities
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46. St. Paul, Minnesota
> Robberies per 100k people: 233.3
> Number of robberies: 723 — 43rd highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 748.7 — 160th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 18.9% — 286th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 309,859 — 57th highest of 1,288 cities
45. Bridgeport, Connecticut
> Robberies per 100k people: 235.5
> Number of robberies: 340 — 73rd highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 574.3 — 253rd highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 21.8% — 183rd highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 144,350 — 164th highest of 1,288 cities
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44. Portsmouth, Virginia
> Robberies per 100k people: 235.7
> Number of robberies: 222 — 121st highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 920.3 — 90th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 16.8% — 385th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 94,205 — 323rd highest of 1,288 cities
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43. Eureka, California
> Robberies per 100k people: 236.3
> Number of robberies: 63 — 377th highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 682.8 — 187th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 20.0% — 240th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 26,656 — 59th lowest of 1,288 cities
42. Salt Lake City, Utah
> Robberies per 100k people: 240.9
> Number of robberies: 487 — 53rd highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 922.4 — 86th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 16.6% — 401st highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 202,187 — 106th highest of 1,288 cities
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41. Dallas, Texas
> Robberies per 100k people: 241.5
> Number of robberies: 3,292 — 5th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 844.7 — 116th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 18.9% — 283rd highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 1,363,028 — 9th highest of 1,288 cities
40. Indianapolis, Indiana
> Robberies per 100k people: 243.2
> Number of robberies: 2,166 — 10th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 870.7 — 105th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 18.0% — 322nd highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 890,672 — 16th highest of 1,288 cities
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39. San Pablo, California
> Robberies per 100k people: 243.9
> Number of robberies: 76 — 311th highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 539.1 — 293rd highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 16.3% — 413th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 31,164 — 205th lowest of 1,288 cities
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38. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
> Robberies per 100k people: 244.0
> Number of robberies: 87 — 263rd highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,379.8 — 26th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 21.6% — 194th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 35,658 — 310th lowest of 1,288 cities
37. Inglewood, California
> Robberies per 100k people: 244.5
> Number of robberies: 264 — 100th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 628.8 — 220th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 16.8% — 387th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 107,986 — 262nd highest of 1,288 cities
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36. Cincinnati, Ohio
> Robberies per 100k people: 246.1
> Number of robberies: 750 — 40th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 892.9 — 97th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 26.3% — 88th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 304,724 — 58th highest of 1,288 cities
35. Spartanburg, South Carolina
> Robberies per 100k people: 250.9
> Number of robberies: 94 — 248th highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,430.5 — 21st highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 23.3% — 146th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 37,469 — 359th lowest of 1,288 cities
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34. Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee
> Robberies per 100k people: 253.2
> Number of robberies: 1,742 — 18th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,155.6 — 47th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 15.1% — 484th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 688,013 — 22nd highest of 1,288 cities
33. Albuquerque, New Mexico
> Robberies per 100k people: 256.0
> Number of robberies: 1,439 — 22nd highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,343.6 — 28th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 16.9% — 378th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 562,065 — 29th highest of 1,288 cities
32. Beaumont, Texas
> Robberies per 100k people: 256.9
> Number of robberies: 300 — 82nd highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,225.5 — 37th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 18.6% — 298th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 116,766 — 225th highest of 1,288 cities
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31. Kansas City, Missouri
> Robberies per 100k people: 257.3
> Number of robberies: 1,285 — 23rd highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,585.9 — 15th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 16.1% — 427th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 499,335 — 34th highest of 1,288 cities
30. Vallejo, California
> Robberies per 100k people: 257.5
> Number of robberies: 315 — 80th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 990.8 — 68th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 12.6% — 644th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 122,326 — 208th highest of 1,288 cities
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29. New Haven, Connecticut
> Robberies per 100k people: 257.9
> Number of robberies: 336 — 75th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 707.6 — 177th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 26.5% — 83rd highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 130,299 — 191st highest of 1,288 cities
28. Buffalo, New York
> Robberies per 100k people: 267.1
> Number of robberies: 680 — 45th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,018.0 — 61st highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 30.1% — 39th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 254,627 — 81st highest of 1,288 cities
27. North Charleston, South Carolina
> Robberies per 100k people: 270.6
> Number of robberies: 318 — 79th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,144.7 — 50th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 21.0% — 207th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 117,503 — 222nd highest of 1,288 cities
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26. San Francisco, California
> Robberies per 100k people: 270.9
> Number of robberies: 2,388 — 8th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 544.1 — 286th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 10.3% — 517th lowest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 881,514 — 17th highest of 1,288 cities
25. Detroit, Michigan
> Robberies per 100k people: 280.2
> Number of robberies: 1,848 — 14th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,178.5 — 3rd highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 35.0% — 10th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 659,616 — 26th highest of 1,288 cities
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24. New Orleans, Louisiana
> Robberies per 100k people: 280.9
> Number of robberies: 1,106 — 28th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,324.3 — 29th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 23.7% — 136th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 393,779 — 46th highest of 1,288 cities
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23. South Salt Lake, Utah
> Robberies per 100k people: 282.8
> Number of robberies: 73 — 327th highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 964.5 — 75th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 18.7% — 294th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 25,816 — 28th lowest of 1,288 cities
22. Stockton, California
> Robberies per 100k people: 288.6
> Number of robberies: 909 — 33rd highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,277.2 — 32nd highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 17.9% — 332nd highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 314,981 — 56th highest of 1,288 cities
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21. San Leandro, California
> Robberies per 100k people: 291.4
> Number of robberies: 260 — 103rd highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 517.7 — 315th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 9.6% — 466th lowest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 89,239 — 347th highest of 1,288 cities
20. Chicago, Illinois
> Robberies per 100k people: 292.1
> Number of robberies: 7,869 — 4th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 986.9 — 71st highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 18.4% — 307th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,693,598 — 3rd highest of 1,288 cities
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19. Paterson, New Jersey
> Robberies per 100k people: 293.9
> Number of robberies: 426 — 60th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 988.6 — 69th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 26.6% — 82nd highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 144,947 — 160th highest of 1,288 cities
18. Compton, California
> Robberies per 100k people: 297.3
> Number of robberies: 284 — 87th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,177.9 — 42nd highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 20.5% — 221st highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 95,513 — 310th highest of 1,288 cities
17. Homestead, Florida
> Robberies per 100k people: 303.4
> Number of robberies: 214 — 125th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 864.8 — 106th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 23.8% — 133rd highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 70,538 — 472nd highest of 1,288 cities
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16. Atlantic City, New Jersey
> Robberies per 100k people: 308.9
> Number of robberies: 116 — 201st highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 822.9 — 126th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 37.1% — 6th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 37,550 — 361st lowest of 1,288 cities
15. Washington, District of Columbia
> Robberies per 100k people: 309.8
> Number of robberies: 2,208 — 9th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 957.9 — 78th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 16.2% — 416th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 712,816 — 20th highest of 1,288 cities
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14. Alexandria, Louisiana
> Robberies per 100k people: 315.3
> Number of robberies: 145 — 169th highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,848.4 — 7th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 24.4% — 116th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 45,986 — 521st lowest of 1,288 cities
13. Trenton, New Jersey
> Robberies per 100k people: 316.0
> Number of robberies: 262 — 101st highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,168.8 — 44th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 28.7% — 56th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 82,909 — 385th highest of 1,288 cities
12. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
> Robberies per 100k people: 326.8
> Number of robberies: 1,925 — 13th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,596.8 — 13th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 25.4% — 99th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 589,105 — 28th highest of 1,288 cities
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11. Monroe, Louisiana
> Robberies per 100k people: 326.8
> Number of robberies: 154 — 160th highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,969.1 — the highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 36.8% — 7th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 47,119 — 536th lowest of 1,288 cities
10. Memphis, Tennessee
> Robberies per 100k people: 327.4
> Number of robberies: 2,131 — 12th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,352.0 — 2nd highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 25.1% — 106th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 650,937 — 27th highest of 1,288 cities
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9. San Bernardino, California
> Robberies per 100k people: 337.4
> Number of robberies: 730 — 42nd highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,401.8 — 24th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 26.0% — 95th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 216,365 — 96th highest of 1,288 cities
8. Lake Worth, Florida
> Robberies per 100k people: 359.5
> Number of robberies: 140 — 175th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,052.8 — 55th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 24.4% — 120th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 38,945 — 389th lowest of 1,288 cities
7. Huntington Park, California
> Robberies per 100k people: 363.8
> Number of robberies: 209 — 127th highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 732.9 — 170th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 23.6% — 139th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 57,442 — 612th highest of 1,288 cities
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6. Houston, Texas
> Robberies per 100k people: 373.2
> Number of robberies: 8,757 — 2nd highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,256.3 — 34th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 20.1% — 237th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,346,155 — 4th highest of 1,288 cities
5. Wilmington, Delaware
> Robberies per 100k people: 399.4
> Number of robberies: 280 — 90th highest of 1,288 cities (tied)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,590.6 — 14th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 26.0% — 94th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 70,100 — 480th highest of 1,288 cities
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4. Minneapolis, Minnesota
> Robberies per 100k people: 409.5
> Number of robberies: 1,782 — 16th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,154.9 — 48th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 19.1% — 271st highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 435,116 — 42nd highest of 1,288 cities
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3. St. Louis, Missouri
> Robberies per 100k people: 416.2
> Number of robberies: 1,242 — 24th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,016.3 — 5th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 21.8% — 182nd highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 298,422 — 60th highest of 1,288 cities
2. Cleveland, Ohio
> Robberies per 100k people: 420.2
> Number of robberies: 1,593 — 20th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,656.7 — 12th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 32.7% — 18th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 379,121 — 49th highest of 1,288 cities
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1. Oakland, California
> Robberies per 100k people: 566.1
> Number of robberies: 2,479 — 7th highest of 1,288 cities
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,290.9 — 30th highest of 1,287 cities
> Poverty rate: 16.7% — 388th highest of 1,288 cities
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 437,923 — 41st highest of 1,288 cities
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