Cases of aggravated assault spiked by 12% in the United States in 2020. The increase, which was the driving force behind the 5% year-over-year uptick in the overall U.S. violent crime rate, pushed the aggravated assault rate to its highest level in over a decade.
According to the FBI, aggravated assault is an unlawful physical attack on one person by another with the purpose of causing severe injury or harm. Aggravated assaults are often carried out using a deadly weapon, such as a knife, handgun, or blunt object. Most cases of aggravated assault are committed in private residences, though a large share also take place on public streets or sidewalks.Â
Despite the rise in assault cases nationwide, in many parts of the country, violent assault remains rare. In nearly every state, there is at least one city where the assault rate is well below the national average of 280 incidents per 100,000 people.Â
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the city with the fewest aggravated assault cases in each state. Cities are ranked by their aggravated assault rate — specifically, the number of reported aggravated assault cases for every 100,000 residents. Only cities with populations greater than 25,000 were considered.Â
It is important to note that in four states — Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Vermont — there is only one city with available data. In each of these cases, which are noted, the city listed ranks as having the lowest aggravated assault rate by default only. In Hawaii, there are no eligible cities with available crime data.
Though each of the cities on this list ranks as having the lowest assault rate in its respective state, assault rates in these places vary considerably, from as many as 561 incidents for every 100,000 people to as few as 4 per 100,000. In the majority of the cities on this list, assault rates are below the statewide rate.
Of the four types of violent crime — rĐ°pe, robbery, aggravated assault, and homicide — aggravated assault is by far the most common, accounting for about 70% of the 1.3 million violent offenses reported in 2020. In most of the cities on this list, the overall violent crime rate is below the rate across the state as a whole.Â
Click here to see the city with the fewest assaults in every state
Click here to see our detailed methodology
Alabama: Enterprise*
> Assaults per 100k people: 350.0 (Alabama: 357.1)
> Number of assaults: 100 (Alabama: 17,577)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 448.0 (Alabama: 453.6)
> Poverty rate: 14.8% (Alabama: 16.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 28,569 (Alabama: 4,921,532)
*Because Enterprise is the only eligible city in Alabama, it is the city with the fewest assaults by default.
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Source: sorincolac / iStock via Getty Images
Alaska: Juneau
> Assaults per 100k people: 560.7 (Alaska: 578.9)
> Number of assaults: 179 (Alaska: 4,233)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 927.2 (Alaska: 837.8)
> Poverty rate: 7.7% (Alaska: 10.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 31,925 (Alaska: 731,158)
Source: halbergman / iStock via Getty Images
Arizona: Oro Valley
> Assaults per 100k people: 34.3 (Arizona: 350.2)
> Number of assaults: 16 (Arizona: 25,993)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 57.9 (Arizona: 484.8)
> Poverty rate: 6.1% (Arizona: 15.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 46,634 (Arizona: 7,421,401)
Arkansas: Bella Vista
> Assaults per 100k people: 133.8 (Arkansas: 535.8)
> Number of assaults: 39 (Arkansas: 16,239)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 188.8 (Arkansas: 671.9)
> Poverty rate: 4.3% (Arkansas: 17.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 29,138 (Arkansas: 3,030,522)
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Source: Meghan Bennett / iStock via Getty Images
California: Lafayette
> Assaults per 100k people: 14.8 (California: 288.7)
> Number of assaults: 4 (California: 113,646)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 55.6 (California: 442.0)
> Poverty rate: 3.4% (California: 13.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 26,965 (California: 39,368,078)
Source: Robert Young / iStock via Getty Images
Colorado: Castle Rock
> Assaults per 100k people: 39.4 (Colorado: 286.9)
> Number of assaults: 28 (Colorado: 16,660)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 63.2 (Colorado: 423.1)
> Poverty rate: 3.9% (Colorado: 10.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 71,150 (Colorado: 5,807,719)
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Connecticut: Shelton
> Assaults per 100k people: 4.8 (Connecticut: 103.8)
> Number of assaults: 2 (Connecticut: 3,692)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 41.2 (Connecticut: 181.6)
> Poverty rate: 5.1% (Connecticut: 9.9%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 41,302 (Connecticut: 3,557,006)
Source: gregobagel / iStock via Getty Images
Delaware: Newark
> Assaults per 100k people: 148.1 (Delaware: 327.1)
> Number of assaults: 50 (Delaware: 3,228)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 237.0 (Delaware: 431.9)
> Poverty rate: 23.6% (Delaware: 11.8%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 33,752 (Delaware: 986,809)
Source: TahirAbbas / Getty Images
Florida: Parkland
> Assaults per 100k people: 11.2 (Florida: 280.1)
> Number of assaults: 4 (Florida: 60,871)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 22.4 (Florida: 383.6)
> Poverty rate: 4.5% (Florida: 14.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 35,773 (Florida: 21,733,312)
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Georgia: Peachtree City
> Assaults per 100k people: 13.7 (Georgia: 293.8)
> Number of assaults: 5 (Georgia: 31,471)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 43.9 (Georgia: 400.1)
> Poverty rate: 5.6% (Georgia: 15.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 36,421 (Georgia: 10,710,017)
Source: Adam-Springer / Getty Images
Hawaii: No eligible cities
> Assaults per 100k people: N/A (Hawaii: 149.2)
> Number of assaults: N/A (Hawaii: 2,099)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: N/A (Hawaii: 254.2)
> Poverty rate: N/A (Hawaii: 9.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: N/A (Hawaii: 1,407,006)
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Idaho: Moscow
> Assaults per 100k people: 23.1 (Idaho: 185.3)
> Number of assaults: 6 (Idaho: 3,385)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 38.6 (Idaho: 242.6)
> Poverty rate: 24.3% (Idaho: 13.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 25,918 (Idaho: 1,826,913)
Illinois: Buffalo Grove
> Assaults per 100k people: 7.4 (Illinois: 278.9)
> Number of assaults: 3 (Illinois: 35,110)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 12.4 (Illinois: 425.9)
> Poverty rate: 3.4% (Illinois: 12.5%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 40,380 (Illinois: 12,587,530)
Source: alexeys / Getty Images
Indiana: Carmel
> Assaults per 100k people: 19.4 (Indiana: 253.0)
> Number of assaults: 20 (Indiana: 17,093)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 49.5 (Indiana: 357.7)
> Poverty rate: 3.5% (Indiana: 13.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 103,100 (Indiana: 6,754,953)
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Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images
Iowa: Bettendorf
> Assaults per 100k people: 54.2 (Iowa: 229.4)
> Number of assaults: 20 (Iowa: 7,258)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 100.2 (Iowa: 303.5)
> Poverty rate: 6.1% (Iowa: 11.5%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 36,926 (Iowa: 3,163,561)
Source: TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Kansas: Leawood
> Assaults per 100k people: 25.7 (Kansas: 346.4)
> Number of assaults: 9 (Kansas: 10,094)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 42.8 (Kansas: 425.0)
> Poverty rate: 1.4% (Kansas: 12.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 35,054 (Kansas: 2,913,805)
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Kentucky: Jeffersontown
> Assaults per 100k people: 28.9 (Kentucky: 168.3)
> Number of assaults: 8 (Kentucky: 7,537)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 104.7 (Kentucky: 259.1)
> Poverty rate: 6.3% (Kentucky: 17.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 27,700 (Kentucky: 4,477,251)
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Louisiana: Kenner
> Assaults per 100k people: 159.9 (Louisiana: 497.0)
> Number of assaults: 106 (Louisiana: 23,087)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 268.4 (Louisiana: 639.4)
> Poverty rate: 17.3% (Louisiana: 19.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 66,308 (Louisiana: 4,645,318)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Maine: South Portland
> Assaults per 100k people: 66.4 (Maine: 58.4)
> Number of assaults: 17 (Maine: 788)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 125.0 (Maine: 108.6)
> Poverty rate: 8.8% (Maine: 11.8%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 25,593 (Maine: 1,350,141)
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Source: tomwachs / iStock via Getty Images
Maryland: Bowie*
> Assaults per 100k people: 72.9 (Maryland: 243.7)
> Number of assaults: 43 (Maryland: 14,756)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 103.4 (Maryland: 399.9)
> Poverty rate: 3.2% (Maryland: 9.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 59,008 (Maryland: 6,055,802)
*Because Bowie is the only eligible city in Maryland, it is the city with the fewest assaults by default.
Massachusetts: Franklin Town
> Assaults per 100k people: 14.6 (Massachusetts: 235.9)
> Number of assaults: 5 (Massachusetts: 16,262)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 17.5 (Massachusetts: 308.8)
> Poverty rate: 4.0% (Massachusetts: 10.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 34,281 (Massachusetts: 6,893,574)
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Source: Brian Sevald / iStock via Getty Images
Michigan: Royal Oak
> Assaults per 100k people: 45.4 (Michigan: 365.1)
> Number of assaults: 27 (Michigan: 36,384)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 70.6 (Michigan: 478.0)
> Poverty rate: 6.6% (Michigan: 14.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 59,506 (Michigan: 9,966,555)
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Minnesota: Cottage Grove
> Assaults per 100k people: 15.8 (Minnesota: 166.5)
> Number of assaults: 6 (Minnesota: 9,420)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 55.4 (Minnesota: 277.5)
> Poverty rate: 2.3% (Minnesota: 9.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 37,940 (Minnesota: 5,657,342)
Mississippi: Clinton
> Assaults per 100k people: 28.7 (Mississippi: 194.0)
> Number of assaults: 7 (Mississippi: 5,756)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 65.7 (Mississippi: 291.2)
> Poverty rate: 12.6% (Mississippi: 20.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 24,349 (Mississippi: 2,966,786)
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Missouri: Ballwin
> Assaults per 100k people: 49.9 (Missouri: 413.3)
> Number of assaults: 15 (Missouri: 25,426)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 63.2 (Missouri: 542.7)
> Poverty rate: 3.6% (Missouri: 13.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 30,044 (Missouri: 6,151,548)
Source: DianeBentleyRaymond / Getty Images
Montana: Bozeman
> Assaults per 100k people: 233.2 (Montana: 383.7)
> Number of assaults: 120 (Montana: 4,146)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 305.1 (Montana: 469.8)
> Poverty rate: 17.8% (Montana: 13.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 51,460 (Montana: 1,080,577)
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Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr
Nebraska: Kearney
> Assaults per 100k people: 231.0 (Nebraska: 229.3)
> Number of assaults: 79 (Nebraska: 4,442)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 356.7 (Nebraska: 334.1)
> Poverty rate: 16.7% (Nebraska: 11.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 34,201 (Nebraska: 1,937,552)
Source: LPETTET / Getty Images
Nevada: Henderson
> Assaults per 100k people: 118.3 (Nevada: 306.8)
> Number of assaults: 388 (Nevada: 9,629)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 207.9 (Nevada: 460.3)
> Poverty rate: 7.9% (Nevada: 13.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 328,056 (Nevada: 3,138,259)
Source: mountinez / Getty Images
New Hampshire: Dover
> Assaults per 100k people: 21.6 (New Hampshire: 85.3)
> Number of assaults: 7 (New Hampshire: 1,166)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 73.9 (New Hampshire: 146.4)
> Poverty rate: 9.9% (New Hampshire: 7.6%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 32,480 (New Hampshire: 1,366,275)
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New Jersey: Fair Lawn
> Assaults per 100k people: 9.1 (New Jersey: 127.9)
> Number of assaults: 3 (New Jersey: 11,363)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 36.5 (New Jersey: 195.4)
> Poverty rate: 4.2% (New Jersey: 10.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 32,910 (New Jersey: 8,882,371)
New Mexico: Carlsbad
> Assaults per 100k people: 539.1 (New Mexico: 615.9)
> Number of assaults: 163 (New Mexico: 12,973)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 645.0 (New Mexico: 778.3)
> Poverty rate: 14.0% (New Mexico: 19.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 30,233 (New Mexico: 2,106,319)
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New York: Glen Cove
> Assaults per 100k people: 7.4 (New York: 240.7)
> Number of assaults: 2 (New York: 46,538)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 11.0 (New York: 363.8)
> Poverty rate: 13.8% (New York: 14.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 27,186 (New York: 19,336,776)
Source: Licec / iStock via Getty Images
North Carolina: Morrisville
> Assaults per 100k people: 33.0 (North Carolina: 314.5)
> Number of assaults: 10 (North Carolina: 33,337)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 79.3 (North Carolina: 419.3)
> Poverty rate: 7.0% (North Carolina: 14.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 30,264 (North Carolina: 10,600,823)
North Dakota: West Fargo
> Assaults per 100k people: 93.4 (North Dakota: 253.4)
> Number of assaults: 36 (North Dakota: 1,939)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 142.6 (North Dakota: 329.0)
> Poverty rate: 6.4% (North Dakota: 10.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 38,561 (North Dakota: 765,309)
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Ohio: Upper Arlington
> Assaults per 100k people: 5.6 (Ohio: 191.6)
> Number of assaults: 2 (Ohio: 22,406)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 30.9 (Ohio: 308.8)
> Poverty rate: 2.3% (Ohio: 14.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 35,557 (Ohio: 11,693,217)
Oklahoma: Bixby
> Assaults per 100k people: 58.9 (Oklahoma: 339.3)
> Number of assaults: 17 (Oklahoma: 13,506)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 69.3 (Oklahoma: 458.6)
> Poverty rate: 5.7% (Oklahoma: 15.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 28,840 (Oklahoma: 3,980,783)
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Source: Kathryn Farley / iStock via Getty Images
Oregon: West Linn
> Assaults per 100k people: 26.0 (Oregon: 200.6)
> Number of assaults: 7 (Oregon: 8,510)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 44.6 (Oregon: 291.9)
> Poverty rate: 5.1% (Oregon: 13.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 26,916 (Oregon: 4,241,507)
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Pennsylvania: Harrisburg*
> Assaults per 100k people: 542.2 (Pennsylvania: 264.6)
> Number of assaults: 267 (Pennsylvania: 33,828)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 857.0 (Pennsylvania: 389.5)
> Poverty rate: 26.2% (Pennsylvania: 12.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 49,244 (Pennsylvania: 12,783,254)
*Because Harrisburg is the only eligible city in Pennsylvania, it is the city with the fewest assaults by default.
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Rhode Island: Warwick
> Assaults per 100k people: 47.1 (Rhode Island: 157.5)
> Number of assaults: 38 (Rhode Island: 1,665)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 81.9 (Rhode Island: 230.8)
> Poverty rate: 6.2% (Rhode Island: 12.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 80,605 (Rhode Island: 1,057,125)
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Source: PeterPhoto / Getty Images
South Carolina: Mount Pleasant
> Assaults per 100k people: 71.8 (South Carolina: 420.3)
> Number of assaults: 68 (South Carolina: 21,934)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 99.3 (South Carolina: 530.7)
> Poverty rate: 4.6% (South Carolina: 15.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 94,704 (South Carolina: 5,218,040)
South Dakota: Aberdeen
> Assaults per 100k people: 428.2 (South Dakota: 399.1)
> Number of assaults: 122 (South Dakota: 3,563)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 558.0 (South Dakota: 501.4)
> Poverty rate: 12.6% (South Dakota: 13.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 28,494 (South Dakota: 892,717)
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Source: Concord715 / Wikimedia Commons
Tennessee: Brentwood
> Assaults per 100k people: 29.9 (Tennessee: 543.2)
> Number of assaults: 13 (Tennessee: 37,412)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 43.7 (Tennessee: 672.7)
> Poverty rate: 2.5% (Tennessee: 15.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 43,454 (Tennessee: 6,886,834)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Texas: University Park
> Assaults per 100k people: 7.9 (Texas: 302.5)
> Number of assaults: 2 (Texas: 88,810)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 15.8 (Texas: 446.5)
> Poverty rate: 3.9% (Texas: 14.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 25,253 (Texas: 29,360,759)
Source: (c) Salil Bhatt / iStock via Getty Images
Utah: Syracuse
> Assaults per 100k people: 18.6 (Utah: 159.9)
> Number of assaults: 6 (Utah: 5,198)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 74.2 (Utah: 260.7)
> Poverty rate: 3.6% (Utah: 9.8%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 32,343 (Utah: 3,249,879)
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Vermont: Burlington*
> Assaults per 100k people: 228.6 (Vermont: 126.7)
> Number of assaults: 98 (Vermont: 790)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 352.3 (Vermont: 173.4)
> Poverty rate: 26.4% (Vermont: 10.9%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 42,862 (Vermont: 623,347)
*Because Burlington is the only eligible city in Vermont, it is the city with the fewest assaults by default.
Source: Alex Potemkin / iStock via Getty Images
Virginia: Salem
> Assaults per 100k people: 27.6 (Virginia: 141.7)
> Number of assaults: 7 (Virginia: 12,175)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 51.3 (Virginia: 208.7)
> Poverty rate: 9.1% (Virginia: 10.6%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 25,326 (Virginia: 8,590,563)
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Source: SEASTOCK / iStock via Getty Images
Washington: Mercer Island
> Assaults per 100k people: 3.8 (Washington: 187.6)
> Number of assaults: 1 (Washington: 14,435)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 15.2 (Washington: 293.7)
> Poverty rate: 5.6% (Washington: 10.8%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 26,268 (Washington: 7,693,612)
Source: BackyardProduction / Getty Images
West Virginia: Morgantown
> Assaults per 100k people: 87.7 (West Virginia: 282.1)
> Number of assaults: 27 (West Virginia: 5,034)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 156.0 (West Virginia: 355.9)
> Poverty rate: 32.7% (West Virginia: 17.6%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 30,775 (West Virginia: 1,784,787)
Wisconsin: New Berlin
> Assaults per 100k people: 37.8 (Wisconsin: 230.6)
> Number of assaults: 15 (Wisconsin: 13,452)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 70.5 (Wisconsin: 323.4)
> Poverty rate: 3.6% (Wisconsin: 11.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 39,703 (Wisconsin: 5,832,655)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Wyoming: Casper
> Assaults per 100k people: 84.1 (Wyoming: 162.6)
> Number of assaults: 49 (Wyoming: 947)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 212.9 (Wyoming: 234.2)
> Poverty rate: 10.0% (Wyoming: 11.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 58,244 (Wyoming: 582,328)
Methodology
To determine the city with the fewest assaults in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed aggravated assault figures from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report. The rate of assaults 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 were available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though these places were not excluded from analysis.Â
Additional information on the violent crime rate and the population within the jurisdictions reporting figures to the FBI are also from the 2020 FBI UCR. Poverty rates are five-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
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