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
Aggravated assault is by far the most commonly reported violent crime in the United States, accounting for about 70% of the 1.3 million violent offenses reported in 2020. Rates of aggravated assault vary across the country, however, and in some places, aggravated assault is far more common than in others.Â
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the town with the most aggravated assault cases in each state. Towns are ranked by their aggravated assault rate — specifically, the number of reported aggravated assault cases for every 100,000 residents. We defined towns based on population thresholds, having at least 2,500 people and less than 25,000 people. In Hawaii, there are no eligible towns with available crime data.Â
Though each of the towns on this list ranks as having the highest aggravated assault rate in its respective state, assault rates in these places vary considerably, from 135 incidents per 100,000 people to 2,925 per 100,000. Still, in the vast majority of the cities on this list, aggravated assault rates exceed the statewide rate. The aggravated assault rate nationwide stands at 280 per 100,000.
Aggravated assault is one of four broad categories of violent crime — along with rĐ°pe, robbery, and homicide — and nearly every town on this list also has a higher overall violent crime rate than the state as a whole.Â
Click here to see the town with the most assaults in every state
Click here to see our detailed methodology
Alabama: Eufaula
> Assaults per 100k people: 587.8 (Alabama: 357.1)
> Number of assaults: 68 (Alabama: 17,577)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 821.2 (Alabama: 453.6)
> Poverty rate: 30.6% (Alabama: 16.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 11,568 (Alabama: 4,921,532)
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Source: William Krumpelman / iStock via Getty Images
Alaska: Nome
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,615.4 (Alaska: 578.9)
> Number of assaults: 63 (Alaska: 4,233)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 4,205.1 (Alaska: 837.8)
> Poverty rate: 7.5% (Alaska: 10.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,900 (Alaska: 731,158)
Source: Different_Brian / iStock via Getty Images
Arizona: Globe
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,801.3 (Arizona: 350.2)
> Number of assaults: 132 (Arizona: 25,993)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,910.5 (Arizona: 484.8)
> Poverty rate: 15.8% (Arizona: 15.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 7,328 (Arizona: 7,421,401)
Source: Philip Rozenski / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Arkansas: Osceola
> Assaults per 100k people: 2,757.8 (Arkansas: 535.8)
> Number of assaults: 180 (Arkansas: 16,239)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,987.6 (Arkansas: 671.9)
> Poverty rate: 27.5% (Arkansas: 17.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,527 (Arkansas: 3,030,522)
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California: Needles
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,362.2 (California: 288.7)
> Number of assaults: 68 (California: 113,646)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,602.6 (California: 442.0)
> Poverty rate: 25.9% (California: 13.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,992 (California: 39,368,078)
Source: MizC / iStock via Getty Images
Colorado: Alamosa
> Assaults per 100k people: 527.5 (Colorado: 286.9)
> Number of assaults: 51 (Colorado: 16,660)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 755.0 (Colorado: 423.1)
> Poverty rate: 31.4% (Colorado: 10.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 9,669 (Colorado: 5,807,719)
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Connecticut: Groton
> Assaults per 100k people: 203.1 (Connecticut: 103.8)
> Number of assaults: 18 (Connecticut: 3,692)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 259.6 (Connecticut: 181.6)
> Poverty rate: 14.1% (Connecticut: 9.9%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 8,861 (Connecticut: 3,557,006)
Delaware: Seaford
> Assaults per 100k people: 822.6 (Delaware: 327.1)
> Number of assaults: 67 (Delaware: 3,228)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,080.4 (Delaware: 431.9)
> Poverty rate: 18.3% (Delaware: 11.8%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 8,145 (Delaware: 986,809)
Florida: Florida City
> Assaults per 100k people: 2,291.6 (Florida: 280.1)
> Number of assaults: 271 (Florida: 60,871)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,908.8 (Florida: 383.6)
> Poverty rate: 40.0% (Florida: 14.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 11,826 (Florida: 21,733,312)
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Source: sgoodwin4813 / Getty Images
Georgia: College Park
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,157.6 (Georgia: 293.8)
> Number of assaults: 176 (Georgia: 31,471)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,756.1 (Georgia: 400.1)
> Poverty rate: 29.5% (Georgia: 15.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 15,204 (Georgia: 10,710,017)
Source: Adam-Springer / Getty Images
Hawaii: No eligible towns
> 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: Garden City
> Assaults per 100k people: 595.8 (Idaho: 185.3)
> Number of assaults: 72 (Idaho: 3,385)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 695.1 (Idaho: 242.6)
> Poverty rate: 13.8% (Idaho: 13.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 12,084 (Idaho: 1,826,913)
Illinois: Havana
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,252.5 (Illinois: 278.9)
> Number of assaults: 37 (Illinois: 35,110)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,523.4 (Illinois: 425.9)
> Poverty rate: 17.3% (Illinois: 12.5%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,954 (Illinois: 12,587,530)
Source: William Reagan / iStock via Getty Images
Indiana: Clinton
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,027.8 (Indiana: 253.0)
> Number of assaults: 48 (Indiana: 17,093)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,027.8 (Indiana: 357.7)
> Poverty rate: 20.4% (Indiana: 13.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,670 (Indiana: 6,754,953)
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Iowa: Carter Lake
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,004.2 (Iowa: 229.4)
> Number of assaults: 38 (Iowa: 7,258)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,162.8 (Iowa: 303.5)
> Poverty rate: 19.4% (Iowa: 11.5%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,784 (Iowa: 3,163,561)
Kansas: Independence
> Assaults per 100k people: 880.4 (Kansas: 346.4)
> Number of assaults: 74 (Kansas: 10,094)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,094.6 (Kansas: 425.0)
> Poverty rate: 17.6% (Kansas: 12.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 8,405 (Kansas: 2,913,805)
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Kentucky: Cynthiana
> Assaults per 100k people: 284.4 (Kentucky: 168.3)
> Number of assaults: 18 (Kentucky: 7,537)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 347.6 (Kentucky: 259.1)
> Poverty rate: 27.5% (Kentucky: 17.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,329 (Kentucky: 4,477,251)
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Louisiana: Opelousas
> Assaults per 100k people: 2,022.8 (Louisiana: 497.0)
> Number of assaults: 320 (Louisiana: 23,087)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,370.4 (Louisiana: 639.4)
> Poverty rate: 43.3% (Louisiana: 19.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 15,820 (Louisiana: 4,645,318)
Maine: Houlton
> Assaults per 100k people: 367.6 (Maine: 58.4)
> Number of assaults: 21 (Maine: 788)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 385.1 (Maine: 108.6)
> Poverty rate: 22.7% (Maine: 11.8%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,713 (Maine: 1,350,141)
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Maryland: Takoma Park
> Assaults per 100k people: 134.6 (Maryland: 243.7)
> Number of assaults: 24 (Maryland: 14,756)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 342.1 (Maryland: 399.9)
> Poverty rate: 8.8% (Maryland: 9.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 17,831 (Maryland: 6,055,802)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Massachusetts: North Adams
> Assaults per 100k people: 554.7 (Massachusetts: 235.9)
> Number of assaults: 70 (Massachusetts: 16,262)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 681.5 (Massachusetts: 308.8)
> Poverty rate: 19.4% (Massachusetts: 10.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 12,620 (Massachusetts: 6,893,574)
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Michigan: Benton Harbor
> Assaults per 100k people: 2,924.8 (Michigan: 365.1)
> Number of assaults: 284 (Michigan: 36,384)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 3,192.6 (Michigan: 478.0)
> Poverty rate: 45.4% (Michigan: 14.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 9,710 (Michigan: 9,966,555)
Source: skhoward / iStock via Getty Images
Minnesota: Bemidji
> Assaults per 100k people: 449.7 (Minnesota: 166.5)
> Number of assaults: 70 (Minnesota: 9,420)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 603.8 (Minnesota: 277.5)
> Poverty rate: 31.3% (Minnesota: 9.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 15,567 (Minnesota: 5,657,342)
Mississippi: Cleveland
> Assaults per 100k people: 703.6 (Mississippi: 194.0)
> Number of assaults: 77 (Mississippi: 5,756)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 886.3 (Mississippi: 291.2)
> Poverty rate: 27.7% (Mississippi: 20.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 10,944 (Mississippi: 2,966,786)
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Source: Courtesy of City of Nevada, Mo. Government via Facebook
Missouri: Nevada
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,806.9 (Missouri: 413.3)
> Number of assaults: 149 (Missouri: 25,426)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,976.7 (Missouri: 542.7)
> Poverty rate: 18.2% (Missouri: 13.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 8,246 (Missouri: 6,151,548)
Source: lucentius / iStock via Getty Images
Montana: Wolf Point
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,093.3 (Montana: 383.7)
> Number of assaults: 30 (Montana: 4,146)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,202.6 (Montana: 469.8)
> Poverty rate: 28.3% (Montana: 13.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 2,744 (Montana: 1,080,577)
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Nebraska: Crete
> Assaults per 100k people: 527.9 (Nebraska: 229.3)
> Number of assaults: 37 (Nebraska: 4,442)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 799.0 (Nebraska: 334.1)
> Poverty rate: 26.1% (Nebraska: 11.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 7,009 (Nebraska: 1,937,552)
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Source: Melissa Kopka / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Nevada: West Wendover
> Assaults per 100k people: 634.1 (Nevada: 306.8)
> Number of assaults: 27 (Nevada: 9,629)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 869.0 (Nevada: 460.3)
> Poverty rate: 13.6% (Nevada: 13.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,258 (Nevada: 3,138,259)
New Hampshire: Hinsdale
> Assaults per 100k people: 256.9 (New Hampshire: 85.3)
> Number of assaults: 10 (New Hampshire: 1,166)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 282.6 (New Hampshire: 146.4)
> Poverty rate: 15.6% (New Hampshire: 7.6%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 3,893 (New Hampshire: 1,366,275)
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New Jersey: Salem
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,008.4 (New Jersey: 127.9)
> Number of assaults: 47 (New Jersey: 11,363)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,059.6 (New Jersey: 195.4)
> Poverty rate: 42.2% (New Jersey: 10.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,661 (New Jersey: 8,882,371)
Source: BrianScantlebury / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
New Mexico: Gallup
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,290.8 (New Mexico: 615.9)
> Number of assaults: 277 (New Mexico: 12,973)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,775.4 (New Mexico: 778.3)
> Poverty rate: 28.4% (New Mexico: 19.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 21,460 (New Mexico: 2,106,319)
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New York: Lackawanna
> Assaults per 100k people: 464.0 (New York: 240.7)
> Number of assaults: 82 (New York: 46,538)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 565.8 (New York: 363.8)
> Poverty rate: 22.6% (New York: 14.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 17,674 (New York: 19,336,776)
North Carolina: Wadesboro
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,857.9 (North Carolina: 314.5)
> Number of assaults: 97 (North Carolina: 33,337)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,375.0 (North Carolina: 419.3)
> Poverty rate: 32.3% (North Carolina: 14.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,221 (North Carolina: 10,600,823)
North Dakota: Wahpeton
> Assaults per 100k people: 284.6 (North Dakota: 253.4)
> Number of assaults: 22 (North Dakota: 1,939)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 362.2 (North Dakota: 329.0)
> Poverty rate: 16.0% (North Dakota: 10.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 7,731 (North Dakota: 765,309)
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Ohio: Mount Healthy
> Assaults per 100k people: 832.2 (Ohio: 191.6)
> Number of assaults: 56 (Ohio: 22,406)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,040.3 (Ohio: 308.8)
> Poverty rate: 12.8% (Ohio: 14.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,729 (Ohio: 11,693,217)
Oklahoma: Anadarko
> Assaults per 100k people: 834.2 (Oklahoma: 339.3)
> Number of assaults: 54 (Oklahoma: 13,506)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 926.9 (Oklahoma: 458.6)
> Poverty rate: 24.2% (Oklahoma: 15.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,473 (Oklahoma: 3,980,783)
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Oregon: Ontario
> Assaults per 100k people: 557.0 (Oregon: 200.6)
> Number of assaults: 61 (Oregon: 8,510)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 657.4 (Oregon: 291.9)
> Poverty rate: 27.3% (Oregon: 13.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 10,952 (Oregon: 4,241,507)
Pennsylvania: Vandergrift
> Assaults per 100k people: 371.9 (Pennsylvania: 264.6)
> Number of assaults: 18 (Pennsylvania: 33,828)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 392.6 (Pennsylvania: 389.5)
> Poverty rate: 22.4% (Pennsylvania: 12.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,840 (Pennsylvania: 12,783,254)
Rhode Island: Central Falls
> Assaults per 100k people: 297.0 (Rhode Island: 157.5)
> Number of assaults: 58 (Rhode Island: 1,665)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 455.7 (Rhode Island: 230.8)
> Poverty rate: 30.2% (Rhode Island: 12.4%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 19,530 (Rhode Island: 1,057,125)
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South Carolina: Barnwell
> Assaults per 100k people: 2,240.0 (South Carolina: 420.3)
> Number of assaults: 95 (South Carolina: 21,934)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,405.1 (South Carolina: 530.7)
> Poverty rate: 37.5% (South Carolina: 15.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,241 (South Carolina: 5,218,040)
Source: powerofforever / E+ via Getty Images
South Dakota: Pierre
> Assaults per 100k people: 777.6 (South Dakota: 399.1)
> Number of assaults: 108 (South Dakota: 3,563)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 921.7 (South Dakota: 501.4)
> Poverty rate: 13.8% (South Dakota: 13.1%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 13,888 (South Dakota: 892,717)
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Tennessee: Bolivar
> Assaults per 100k people: 2,023.7 (Tennessee: 543.2)
> Number of assaults: 99 (Tennessee: 37,412)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,248.6 (Tennessee: 672.7)
> Poverty rate: 27.9% (Tennessee: 15.2%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,892 (Tennessee: 6,886,834)
Texas: Palmview
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,601.8 (Texas: 302.5)
> Number of assaults: 93 (Texas: 88,810)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,860.1 (Texas: 446.5)
> Poverty rate: 29.6% (Texas: 14.7%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,806 (Texas: 29,360,759)
Source: Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
Utah: Moab
> Assaults per 100k people: 410.3 (Utah: 159.9)
> Number of assaults: 22 (Utah: 5,198)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 876.5 (Utah: 260.7)
> Poverty rate: 13.8% (Utah: 9.8%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 5,362 (Utah: 3,249,879)
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Vermont: Newport
> Assaults per 100k people: 544.8 (Vermont: 126.7)
> Number of assaults: 23 (Vermont: 790)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 686.9 (Vermont: 173.4)
> Poverty rate: 15.4% (Vermont: 10.9%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,222 (Vermont: 623,347)
Virginia: South Hill
> Assaults per 100k people: 393.3 (Virginia: 141.7)
> Number of assaults: 17 (Virginia: 12,175)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 485.9 (Virginia: 208.7)
> Poverty rate: 23.5% (Virginia: 10.6%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,322 (Virginia: 8,590,563)
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Source: catscandotcom / iStock via Getty Images
Washington: Fife
> Assaults per 100k people: 902.8 (Washington: 187.6)
> Number of assaults: 93 (Washington: 14,435)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,378.5 (Washington: 293.7)
> Poverty rate: 12.1% (Washington: 10.8%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 10,301 (Washington: 7,693,612)
Source: sshepard / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
West Virginia: Bluefield
> Assaults per 100k people: 1,047.9 (West Virginia: 282.1)
> Number of assaults: 100 (West Virginia: 5,034)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,173.6 (West Virginia: 355.9)
> Poverty rate: 18.7% (West Virginia: 17.6%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 9,543 (West Virginia: 1,784,787)
Wisconsin: West Milwaukee
> Assaults per 100k people: 588.1 (Wisconsin: 230.6)
> Number of assaults: 24 (Wisconsin: 13,452)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,053.7 (Wisconsin: 323.4)
> Poverty rate: 14.9% (Wisconsin: 11.3%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 4,081 (Wisconsin: 5,832,655)
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Wyoming: Torrington
> Assaults per 100k people: 377.5 (Wyoming: 162.6)
> Number of assaults: 25 (Wyoming: 947)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 483.2 (Wyoming: 234.2)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (Wyoming: 11.0%)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 6,623 (Wyoming: 582,328)
Methodology
To determine the town with the most 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 defined towns based on population thresholds — having at least 2,500 people and less than 25,000 people — using 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 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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