The U.S. murder rate is at its highest level in nearly two and half decades. A total of 21,570 murders were committed nationwide in 2020, up nearly 30% from the previous year — the largest annual increase on record.
The rash of deadly violence came during a tumultuous year in American history. The COVID-19 pandemic led to school closures and left millions of Americans out of work. The murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer rattled confidence in American law enforcement and sparked nationwide protests. Firearm sales soared, resulting in the proliferation of tens of millions of new guns. Here is a look at the states where gun sales are surging.
Some experts speculate that each of these factors likely played a role in the rising homicide rate. While it may be years before the precise causal factors are identified, the effects are being felt in communities across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists homicide as a contributing factor in the historic 1.5-year decline in life expectancy in the U.S. last year — trailing only COVID-19 and accidental deaths, like drug overdoses, in significance.
Currently, the national murder rate stands at 6.5 homicides for every 100,000 people. In many U.S. cities, however, murder rates are far higher than the national average. Using data from the FBI, 24/7 Wall St. identified the city with the most murders in each state. Cities are ranked on their murder rate — the number of reported murders for every 100,000 people in 2020. Only cities with populations of more than 25,000 were considered.
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 highest murder 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 highest murder rate in its respective state, homicide rates in these places vary considerably, from as low as 1.7 murders per 100,000 people to as high as 88.1 per 100,000. In the vast majority of the cities on this list, homicide rates exceed the comparable rate across the state as a whole.
Despite the rise in homicide nationwide, murder is by far the least common form of violent crime, accounting for less than 2% of all violent crimes. Still, in most of the cities on this list, the overall violent crime rate exceeds the rate across the state as a whole.
Click here to see the city with the most murders in every state
Click here to read our detailed methodology
Alabama: Enterprise*
> Murders per 100,000 people: 7.0 (Alabama: 9.6)
> Murders reported in 2020: 2 (Alabama: 471)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 448.0 (Alabama: 453.6)
> 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 most murders by default.
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Alaska: Fairbanks
> Murders per 100,000 people: 9.7 (Alaska: 6.7)
> Murders reported in 2020: 3 (Alaska: 49)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 843.3 (Alaska: 837.8)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 30,832 (Alaska: 731,158)
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Source: ianmcdonnell / Getty Images
Arizona: Yuma
> Murders per 100,000 people: 11.1 (Arizona: 6.9)
> Murders reported in 2020: 11 (Arizona: 513)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 502.5 (Arizona: 484.8)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 99,096 (Arizona: 7,421,401)
Arkansas: Pine Bluff
> Murders per 100,000 people: 56.5 (Arkansas: 10.6)
> Murders reported in 2020: 23 (Arkansas: 321)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,832.1 (Arkansas: 671.9)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 40,718 (Arkansas: 3,030,522)
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California: San Bernardino
> Murders per 100,000 people: 31.4 (California: 5.6)
> Murders reported in 2020: 68 (California: 2,203)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,401.8 (California: 442.0)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 216,365 (California: 39,368,078)
Source: chapin31 / Getty Images
Colorado: Pueblo
> Murders per 100,000 people: 14.2 (Colorado: 5.1)
> Murders reported in 2020: 16 (Colorado: 294)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,045.1 (Colorado: 423.1)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 113,002 (Colorado: 5,807,719)
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Connecticut: Hartford
> Murders per 100,000 people: 18.9 (Connecticut: 3.9)
> Murders reported in 2020: 23 (Connecticut: 140)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 992.2 (Connecticut: 181.6)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 121,749 (Connecticut: 3,557,006)
Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images
Delaware: Wilmington
> Murders per 100,000 people: 44.2 (Delaware: 7.4)
> Murders reported in 2020: 31 (Delaware: 73)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,590.6 (Delaware: 431.9)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 70,100 (Delaware: 986,809)
Source: fallbrook / Getty Images
Florida: Riviera Beach
> Murders per 100,000 people: 44.7 (Florida: 5.9)
> Murders reported in 2020: 16 (Florida: 1,290)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,195.6 (Florida: 383.6)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 35,798 (Florida: 21,733,312)
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Georgia: Albany
> Murders per 100,000 people: 26.5 (Georgia: 8.8)
> Murders reported in 2020: 19 (Georgia: 943)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,724.3 (Georgia: 400.1)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 71,567 (Georgia: 10,710,017)
Source: okimo / iStock via Getty Images
Hawaii: No eligible cities
> Murders per 100,000 people: N/A (Hawaii: 2.9)
> Murders reported in 2020: N/A (Hawaii: 41)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: N/A (Hawaii: 254.2)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: N/A (Hawaii: 1,407,006)
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Idaho: Twin Falls
> Murders per 100,000 people: 3.9 (Idaho: 2.2)
> Murders reported in 2020: 2 (Idaho: 41)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 509.1 (Idaho: 242.6)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 50,872 (Idaho: 1,826,913)
Source: Nicola Patterson / iStock via Getty Images
Illinois: Kankakee
> Murders per 100,000 people: 30.9 (Illinois: 9.1)
> Murders reported in 2020: 8 (Illinois: 1,151)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 943.4 (Illinois: 425.9)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 25,863 (Illinois: 12,587,530)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
Indiana: South Bend
> Murders per 100,000 people: 27.4 (Indiana: 7.5)
> Murders reported in 2020: 28 (Indiana: 505)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,728.4 (Indiana: 357.7)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 102,119 (Indiana: 6,754,953)
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Iowa: Des Moines
> Murders per 100,000 people: 15.3 (Iowa: 3.5)
> Murders reported in 2020: 33 (Iowa: 111)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 704.6 (Iowa: 303.5)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 215,290 (Iowa: 3,163,561)
Source: BergmannD / iStock via Getty Images
Kansas: Leavenworth
> Murders per 100,000 people: 11.1 (Kansas: 3.4)
> Murders reported in 2020: 4 (Kansas: 100)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 816.1 (Kansas: 425.0)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 36,023 (Kansas: 2,913,805)
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Source: Jacqueline Nix / Getty Images
Kentucky: Bowling Green
> Murders per 100,000 people: 12.5 (Kentucky: 7.2)
> Murders reported in 2020: 9 (Kentucky: 323)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 343.7 (Kentucky: 259.1)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 71,861 (Kentucky: 4,477,251)
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
Louisiana: New Orleans
> Murders per 100,000 people: 51.0 (Louisiana: 15.8)
> Murders reported in 2020: 201 (Louisiana: 734)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,324.3 (Louisiana: 639.4)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 393,779 (Louisiana: 4,645,318)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Maine: Bangor
> Murders per 100,000 people: 6.2 (Maine: 1.6)
> Murders reported in 2020: 2 (Maine: 22)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 158.5 (Maine: 108.6)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 32,179 (Maine: 1,350,141)
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Source: Source: Andrew Bossi / Wikimedia Commons
Maryland: Bowie*
> Murders per 100,000 people: 1.7 (Maryland: 9.1)
> Murders reported in 2020: 1 (Maryland: 553)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 103.4 (Maryland: 399.9)
> 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 most murders by default.
Massachusetts: Holyoke
> Murders per 100,000 people: 20.0 (Massachusetts: 2.3)
> Murders reported in 2020: 8 (Massachusetts: 160)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 905.0 (Massachusetts: 308.8)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 40,002 (Massachusetts: 6,893,574)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Michigan: Saginaw
> Murders per 100,000 people: 50.2 (Michigan: 7.6)
> Murders reported in 2020: 24 (Michigan: 754)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,154.2 (Michigan: 478.0)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 47,767 (Michigan: 9,966,555)
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Source: StevenGaertner / Getty Images
Minnesota: Minneapolis
> Murders per 100,000 people: 18.2 (Minnesota: 3.4)
> Murders reported in 2020: 79 (Minnesota: 190)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,154.9 (Minnesota: 277.5)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 435,116 (Minnesota: 5,657,342)
Mississippi: Horn Lake
> Murders per 100,000 people: 18.2 (Mississippi: 10.6)
> Murders reported in 2020: 5 (Mississippi: 315)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 171.5 (Mississippi: 291.2)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 27,404 (Mississippi: 2,966,786)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Missouri: St. Louis
> Murders per 100,000 people: 88.1 (Missouri: 11.8)
> Murders reported in 2020: 263 (Missouri: 723)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,016.3 (Missouri: 542.7)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 298,422 (Missouri: 6,151,548)
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Montana: Billings
> Murders per 100,000 people: 12.7 (Montana: 5.0)
> Murders reported in 2020: 14 (Montana: 54)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 852.4 (Montana: 469.8)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 110,157 (Montana: 1,080,577)
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Nebraska: Omaha
> Murders per 100,000 people: 7.7 (Nebraska: 3.6)
> Murders reported in 2020: 37 (Nebraska: 69)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 631.3 (Nebraska: 334.1)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 480,297 (Nebraska: 1,937,552)
Source: Pavliha / Getty Images
Nevada: North Las Vegas
> Murders per 100,000 people: 7.0 (Nevada: 5.7)
> Murders reported in 2020: 18 (Nevada: 180)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 521.8 (Nevada: 460.3)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 256,217 (Nevada: 3,138,259)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
New Hampshire: Manchester
> Murders per 100,000 people: 4.4 (New Hampshire: 0.9)
> Murders reported in 2020: 5 (New Hampshire: 12)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 592.8 (New Hampshire: 146.4)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 113,018 (New Hampshire: 1,366,275)
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Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images
New Jersey: Trenton
> Murders per 100,000 people: 48.2 (New Jersey: 3.7)
> Murders reported in 2020: 40 (New Jersey: 329)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,168.8 (New Jersey: 195.4)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 82,909 (New Jersey: 8,882,371)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
New Mexico: Albuquerque
> Murders per 100,000 people: 14.2 (New Mexico: 7.8)
> Murders reported in 2020: 80 (New Mexico: 164)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,343.6 (New Mexico: 778.3)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 562,065 (New Mexico: 2,106,319)
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Source: Jacek_Sopotnicki / Getty Images
New York: Buffalo
> Murders per 100,000 people: 24.0 (New York: 4.2)
> Murders reported in 2020: 61 (New York: 808)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,018.0 (New York: 363.8)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 254,627 (New York: 19,336,776)
North Carolina: Rocky Mount
> Murders per 100,000 people: 24.3 (North Carolina: 8.0)
> Murders reported in 2020: 13 (North Carolina: 852)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,149.1 (North Carolina: 419.3)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 53,520 (North Carolina: 10,600,823)
North Dakota: Minot
> Murders per 100,000 people: 14.6 (North Dakota: 4.2)
> Murders reported in 2020: 7 (North Dakota: 32)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 322.2 (North Dakota: 329.0)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 48,108 (North Dakota: 765,309)
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Ohio: Cleveland
> Murders per 100,000 people: 42.2 (Ohio: 7.0)
> Murders reported in 2020: 160 (Ohio: 820)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,656.7 (Ohio: 308.8)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 379,121 (Ohio: 11,693,217)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Oklahoma: Tulsa
> Murders per 100,000 people: 17.9 (Oklahoma: 7.4)
> Murders reported in 2020: 72 (Oklahoma: 296)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,132.6 (Oklahoma: 458.6)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 402,166 (Oklahoma: 3,980,783)
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Oregon: Portland
> Murders per 100,000 people: 8.0 (Oregon: 2.9)
> Murders reported in 2020: 53 (Oregon: 125)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 522.7 (Oregon: 291.9)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 662,941 (Oregon: 4,241,507)
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Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
Pennsylvania: Harrisburg*
> Murders per 100,000 people: 46.7 (Pennsylvania: 7.9)
> Murders reported in 2020: 23 (Pennsylvania: 1,009)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 857.0 (Pennsylvania: 389.5)
> 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 most murders by default.
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Rhode Island: Woonsocket
> Murders per 100,000 people: 9.6 (Rhode Island: 3.0)
> Murders reported in 2020: 4 (Rhode Island: 32)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 501.3 (Rhode Island: 230.8)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 41,693 (Rhode Island: 1,057,125)
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Source: digidreamgrafix / iStock via Getty Images
South Carolina: North Charleston
> Murders per 100,000 people: 32.3 (South Carolina: 10.5)
> Murders reported in 2020: 38 (South Carolina: 549)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,144.7 (South Carolina: 530.7)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 117,503 (South Carolina: 5,218,040)
Source: EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images
South Dakota: Rapid City
> Murders per 100,000 people: 16.6 (South Dakota: 4.5)
> Murders reported in 2020: 13 (South Dakota: 40)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 857.4 (South Dakota: 501.4)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 78,492 (South Dakota: 892,717)
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
Tennessee: Memphis
> Murders per 100,000 people: 44.4 (Tennessee: 9.6)
> Murders reported in 2020: 289 (Tennessee: 663)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 2,352.0 (Tennessee: 672.7)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 650,937 (Tennessee: 6,886,834)
Source: Art Wager / iStock via Getty Images
Texas: Texas City
> Murders per 100,000 people: 21.7 (Texas: 6.6)
> Murders reported in 2020: 11 (Texas: 1,931)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 351.4 (Texas: 446.5)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 50,660 (Texas: 29,360,759)
Utah: South Salt Lake
> Murders per 100,000 people: 15.5 (Utah: 3.1)
> Murders reported in 2020: 4 (Utah: 102)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 964.5 (Utah: 260.7)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 25,816 (Utah: 3,249,879)
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Source: vermontalm / iStock via Getty Images
Vermont: Burlington*
> Murders per 100,000 people: 2.3 (Vermont: 2.2)
> Murders reported in 2020: 1 (Vermont: 14)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 352.3 (Vermont: 173.4)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 42,862 (Vermont: 623,347)
*Because Burlington is the only eligible city in Vermont, it is the city with the most murders by default.
Virginia: Petersburg
> Murders per 100,000 people: 76.9 (Virginia: 6.1)
> Murders reported in 2020: 24 (Virginia: 524)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 631.5 (Virginia: 208.7)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 31,195 (Virginia: 8,590,563)
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Washington: SeaTac
> Murders per 100,000 people: 13.7 (Washington: 3.9)
> Murders reported in 2020: 4 (Washington: 301)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 481.5 (Washington: 293.7)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 29,282 (Washington: 7,693,612)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
West Virginia: Charleston
> Murders per 100,000 people: 23.9 (West Virginia: 6.6)
> Murders reported in 2020: 11 (West Virginia: 117)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 921.0 (West Virginia: 355.9)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 46,038 (West Virginia: 1,784,787)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Wisconsin: Milwaukee
> Murders per 100,000 people: 32.4 (Wisconsin: 5.3)
> Murders reported in 2020: 191 (Wisconsin: 308)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 1,596.8 (Wisconsin: 323.4)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 589,105 (Wisconsin: 5,832,655)
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Wyoming: Gillette
> Murders per 100,000 people: 6.2 (Wyoming: 3.1)
> Murders reported in 2020: 2 (Wyoming: 18)
> Violent crimes per 100k people: 193.2 (Wyoming: 234.2)
> Population within reporting jurisdiction: 32,093 (Wyoming: 582,328)
To determine the city with the most murders in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed murder figures from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report. The rate of murders 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.
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.
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