The aggravated assault rate in the United States is at its highest level since 2007. According to the FBI, about 921,500 cases of violent assault were reported nationwide in 2020, up 12% from the previous year.
The FBI defines aggravated assault as an unlawful physical attack 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.
The country’s rising rates of violent assault are being led by surges in some American towns.
Using data from the FBI, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 towns where the aggravated assault rate is rising fastest. Towns – defined as places with populations between 2,500 and 25,000 – are ranked by the year-over-year change in the number of violent assaults per 100,000 people in 2020. Among the towns on this list, the assault rate climbed anywhere from 368 assaults per 100,000 people to 1,394 assaults per 100,000 people. The national aggravated assault rate climbed by 29 assaults per 100,000 people in 2020.
Aggravated assault – along with rаpe, robbery, and homicide – is one component of the overall violent crime category, and is by far the most common. Assaults accounted for about 70% of the 1.3 million violent offenses reported in 2020. Partially due to the rise in the aggravated assault rate, the overall violent crime rate also climbed in nearly every town on this list in 2020. Here is a look at the city where crime is rising fastest in every state.
The majority of towns on this list are in the South, including nine in Arkansas alone. In every town on this list, the aggravated assault is higher than the national rate of 280 per 100,000. Here is a look at the U.S. cities with the fewest assaults.
Click here to see the towns where the aggravated assault rate is soaring
Click here read our detailed methodology
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50. South Padre Island, Texas
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +368.4
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 28 — 542nd highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,010.1 — 60th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: -17.4 — 1,110th lowest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,551.2 — 31st highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 2,818
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Source: Public Domain / Library of Congress
49. Seneca, South Carolina
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +369.9
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 72 — 136th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 839.1 — 100th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +404.1 — 46th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 990.6 — 115th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 8,368
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48. South Hill, Virginia
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +370.3
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 17 — 906th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 393.3 — 420th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +301.3 — 92nd highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 485.9 — 448th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 4,377
Source: Gary Ennis / iStock via Getty Images
47. Oscoda, Michigan
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +371.0
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 41 — 326th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 608.2 — 190th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +460.1 — 36th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 741.7 — 206th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 6,803
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46. Bogalusa, Louisiana
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +371.9
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 155 — 24th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,356.4 — 26th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +430.5 — 40th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,689.0 — 21st highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 11,673
45. Mullins, South Carolina
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +373.1
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 45 — 288th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,072.4 — 47th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +283.6 — 107th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,239.3 — 60th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 4,356
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44. Newberry, South Carolina
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +381.5
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 95 — 79th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 933.1 — 75th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +314.9 — 82nd highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,011.7 — 111th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 10,245
43. Ottumwa, Iowa
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +382.3
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 201 — 12th highest of 2,899 towns
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 827.4 — 110th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +399.6 — 49th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 946.8 — 126th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 24,545
42. Wadesboro, North Carolina
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +385.0
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 97 — 73rd highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,857.9 — 8th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +481.4 — 33rd highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,375.0 — 7th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 5,305
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
41. Cocoa, Florida
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +389.9
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 159 — 22nd highest of 2,899 towns
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 847.1 — 97th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +337.3 — 67th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,140.2 — 82nd highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 18,285
Source: moorech / iStock via Getty Images
40. Kingstree, South Carolina
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +394.4
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 22 — 717th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 724.9 — 141st highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +229.0 — 156th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 790.8 — 184th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 3,096
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39. Paris, Arkansas
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +395.7
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 30 — 502nd highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 896.9 — 85th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +278.2 — 112th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 926.8 — 138th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 3,413
38. Green Forest, Arkansas
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +399.0
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 23 — 674th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 833.3 — 104th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +652.9 — 12th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,304.3 — 46th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 2,691
37. Marion, South Carolina
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +408.8
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 63 — 172nd highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,005.1 — 62nd highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +397.4 — 50th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,260.4 — 56th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 6,466
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36. Nome, Alaska
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +409.9
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 63 — 172nd highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,615.4 — 13th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +1,460.8 — the highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 4,205.1 — the highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 3,850
35. Watonga, Oklahoma
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +426.2
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 15 — 996th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 531.9 — 244th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +532.6 — 23rd highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 638.3 — 290th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 2,881
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34. Pierre, South Dakota
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +449.5
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 108 — 58th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 777.6 — 122nd highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +458.0 — 38th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 921.7 — 140th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 13,961
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33. Somerville, Tennessee
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +449.8
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 26 — 580th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 792.2 — 119th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +386.9 — 52nd highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 822.7 — 169th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 3,238
32. West Monroe, Louisiana
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +457.7
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 142 — 32nd highest of 2,899 towns
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,170.3 — 35th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +650.9 — 13th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,565.8 — 29th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 12,583
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31. Melvindale, Michigan
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +463.3
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 87 — 95th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 853.0 — 94th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +532.4 — 24th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 990.3 — 117th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 10,348
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
30. Bennettsville, South Carolina
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +472.1
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 83 — 104th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,093.4 — 43rd highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +512.8 — 28th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,198.8 — 68th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 8,062
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29. Fife, Washington
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +476.6
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 93 — 85th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 902.8 — 83rd highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +623.0 — 15th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,378.5 — 38th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 10,096
Source: Joice Brinkerhoff / iStock via Getty Images
28. Seaside Heights, New Jersey
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +478.0
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 25 — 602nd highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 857.0 — 92nd highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +820.6 — 4th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,234.1 — 61st highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 2,892
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
27. Barnwell, South Carolina
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +481.2
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 95 — 79th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 2,240.0 — 4th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +345.4 — 65th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,405.1 — 6th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 4,424
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26. Williams, Arizona
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +484.3
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 42 — 312th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,284.0 — 28th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +545.4 — 22nd highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,345.2 — 41st highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 3,176
25. Winnfield, Louisiana
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +488.4
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 41 — 326th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 976.0 — 67th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +490.1 — 32nd highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,047.4 — 99th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 4,420
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24. Hope, Arkansas
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +489.2
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 100 — 69th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,047.9 — 49th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +554.2 — 19th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,278.4 — 50th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 9,768
Source: lucentius / iStock via Getty Images
23. Crescent City, California
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +492.4
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 46 — 276th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 686.0 — 159th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +805.8 — 5th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,148.2 — 79th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 6,676
Source: Rabbrun Photography / iStock via Getty Images
22. Palm Springs, Florida
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +504.1
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 249 — 6th highest of 2,899 towns
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 978.4 — 66th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +495.3 — 31st highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,131.6 — 84th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 24,843
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21. Ecorse, Michigan
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +514.2
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 141 — 33rd highest of 2,899 towns
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,472.4 — 19th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +556.6 — 18th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,775.3 — 17th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 9,432
20. Westwego, Louisiana
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +519.6
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 54 — 220th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 650.4 — 172nd highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +460.9 — 35th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 698.5 — 225th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 8,438
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19. Washington, North Carolina
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +520.4
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 106 — 63rd highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,120.6 — 38th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +563.3 — 17th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,310.9 — 45th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 9,590
Source: Courtesy of City of Carlisle, Iowa via Facebook
18. Carlisle, Iowa
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +529.6
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 28 — 542nd highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 645.0 — 175th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +552.6 — 20th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 714.1 — 214th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 4,162
17. Lonoke, Arkansas
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +534.0
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 38 — 370th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 909.5 — 82nd highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +752.2 — 7th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,268.5 — 55th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 4,238
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16. Willits, California
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +554.1
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 35 — 416th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 716.2 — 146th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +514.9 — 26th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 839.0 — 162nd highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 4,893
Source: Philip Rozenski / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
15. Osceola, Arkansas
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +563.3
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 180 — 16th highest of 2,899 towns
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 2,757.8 — 2nd highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +402.3 — 48th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,987.6 — 3rd highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 6,908
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14. West Memphis, Arkansas
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +581.5
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 524 — the highest of 2,899 towns
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 2,164.8 — 5th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +523.5 — 25th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,507.7 — 5th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 24,823
Source: raksybH / iStock via Getty Images
13. Chattahoochee, Florida
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +582.5
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 31 — 479th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 981.9 — 65th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +512.7 — 29th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,045.3 — 102nd highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 3,113
Source: raksybH / iStock via Getty Images
12. Davis, Oklahoma
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +615.9
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 21 — 750th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 718.9 — 144th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +512.8 — 27th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 718.9 — 212th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 2,836
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11. Mount Healthy, Ohio
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +617.4
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 56 — 207th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 832.2 — 105th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +627.2 — 14th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,040.3 — 104th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 6,767
10. Fordyce, Arkansas
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +652.6
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 53 — 229th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,453.6 — 20th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +551.6 — 21st highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,673.1 — 22nd highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 3,849
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9. Havana, Illinois
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +654.3
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 37 — 385th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,252.5 — 31st highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +459.9 — 37th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,523.4 — 32nd highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 3,197
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8. Alexander, Arkansas
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +664.9
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 33 — 441st highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 936.4 — 73rd highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +711.0 — 10th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,163.5 — 76th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 3,168
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
7. Bolivar, Tennessee
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +673.5
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 99 — 72nd highest of 2,899 towns
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 2,023.7 — 6th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +755.1 — 6th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,248.6 — 9th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 5,031
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6. Laurinburg, North Carolina
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +692.3
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 228 — 9th highest of 2,899 towns
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,529.7 — 16th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +712.8 — 9th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,784.6 — 16th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 15,119
5. Forrest City, Arkansas
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +729.7
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 197 — 13th highest of 2,899 towns
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,442.6 — 22nd highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +704.1 — 11th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,633.0 — 25th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 14,285
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4. Fairmont, North Carolina
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +736.9
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 27 — 559th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,044.5 — 51st highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +583.6 — 16th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,121.9 — 87th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 2,641
Source: Ken Badgley / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
3. Marianna, Florida
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +802.2
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 87 — 95th highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,541.5 — 15th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +723.7 — 8th highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,647.8 — 23rd highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 6,923
Source: Thinkstock / Stockbyte via Getty Images
2. Port Allen, Louisiana
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +1,032.8
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 77 — 122nd highest of 2,899 towns (tied)
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 1,640.0 — 11th highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +1,057.2 — 3rd highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,725.2 — 18th highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 4,958
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1. Benton Harbor, Michigan
> Change in reported aggravated assault rate, 2019-2020: +1,394.4
> Aggravated assaults reported in 2020: 284 — 3rd highest of 2,899 towns
> Aggravated assaults per 100K people in 2020: 2,924.8 — the highest of 2,899 towns
> 1-yr. change in all violent crime: +1,254.0 — 2nd highest of 2,893 towns
> Violent crimes per 100K people in 2020: 3,192.6 — 2nd highest of 2,898 towns
> Population: 9,843
Methodology
To determine the towns where the aggravated assault rate is rising fastest, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the change in the number of aggravated assaults per 100,000 people from the FBI’s 2019 and 2020 Uniform Crime Reports. Crime rates were calculated using population figures provided by the FBI in the 2020 and 2019 UCR.
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 towns in these states were not excluded from analysis. Because some state and local agencies changed reporting practices between 2019 and 2020, the figures are not comparable, and the areas were excluded.
Listed population figures are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
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