We don’t often take the time to sit and analyze the Magnolia State’s negative attributes, like the most dangerous cities in Mississippi. However, the website Road Snacks has. Utilizing the FBI crime report, the site analyzed every city in the state with over 6,000 residents in order to find dangerous places to avoid in Mississippi. Read on to see which places were ranked the most dangerous cities in Mississippi.
10. Batesville
Ranked the 12th most violent city in Mississippi, Batesville residents have a 1 in 424 chance of being the victim of violence. On top of that, the town has the 9th highest rate of property crime in the state, leaving residents with a 1 in 22.5 chance of being robbed.
9. D’Iberville
With a growing crime rate, D’Iberville has gone from the 15th most dangerous city in Mississippi to the 9th most dangerous within the span of a year. According to the FBI report, 1 in 14.4 residents will be the victim of car theft or robbery. However, things might be looking up for D'Iberville, as it will soon be home to one of the best resorts in Mississippi.
8. Meridian
With a crime rate that’s been consistently high since 2017, it’s no surprise that Meridian went from the 10th most dangerous city to the 8th. In addition to being the 8th most dangerous, it’s the 6th most violent city in Mississippi. Being among the most dangerous cities in Mississippi isn't Meridian's only distinguishing factor, though. It's also revered as one of the most haunted towns in Mississippi.
7. Brookhaven
Both violent crimes and property crimes have been on the rise in Brookhaven since 2017. According to statistics, there’s about one violent crime per 130 residents. If you do find yourself in Brookhaven, pay a visit to Dude's Sausage and Biscuit; it doles out some of the best breakfast in Mississippi.
6. Biloxi
Home to numerous resorts, including the Margaritaville Resort, Biloxi is a popular tourist destination - and that means a lot of people pass through Biloxi, which most likely contributes to its high rate of violent crime. In 2018, the city of 46,000 experienced 149 violent crimes.
5. Laurel
As the setting for HGTV’s "Home Town," Laurel’s ranking as the 5th most dangerous city in Mississippi is pretty surprising. What’s more, it’s ranked the 3rd most violent city. However, Laurel is getting safer, with violent crime dropping by 12% and property crime decreasing by 11% since 2017. Laurel's turnaround hasn't gone unnoticed, either. It's recently been ranked one of the best small towns in Mississippi.
4. Gulfport
One of the state’s largest cities, Gulfport is home to about 72,000. Unfortunately, of that 72,000, one in every 187 has a chance of being the victim of a violent crime, while one in every 19.8 runs the chance of being the victim of a property crime. Don't make the mistake of avoiding Gulfport altogether, though. It's one of the best summertime towns in Mississippi.
3. Vicksburg
Vicksburg is a riverfront city most known for its rich Southern history and, of course, for being home to the Vicksburg National Military Park. Unfortunately, though, the city is also known for a high crime rate. Luckily, the city’s rate of violent crimes began declining in 2017.
2. Jackson
Aside from being the state capital and the largest city in Mississippi, Jackson takes the title as one of the most violent cities in the Magnolia State. And sadly, it doesn’t look like things are going to change – violent crime has been on the rise over the past couple of years. There is some good news, though. When it comes to property crime alone, Jackson is only the state’s 7th worst. The city does have its fair share of perks, though, including that it's home to one of the most unique parks in Mississippi.
1. Pascagoula
Ranked as the most dangerous city, Pascagoula has moved up a whopping four spots within one year's time. Part of the reason for the jump is the city’s rate of violent crime, which has increased by 76% since 2017. The city's got lots of history, though - part of which involves a singing river.
It’s important to note, though, that while these numbers may seem a bit shocking, none of the most dangerous cities in Mississippi were included on Road Snack’s list of the top 10 most dangerous cities in the country. Also, Mississippi didn’t make the list of the top 10 most dangerous states.
So, what do you think? Did you know these were the most dangerous cities in Mississippi? Are you surprised by these numbers? Did your hometown make the list? What other cities do you think are among the most dangerous places to avoid in Mississippi? Tell us!
Now that we’ve examined the most dangerous cities in Mississippi, let’s switch gears, and take a look at the safest cities in Mississippi.
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