Vermont has consistently been ranked the safest state in the nation, which is just one of the many reasons we love it here. Some towns and cities have a higher instance of crime, and there are certainly more dangerous places in Vermont than others.  When looking at Area Vibes, Best Places, Roadsidesnacks, 247wallst and City-Data, it was interesting to see how small numbers could greatly affect the outcome of the calculations of these cities and towns crime rates.  Naturally, we would like to have zero crimes in every area, but this is Vermont, not some weird utopia. However, when you see the pictures of these towns we think you'll agree - every single one is still beautiful.  From the architecture to the views, there's simply no place like Vermont. Here are the worst cities in Vermont.

Please note:  Property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.  Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault are considered violent crimes.

1. St. Albans

St. Albans had the highest crime ranking in violent crimes and the second-highest rate of property crimes. Overall one has an approximately 1 in 133 chance of being the victim of a violent crime.

2. Brattleboro

In recent years the crime rates in Brattleboro have shifted. From 2011 to 2013, violent crime dropped by 36%. However, despite its position as #2 in this list, it still technically has the highest overall crime rate in the state, with a 70% higher number than the national average.

3. Bennington

Between 2011 and 2013, Bennington’s violent crime statistics remained the same, however, property crimes rose a staggering 41%. The overall violent crime rate in Bennington is 422 per 100,000 residents.

4. Rutland

The overall crime rate has risen over the last several years in Rutland, and violent crimes are several percentage points higher than the general, overall Vermont average. One has about a 1 in 226 shot of being the victim of a violent crime in Rutland.

5. Barre

Barre has a slightly higher average of violent crimes compared to the national average (2nd most dangerous there), but a slightly lower score in property crimes (7th most there).

6. Burlington

Burlington has seen a rise in both property and violent crimes, with 405 per 100,000 residents.

7. Morristown

Morristown is a lovely little place, but unfortunately, it made the list! Violent crimes tripled in 2012, and property crimes were about 50% higher that year. As of 2021, there are about 256 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

8. South Burlington

South Burlington is seeing some improvement in both violent and property crimes. Residents here have a 1 in 28 chance of being the victims of property crimes. Because Vermont is one of the top safest states in the nation, numbers like that one will still land it in a "dangerous" category.

9. Winooski

While the rate of violent crimes has gone down by about three points this year, Winooski residents have seen a slight decrease in property and violent crime this time around.

Did a city/town on this list surprise you? Share your thoughts! To check out the full list, as well as get more information and data on each, make sure to visit the official RoadSnacks website. Now that you've seen the most dangerous cities in Vermont, be sure to also check out the safest cities as well.