4. Baltimore, Maryland
Established by the Constitution of Maryland, Baltimore is the largest independent city in the country. As the 30th most populous city in the United States, the population is estimated to be slightly over 600,000. Baltimore has been far above the national average for many years and although the overall crime rate dropped by an encouraging 60% from the mid 1990s to the mid 2010s. The same could not be said for the homicide rates, which have remained consistently high.
Murder – 309 – Rate per 1,000 – 0.51
Rape – 367 – Rate per 1,000 – 0.61
Robbery – 5090 – Rate per 1,000 – 8.45
Assault – 5412 – Rate per 1,000 – 8.98
Chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime – 1 in 54