The latest FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports tracked data from 2013 onward and they have revealed some very strange and irregular trends when Texas as a state is in question. For instance, only one of the five biggest cities has found its place in the top 5 most dangerous cities in Texas. In addition to this, West Texas has been found to have a much higher crime rate than other parts of the state. Finally, despite their reputation, border cities rank very low on their lists.
Odessa is the most dangerous city in all of Texas, with 806 violent crime incidents per 100,000 inhabitants. It is the highest crime rate in the state by far. For instance, Odessa has 645 cases of aggravated assault alone, which is just 13 short of Lubbock’s 658 violent crimes overall per 100,000. That number is enough to put Lubbock in spot No. 2.
In spot No. 3, you will find Houston, the only city from the big 5 that makes the very top of the list. Houston is particularly prone to robberies, with 233 per 100,000. It also has the murder rate of 5.9 per 100,000.
Some cities may not make the very top of the list overall, but they can “lead” in certain areas. For instance, Amarillo has the highest rape rates in Texas, with 84.9 per 100,000. It is also No. 4 on the list. On the other hand, Beaumont-Port Arthur has the highest murder rates with 8.6 per 100,000. The area is also 5th on the list.
The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex places only #17 on the list, although its robbery rates are quite high. San Antonio has the lowest robbery rates of all the biggest metro areas, but it still makes the 9th spot on the overall crime list.
