The 5 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in the Midwest

Although the Midwest overall enjoys a reputation of being a relatively safe and welcoming area of the United States, a few neighborhoods stand out as anomalies. With the prevalence of gang activity, drug trafficking and historic disinvestment, these poverty-stricken neighborhoods have become hotbeds of violent crime.

Here are five dangerous areas in the midwestern United States:

North Lawndale Neighborhood

North Lawndale on the west side of the Windy City ranks as one of the most notorious neighborhoods, with an exceptionally high violent crime rate of 7,966 per 100,000 residents. This area has struggled with issues such as entrenched gang violence, shootings, homicides, robberies, poverty, and disinvestment for decades.

East St. Louis Neighborhood

This poverty-ridden neighborhood sits directly across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis, just beyond the Missouri-Illinois state line. East St. Louis has one of the highest murder rates in the country - violent crime occurs here 598% more often than in the average U.S. city. Crumbling infrastructure, drug trafficking, gang activity, gun violence, and lack of economic opportunities all contribute to this city's ranking on this list.

Detroit Neighborhoods

Three neighborhoods in the Motor City stand out as some of the most dangerous in the Midwest: the West Chicago/Livernois Avenue area, the Mack Avenue/Helen Street area and the Gratiot Avenue/Rosemary area. The city of Detroit as a whole has one of the highest murder rates in the country. A high percentage of those occurred in these three neighborhoods, which also grapple with issues such as poverty, disease, robbery, aggravated assault and lack of economic investment.

North Memphis Neighborhood

The city of Memphis has been called Home of the Blues, referencing its musical heritage. However, the North Memphis area has a different reason to sing the blues: high violent crime rates. In 2020, the neighborhood saw more than 1,200 violent crimes per 100,000 residents. Gang activity and the drug trade abound, fueled by high poverty rates.

Kansas City Neighborhoods

Five neighborhoods in Kansas City, Missouri, stand out as some of the most menacing: the South Blue Valley, Marlborough East, Hidden Valley, Blue Hills and Santa Fe areas. The Marlborough East area ranks as the No. 1 most dangerous area with 54.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents. Hidden Valley, South Blue Valley, Blue Hills, and Santa Fe follow closely behind, ranging from 50.7 to 52.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents. The issues plaguing Kansas City, Missouri, range from homicides to gang violence to aggravated assaults to robberies.

The leaders of these cities face great challenges in reducing the alarmingly high crime rates and addressing complex socioeconomic issues. To offer brighter futures to the residents of these communities, they must take steps to invest in community development and in initiatives that address the root cause of violent crimes.

References: Statistics About The Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In America | 35 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in America | Which U.S. Cities Are the Most Dangerous? | Kansas City Neighborhood Makes America's "5 Most Dangerous" List | These are Chicago's 10 most dangerous neighborhoods, according to PropertyClub | The 6 most dangerous neighborhoods in Michigan | Most Dangerous Kansas City, Missouri neighborhood is brutal | Kansas City Neighborhoods: Crime & Safety