10 Most Dangerous Cities in Tennessee (2025 Update)

Have you ever Googled “most dangerous cities in Tennessee” and wondered if the lists match real life? You are not alone. Crime headlines from Memphis to tiny Halls pop up almost every day, and it can feel hard to separate fear‑fueling talk from solid numbers.

So let’s break it down—city by city, stat by stat—in easy words and an upbeat tone. By the end, you will know where violent crime clusters, how property theft plays in, and—most importantly—what you can do to stay safe.

Is Tennessee A Safe State to Live In?

Short answer: safer than the scariest stories suggest, but rougher than the national average. Statewide, Tennessee logged about 628 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2023, well above the U.S. mean of 398. Property crime also stays high, especially car thefts sparked by the viral Kia/Hyundai “USB hack.” Yet crime varies sharply by place.

Many small towns (think Nolensville or Signal Mountain) recorded near‑zero violent incidents last year, while pockets of Memphis, Nashville, and West Tennessee drive statewide totals. The gap proves that safety in Tennessee is more about where you stand than the state line itself.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Tennessee

Below is the 2025 ranking based on violent‑crime rate per 100,000 residents in each of the worst city in Tennessee. We also note property and car‑theft figures, because break‑ins and stolen vehicles shape the most dangerous cities in Tennessee.

1. Memphis

Violent crime reached 2,612 per 100k last year, triple the state figure. Property crime sits at 8,603 per 100k, and cars disappear at a stunning 2,550 per 100k—one of the worst rates in the nation. Gang rivalry in South Memphis, surging catalytic‑converter thefts, and easy highway access all feed the problem. City leaders cite a 39 percent drop in motor‑vehicle theft through 2024, but totals remain sky‑high. Residents lean on porch cameras, steering‑wheel locks, and neighborhood apps to blunt daily risk.

2. Bolivar

With only 5,000 people, Bolivar surprises outsiders: 2,097 violent crimes per 100k—five times the U.S. rate. Property crime lands at 1,716 per 100k, while vehicle theft (173 per 100k) stays lower than in big cities. A cluster of assaults and a handful of murders push the tiny town to #2. Limited jobs, 26 percent poverty, and drug trafficking along U.S. 64 show how rural scarcity can fuel violence.

3. Ripley

Ripley posts 1,707 violent crimes per 100k, a spike powered by aggravated assaults. Property crime (2,337 per 100k) and car theft (368 per 100k) ride below Memphis levels but still top state marks. Frequent break‑ins around Lauderdale County High keep locals on edge. An anti‑violence task force was formed in 2024, yet rising assault numbers keep Ripley solidly in the top three.

4. Covington

Historic Covington logs 1,296 violent crimes per 100k and 3,630 property crimes per 100k. Car thieves hit 350 per 100k. Much of the violence clusters near Highway 51 bars. On paper, burglary trends mirror the national norm, but robbery and assault push Covington higher. Community youth‑mentoring programs launched last summer show promise, yet data still paints a tough picture for 2025.

5. Dyersburg

Dyersburg’s 1,247 violent‑crime rate and 5,058 property‑crime rate make everyday life uneasy. Cars vanish at 460 per 100k, and theft in mall parking lots spiked 18 percent last year. Although murders stayed at zero, rapes and robberies rose. City Hall points to new street‑light upgrades downtown, but residents still double‑lock doors and park under cameras.

6. Nashville

Music City posted 1,129 violent crimes per 100k—high but trending slightly downward. Property crime (4,405 per 100k) and vehicle theft (770 per 100k) drag Nashville into this list. Concertgoers and tourists often fuel larceny counts, while “Kia‑Boy” social‑media thefts hammered East Nashville. Still, homicide fell 7 percent in 2024, and several neighborhoods rank among Tennessee’s safest, proving that risk changes block by block.

7. Jackson

Jackson’s 1,095 violent‑crime rate pairs with 3,371 property crimes per 100k and 400 car thefts per 100k. Assaults around I‑40 exits spike weekend figures. Community groups opened two new after‑school centers in 2024, correlating with a tiny 3 percent dip in violent crime, yet robberies remain a daily worry for small‑business owners along North Highland Avenue.

8. Chattanooga

Chattanooga shows 1,091 violent crimes per 100k and a hefty 4,857 property crime rate. Car theft stands at 745 per 100k. The good news: overall crime fell 11 percent year‑over‑year. The bad: auto theft and porch piracy still spike near Brainerd Road and downtown tourist zones. Rivers, rail yards, and a busy interstate make fast getaways easier, complicating police work.

9. Halls

Tiny Halls records 1,029 violent crimes per 100k, 2,059 property crimes per 100k, and 245 car‑theft incidents per 100k. One homicide and a string of assaults in 2024 vaulted this Lauderdale County town onto the list. With only 2,300 residents, a handful of crimes can swing the rate, yet locals still push for more streetlights and neighborhood watch patrols.

10. Brownsville

Rounding out the lineup, Brownsville logs 1,017 violent crimes per 100k, 2,893 property crimes per 100k, and 159 car thefts per 100k. Assaults near the old courthouse square drive the violent‑crime metric, while thefts from unlocked cars remain common. Brownsville police boosted foot patrols last fall, which helped nudge burglaries down 13 percent—but violent incidents in early 2025 kept the town in the top ten.

How We Determine the Most Dangerous City in Tennessee?

We rank each location by factors that matter most to everyday safety:

• Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, assault) per 100,000 residents
• Property crimes (burglary, theft) per 100,000 residents
• Vehicle‑theft rate, because car loss hits families hard
• Three‑year crime trend—rising or falling?
• Population above 5,000 to avoid one‑off anomalies
• FBI Uniform Crime Reporting and AreaVibes data as primary sources

Common Types of Crimes in Tennessee’s Dangerous Cities

Most police logs repeat the same headlines week after week:

• Aggravated assault, often domestic disputes or bar fights that escalate
• Simple theft and shoplifting from big‑box stores or unlocked cars
• Burglary targeting homes that lack alarms or cameras
• Motor‑vehicle theft of older Kias and Hyundais remains a prime target
• Robbery of convenience stores and late‑night gas stations, especially along major highways

Safety Tips for Residents and Visitors in Tennessee

Even in high‑crime spots, you can lower risk with smart habits:

• Lock-and-relock cars; add a steering‑wheel bar or GPS tracker
• Install doorbell and driveway cameras; most thieves skip houses with visible lenses or outdoor CCTV cameras.
• Park in bright, busy areas, not side streets, after dark
• Join or start a neighborhood watch; crooks avoid streets with alert neighbors
• Keep valuables out of sight; a clear seat often saves a smashed window
• Use phone crime‑alert apps to know when trouble pops up nearby

FAQs

What city in Tennessee has the highest crime rate?

Memphis carries the highest violent‑crime rate—2,612 violent crimes per 100,000 people—making it the worst city in Tennessee for total serious offenses.

What is the safest city in TN?

According to SafeWise’s 2025 report, Nolensville tops the safety list with a violent‑crime rate of 0.2 per 1,000 residents and extremely low property‑crime numbers. Signal Mountain and Portland also post near‑zero violent incidents.

What are the top five crime cities in the U.S.?

The latest AreaVibes national list ranks Memphis, Detroit, Little Rock, Cleveland, and Milwaukee as the five most dangerous large cities, based on violent‑crime rates that all exceed 1,500 per 100,000 people.

Conclusion

Tennessee blends soulful music, mountain vistas, and pockets of real danger. Memphis still leads the most dangerous cities on the Tennessee list, but small towns like Bolivar and Ripley prove that rural life does not always equal safety. Meanwhile, many Volunteer State communities remain calm and welcoming.

So whether you call a busy Memphis neighborhood home or plan a weekend in Chattanooga, stay alert, use the safety tips above, and keep the conversation going. Do these rankings match your experience? Share your thoughts on Tennessee’s most dangerous and safest spots in the comments below.