Most dangerous cities in Rhode Island research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data to determine the most dangerous cities in Rhode Island based on violent and property crimes per capita. Here are the results of our analysis:
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The most dangerous city in Rhode Island is Woonsocket based on the most recent FBI crime data.
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The violent crime rate in Rhode Island is 536 per 100k people.
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The property crime rate in Rhode Island is 1,743 per 100k people.
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The safest city in Rhode Island is Narragansett.
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Rhode Island is the 45th most dangerous state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | References
It appears that there are some things more dangerous in Rhode Island than an angry mob boss and a slow driver on the Providence Parkway. The Ocean State has its fair share of dangerous cities, too.
And since danger is our middle name and data is our game, RoadSnacks created a list of the most dangerous places in Rhode Island for 2023. So, if you’re looking to move to Little Rhody, we suggest you take a look at our list below.
How’d we determine the most dangerous places in the eighth oldest state in the country? We consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 35 cities. We looked at the FBI’s latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. We discovered that the state had a combination of 23,000 violent and property crimes for 2023, with property crimes leading the way. High crime also seems to be centered around the fastest growing places in the state. Maybe these places need more police presence? Better rehabilitation programs? We’re not entirely sure, but cities like Warwick and Newport need help now: they are losing their war on crime.
Unfortunately, not every place in Rhode Island can be like the state’s safest city, but the violent crimes committed in the state’s most dangerous places would make most parents keep their children hidden and their doors always locked.
The folks that already live in Rhode Island’s most dangerous places know that this is not breaking news; but for the rest of the country, it would be in your best interest to take a look at our list of Rhode Island’s most dangerous places before you make any major life decisions.
The Most Dangerous Cities In Rhode Island For 2023
- Woonsocket
- Pawtucket
- Providence
- Newport
- Central Falls
- Warren
- Lincoln
- Cranston
- Johnston
- Warwick
Why did we produce this list? Well, one goal is to definitely help people navigate these dangerous cities when trying to make an informed decision on what city they should call home. And, secondly, because everyone wants to know the dirt. You know, the type of stuff that will get you on Westerly’s WPRI at six.
What’s the most dangerous place in Rhode Island? Rhode Islands’ most dangerous place is Woonsocket according to the most recent FBI data.
And if you want to see the other places in Rhode Island that you should avoid, take a look at our list below; if you don’t find everything you’re looking for there, head to the bottom.
Learn more about the safest places in Rhode Island.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
For more Rhode Island reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Rhode Island
- Cheapest Places To Live In Rhode Island
- Most Dangerous Cities In Rhode Island
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Rhode Island For 2023
Located in the northern part of Rhode Island, Woonsocket is known for its annual Autumnfest. Unfortunately, with the decline of manufacturing in the region, it’s also known for high unemployment and a high crime rate.
The city suffered 231 violent crimes in a year. With a population of 43,072, that equates to a per-capita violent-crime rate of 536/100k people. That figure puts Woonsocket at highest in the state.
The city has a particular problem with rapes, with 39 such attacks in a year. On a per-capita basis, that puts the city as the highest in Rhode Island for that horrendous crime.
Things are a little better when it comes to property crimes. Woonsocket saw 751 such events in a year. Putting that in terms of the city’s population, that figure amounts to the third highest pace for the state as a whole. Burglaries are a problem, however, with the state ranking highest in Rhode Island in that category.
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Population: 43,072
Rank Last Year: 2 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 536 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,743 (Third most dangerous)
More on Woonsocket: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Pawtucket gets its name from an Algonquian term meaning “river fall.” Home of the Red Sox’s minor-league affiliate, it represents the 4th most populous communities in the state, with 74,342 people living within its borders.
That may not sound like much in relation to megalopolises like nearby New York or Boston. But that number of people is enough to give Pawtucket a distinct crime problem. This is especially true when it comes to property crimes. With 1,311 such events in a year, the city ranked second highest in Rhode Island on a per-capita basis.
The city had 324 violent crimes during a year. That includes 48 rapes and 36 robberies. On a per-capita basis, Pawtucket ranked second highest for violent crime in the state.
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Population: 74,342
Rank Last Year: 3 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 435 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,763 (Second most dangerous)
More on Pawtucket: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Providence is at the top of a lot of lists, at least where Rhode Island is concerned. One of the oldest cities in the U.S.,it’s the 1st largest city in Rhode Island in terms of population, as well as the state’s capital. Unfortunately, Providence sits at the top of a less illustrious list: it is the number 3 most dangerous city in Rhode Island for 2023.
With a population of 185,868, the city reported 745 violent crimes over the course of a year. These included 22 murders and 77 rapes. In addition to this violent streak, Providence has its share of property crimes, with 4,693 such events in a year.
Looking at things in terms of population, Providence suffers a per-capita property-crime rate of 2,524/100k people, highest in the state. Meanwhile, the city showed a per-capita violent-crime rate of 400/100k people, ranking it third highest in Rhode Island for that category.
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Population: 185,868
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 400 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,524 (Most dangerous)
More on Providence: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Nestled against Narragansett Bay, Newport has made its name as a renowned seaside resort, home of the famous Newport Jazz Festival. All those tourists must attract a criminal element, however, as the city also ranks as the number 4 most dangerous place in Rhode Island for 2023.
In terms of raw numbers, Newport might not seem too daunting. After all, the city reported just 53 violent crimes and 418 property crimes in a year. However, it’s important to remember that these figures came in an area with a population of only 25,240.
Referencing the crime wave in terms of population, Newport saw a per-capita pace of violent crime of 209/100k people, putting it fifth highest in the state as a whole. This included 12 rapes, giving it the community the sixth highest per-capita rate in Rhode Island.
With all those rich folks coming in for summer holidays, it’s not surprising that property crime rates are high in Newport. On a per-capita basis, the area had the fourth highest pace in the state.
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Population: 25,240
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 209 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,656 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Newport: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Named after a waterfall in the local Blackstone River, Central Falls, Rhode Island, is small but compact. The municipality has just 20,174, but those people are squeezed into an area of less than 1.3 square miles. The result? One of the most densely populated spots in the U.S. – more densely populated than places like Boston, Chicago, or Philadelphia.
Pack all those folks into a tiny area and you’re bound to have some issues. Central Falls provides ample evidence of that, ranking as the number 5 most dangerous spot in Rhode Island. True, the number of violent crimes only totaled 67 for the year and the tally of property crimes only reached 246. But given the small population, those represent significant numbers.
On a per-capita basis, the violent-crime rate in Central Falls is the fourth highest in the state.
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Population: 20,174
Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 332 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,219 (Sixth most dangerous)
More on Central Falls: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
6. Warren
Warren, Rhode Island, has an ancient heritage, reaching back even before European settlement in North America. This historic character doesn’t save the community from the scourges of modern life, however, as the area represents one of the most dangerous spots in the state.
Built on the site of a Pokanoket settlement along the coast of Narragansett Bay, Warren has a population of just 10,830. This relatively small total accounted for 19 violent crimes and 96 property crimes. These figures included 3 rapes, 11 burglaries, and 5 car thefts.
On a per capita basis, this gives Warren the eighth highest violent-crime rate in the state. At the same time, the town’s property-crime rate is tenth highest in Rhode Island.
Population: 10,830
Rank Last Year: 6 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 175 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 886 (Tenth most dangerous)
More on Warren:
7. Lincoln
Lincoln, Rhode Island, has a lot going for it. A suburb of the state capital of Providence and located within a short driving distance from Boston, it provides an excellent jump-off spot for the region’s biggest cities. One major problem, though: Lincoln has also imported some big-city issues. Namely, the area ranks as the number 7 most dangerous spots in Rhode Island.
During a year, Lincoln reported 224 property crimes. This included 26 burglaries and 17 car thefts. Those totals might not seem intimidating in terms of raw numbers. But, remember, Lincoln’s population only reaches 22,823. On a per-capita basis, the area sits at ninth highest on the list of highest property-crime spots in the state.
Luckily, violence isn’t as much of a problem. With only 34 violent crimes in a year, Lincoln has the ninth highest per-capita pace in Rhode Island.
Population: 22,823
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 148 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 981 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Lincoln:
Part of the Providence metropolitan area, Cranston, Rhode Island, is more than just a simple suburb. With 84,105 people, the city ranks, on its own, as the 2nd most populous areas in the state. Unfortunately, this size comes with its share of problems. While relatively safe compared to its neighbor, Cranston still ranks as the number 8 most dangerous place in Rhode Island.
This comes as the city reported 111 violent crimes during a year, a total that included 23 rapes. For property crimes, Cranston’s tally reached 974. Comparing those numbers to the city’s overall population, the per-capita rate of violent crime equaled 131/100k people, putting it 11th highest in the state. The pace of property crime reached 1,158/100k people, a figure which sits at eighth highest for Rhode Island as a whole.
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Population: 84,105
Rank Last Year: 10 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 131 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,158 (Eighth most dangerous)
More on Cranston: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
9. Johnston
Rhode Island is a small state. In fact, it’s so small that it only supports one landfill. Where do you think you can find that lonely trash dump? That’s right: Johnston.
To be fair, the area has other, more culturally significant, landmarks. That includes the Clemence–Irons House, originally built in 1691. But it’s hard to talk about Johnston without mentioning the dump.
Or the crime. Johnston also serves as the number 9 most dangerous spot in Rhode Island. Property crime represents the main worry in the area, including a high rate of car thefts.
Population: 30,476
Rank Last Year: 7 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 85 (17th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,220 (Fifth most dangerous)
More on Johnston:
One of a series of communities surrounding the capital of Providence, Warwick ranks as the number 3.0 most populous city in the state. It also boasts the state’s most important airport.
Along with those benefits comes a share of challenges as well. The city saw 66 violent crimes and 1,012 property crimes in a year. In an area with a population of 83,968, that translates to a per-capita rate of 78/100k people for violent crimes and a pace of 1,205/100k people for the property variety.
All in all, this puts Warwick at the relatively tame 18th highest rate of violent crime in the state. Given this figure, you might feel comparatively safe walking the streets of Warwick. But don’t drop your guard entirely. You’ll need to keep an eye on your stuff, as the pace of property crime ranks seventh highest in Rhode Island.
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Population: 83,968
Rank Last Year: 15 (Up 5)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 78 (18th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,205 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Warwick: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Rhode Island for 2023?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Rhode Island. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Rhode Island, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2021 data, specifically the 2021 Crime In The United States Report for Rhode Island. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2023.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Rhode Island cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 35 cities in Rhode Island.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 35 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Rhode Island — Woonsocket. Any ties went to the smaller city.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Rhode Island FAQs
No, Rhode Island is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #6 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in rhode island ranks 44th highest in the United States — 40.48% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Ocean State ranks 44th highest in the United States — 36.4% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.
No, Providence is not a dangerous city. Providence ranks as the #162 safest out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Providence might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Blackstone is the safest in Providence, while Downtown is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Providence ranks 15highest in America — 11.45% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 166th highest in the United States — 9.07% better than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Rhode Island
Summary: Locking It All Up In Rhode Island
So what is the most dangerous city in Rhode Island? After analyzing 35 cities in Rhode Island, Woonsocket takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Rhode Island based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2021.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Woonsocket ranks as the most dangerous city in Rhode Island for 2023.
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Woonsocket and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.
Why did we produce this list? Well, one goal is to definitely help people navigate these dangerous cities when trying to make an informed decision on what city they should call home. And, secondly, because everyone wants to know the dirt. You know, the type of stuff that will get you on Westerly’s WPRI at six.
What’s the most dangerous place in Rhode Island? Rhode Islands’ most dangerous place is Woonsocket according to the most recent FBI data.
And if you want to see the other places in Rhode Island that you should avoid, take a look at our list below; if you don’t find everything you’re looking for there, head to the bottom.
Learn more about the safest places in Rhode Island.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
Here are the safest cities in Rhode Island:
- Portsmouth (Pop. 17,696)
- South Kingstown (Pop. 31,537)
- West Greenwich (Pop. 6,680)
- Bristol (Pop. 22,550)
- Hopkinton (Pop. 8,379)
- Jamestown (Pop. 5,687)
- Glocester (Pop. 10,788)
- Scituate (Pop. 11,148)
- Richmond (Pop. 8,189)
- Narragansett (Pop. 15,801)
For more Rhode Island reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Rhode Island
- Cheapest Places To Live In Rhode Island
- Most Dangerous Cities In Rhode Island
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Rhode Island
- Safest Places In Rhode Island
- Worst Places To Live In Rhode Island
Crime By City In Rhode Island
Rank | City | Population |
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1 | Woonsocket | 43,072 |
2 | Pawtucket | 74,342 |
3 | Providence | 185,868 |
4 | Newport | 25,240 |
5 | Central Falls | 20,174 |
6 | Warren | 10,830 |
7 | Lincoln | 22,823 |
8 | Cranston | 84,105 |
9 | Johnston | 30,476 |
10 | Warwick | 83,968 |
11 | Tiverton | 16,106 |
12 | West Warwick | 29,964 |
13 | Coventry | 36,216 |
14 | Middletown | 16,338 |
15 | North Providence | 33,712 |
16 | East Providence | 49,064 |
17 | Charlestown | 8,118 |
18 | Barrington | 16,566 |
19 | Westerly | 23,088 |
20 | North Smithfield | 13,093 |
21 | East Greenwich | 13,617 |
22 | Cumberland | 36,648 |
23 | Burrillville | 17,501 |
24 | Smithfield | 22,676 |
25 | North Kingstown | 27,192 |
26 | Portsmouth | 17,696 |
27 | South Kingstown | 31,537 |
28 | West Greenwich | 6,680 |
29 | Bristol | 22,550 |
30 | Hopkinton | 8,379 |
31 | Jamestown | 5,687 |
32 | Glocester | 10,788 |
33 | Scituate | 11,148 |
34 | Richmond | 8,189 |
35 | Narragansett | 15,801 |
References
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FBI UCR 2022
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Census – American Cumminity Survey