Most dangerous cities in Louisiana research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data using Saturday Night Science to determine the most dangerous cities in Louisiana.
We examined the violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 39 Louisiana cities. Here are the results of our analysis:
The most dangerous city in Louisiana is Alexandria based on the most recent FBI crime data.
The violent crime rate in Louisiana is 2,713 per 100k people.
The property crime rate in Louisiana is 6,596 per 100k people.
The safest city in Louisiana is Harahan.
Louisiana is the 3rd most dangerous state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Methodology | FAQs | References
Louisianans like to think that the only danger lurking in their state is the defensive line on the New Orleans Saints or running out of gas while hunting alligators in Shreveport, but that’s not the case.
Danger lurks in the top ten most dangerous cities in the Bayou State.
How’d we determine the most dangerous places in Louisiana? We used Saturday Night Science to analyze the FBI’s latest crime numbers for violent and property crime statistics per capita for every place with over 5,000 residents in Louisiana.
These Louisiana cities contribute to the state’s ranking as the 3rd dangerous state in the country.
The Most Dangerous Cities In Louisiana For 2025
What’s the most dangerous city in Louisiana? The most dangerous city in Louisiana is Alexandria.
If you want to know where the rest of the most dangerous places in Louisiana are, look at the list below. Or head to the bottom for a complete list of crime everywhere in Louisiana.
For more Louisiana reading, check out:
- Most dangerous cities in the US
- Best Places To Live In Louisiana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Louisiana
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Louisiana
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Louisiana For 2025
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Population: 42,933
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,713 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,596 (Most dangerous)
Murders: 16
More on Alexandria: Data
Folks in Alexandria already know to avoid the city’s northeast side, the hotbed of its criminal activity. But they may not know that two violent crimes go down in Alexandria each day. So while there are lions and tigers and bears at The Alexandria Zoo, the really scary stuff is happening on the city’s streets.
While Alexandria doesn’t top this list, it did have the highest overall crime rate, which is nearly quadruple the national average.
That’s because Alexandria had the highest rate of property crime in Louisiana, with residents facing a 1 in 15 chance of having their stuff stolen or damaged in 2024.
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Population: 46,290
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,892 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,733 (Third most dangerous)
Murders: 7
More on Monroe: Data
Monroe ranks as Louisiana’s second most dangerous city, mostly thanks to all the violence that goes down there. Monroe had the 20th highest rape and 11th highest murder rates in Louisiana.
Overall, residents had a 1 in 52 shot of being the victim of violence over 2024. That gives Monroe the second highest violent crime rate in all of Louisiana.
Monroe also experienced 649 burglaries over the year; we just hope nobody’s planning to heist the local Biedenharn Museum.
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Population: 8,792
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,421 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,833 (Fifth most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Bastrop: Data
Bastrop has consistently improved its crime numbers in recent years, but it still hasn’t quite figured things out. Still, a drop in violent crime and a drop in property crime are encouraging signs.
However, residents of Bastrop had a 1 in 20 chance of having their belongings stolen or vandalized over 2024. In other words, you might want to padlock your picnic basket before a day out at Chemin-A-Haut State Park.
Additionally, Bastrop had the second highest burglary rate in Louisiana, with 118 such cases recorded over the year.
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Population: 15,263
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,369 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,018 (Fourth most dangerous)
Murders: 6
More on Opelousas: Data
The data is in, and Opelousas turned out to be the fourth most dangerous city in Louisiana for 2025. Once a haven of gambling and prostitution, Opelousas has had a tough time moving away from those sorts of criminal activities. You can still gamble at Evangeline Downs, but you shouldn’t brag about your winnings too much.
That’s because Opelousas is the fourth most violent place in Louisiana, with residents facing a 1 in 73 shout of being assaulted, robbed, raped, or outright killed.That includes the 11th highest rape and highest murder rate statewide.
Opelousas didn’t fare much better in the property crime, considering the city also had the seventh highest burglary rate in Louisiana. Opelousas is located about 25 miles north of Lafayette.
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Population: 12,368
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,156 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,886 (Second most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on West Monroe: Data
West Monroe might not be as crime-ridden as its eastern neighbor, but it’s still far from safe. Property crime here ranked as the second highest in Louisiana, with folks facing a 1 in 17 chance of having something stolen or damaged over 2024.
There was also an average of two violent crimes here each week. So if you’re going out for a walk at Kiroli Park, bring a buddy and get home before the sun sets.
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Population: 175,092
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,228 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,990 (Ninth most dangerous)
Murders: 47
More on Shreveport: Data
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Population: 10,252
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,131 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,213 (Eighth most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Bogalusa: Data
Bogalusa gets its name from a Choctaw phrase meaning “smoky water.” Located in the far eastern part of the state, near the Mississippi border, Bogalusa existed as a lumber town for much of its early history, with sawmills and, eventually, paper mills dominating the economy.
You can imagine how dangerous a sawmill could be. A sharpened metal instrument designed to cut a tree in half will make quick work of a human torso. But saw accidents fall behind crime in terms of the dangers in this area. In fact, in town of just 10,252 people, Bogalusa saw 1 homicides last year — the number 21 highest murder rate in Louisiana.
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Population: 121,471
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,066 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,347 (Seventh most dangerous)
Murders: 18
More on Lafayette: Data
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Population: 16,945
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 891 (13th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,384 (Sixth most dangerous)
Murders: 5
More on Natchitoches: Data
As one of Louisana’s oldest cities, you’d think Natchitoches would have gotten its act together by now. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the poorest places in Louisiana, with about a third of the population living below the poverty line.
It makes you wonder how many residents can actually enjoy everything on display in the historic shopping district. Apparently not many, since Natchitoches had the third highest burglary rate statewide.
Not to mention the 5 murders in 2024; enough to give Natchitoches the sixth highest murder rate in Louisiana.
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Population: 5,925
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,215 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,291 (14th most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Plaquemine: Data
Crime By City In Louisiana
| Rank | City | Population | Total Crimes Per 100K | Violent Crimes Per 100K | Property Crimes Per 100K | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandria | 42,933 | 9,309 | 2,713 | 6,596 | 16 |
| 2 | Monroe | 46,290 | 7,625 | 1,892 | 5,733 | 7 |
| 3 | Bastrop | 8,792 | 6,255 | 1,421 | 4,833 | 2 |
| 4 | Opelousas | 15,263 | 6,387 | 1,369 | 5,018 | 6 |
| 5 | West Monroe | 12,368 | 7,042 | 1,156 | 5,886 | 1 |
| 6 | Shreveport | 175,092 | 5,218 | 1,228 | 3,990 | 47 |
| 7 | Bogalusa | 10,252 | 5,345 | 1,131 | 4,213 | 1 |
| 8 | Lafayette | 121,471 | 5,413 | 1,066 | 4,347 | 18 |
| 9 | Natchitoches | 16,945 | 5,275 | 891 | 4,384 | 5 |
| 10 | Plaquemine | 5,925 | 4,506 | 1,215 | 3,291 | 2 |
| 11 | Jennings | 9,230 | 4,355 | 1,007 | 3,347 | 1 |
| 12 | Bossier City | 62,750 | 4,592 | 913 | 3,679 | 7 |
| 13 | New Iberia | 26,653 | 4,134 | 1,009 | 3,125 | 9 |
| 14 | Walker | 6,398 | 3,891 | 703 | 3,188 | 0 |
| 15 | Gretna | 16,788 | 4,229 | 428 | 3,800 | 2 |
| 16 | Minden | 11,050 | 3,330 | 796 | 2,533 | 3 |
| 17 | Gonzales | 14,259 | 4,299 | 364 | 3,934 | 2 |
| 18 | Morgan City | 10,701 | 3,382 | 551 | 2,831 | 1 |
| 19 | Ruston | 22,259 | 3,382 | 426 | 2,956 | 3 |
| 20 | Lake Charles | 77,982 | 3,082 | 612 | 2,469 | 13 |
| 21 | Sulphur | 19,955 | 3,292 | 375 | 2,916 | 2 |
| 22 | Scott | 8,917 | 2,298 | 661 | 1,637 | 1 |
| 23 | Kenner | 62,377 | 3,177 | 344 | 2,832 | 6 |
| 24 | Ponchatoula | 7,784 | 2,428 | 449 | 1,978 | 3 |
| 25 | Westwego | 8,021 | 2,518 | 423 | 2,094 | 0 |
| 26 | Thibodaux | 15,562 | 3,232 | 257 | 2,975 | 1 |
| 27 | Carencro | 13,985 | 2,438 | 414 | 2,023 | 1 |
| 28 | Baker | 11,933 | 2,145 | 402 | 1,743 | 1 |
| 29 | Zachary | 20,142 | 2,353 | 332 | 2,020 | 1 |
| 30 | Slidell | 28,449 | 2,541 | 256 | 2,284 | 1 |
| 31 | Tallulah | 5,638 | 798 | 461 | 336 | 0 |
| 32 | Broussard | 14,906 | 2,348 | 194 | 2,153 | 1 |
| 33 | De Ridder | 9,517 | 1,744 | 294 | 1,450 | 0 |
| 34 | Patterson | 5,550 | 810 | 270 | 540 | 0 |
| 35 | Covington | 11,641 | 1,185 | 171 | 1,013 | 0 |
| 36 | Mandeville | 13,053 | 1,363 | 130 | 1,233 | 0 |
| 37 | Addis | 7,797 | 833 | 141 | 692 | 1 |
| 38 | Rayne | 6,910 | 955 | 72 | 882 | 0 |
| 39 | Harahan | 8,596 | 825 | 104 | 721 | 0 |
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Louisiana for 2025?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Louisiana. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Louisiana, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2024 data, specifically the 2024 Crime In The United States Report for Louisiana.
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 Louisiana cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 39 cities in Louisiana.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 39 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 Louisiana — Alexandria. Any ties went to the smaller city.
This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Louisiana and is updated for 2025.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Louisiana FAQs
Yes, Louisiana is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #2 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Louisiana ranks fifth most dangerous in the United States — 72.91% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Pelican State ranks most dangerous in the United States — 47.58% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
Yes, New Orleans is a dangerous city. New Orleans ranks as the #23 most dangerous out of 328 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 New Orleans might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Lake Shore-Lake Vista is the safest in New Orleans, while Tulane-Gravier is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in New Orleans ranks 14th highest in America — 160.89% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 28th highest in the United States — 70.07% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 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 Louisiana
Summary: Locking It All Up In Louisiana
So what is the most dangerous city in Louisiana? After analyzing 39 cities in Louisiana, Alexandria takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Louisiana based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2024.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Alexandria ranks as the most dangerous city in Louisiana for 2025.
The most dangerous cities in Louisiana are .
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Alexandria and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.
What’s the most dangerous city in Louisiana? The most dangerous city in Louisiana is Alexandria.
If you want to know where the rest of the most dangerous places in Louisiana are, look at the list below. Or head to the bottom for a complete list of crime everywhere in Louisiana.
Learn more about the safest places in Louisiana.
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 Louisiana:
- Slidell (Pop. 28,449)
- Tallulah (Pop. 5,638)
- Broussard (Pop. 14,906)
- De Ridder (Pop. 9,517)
- Patterson (Pop. 5,550)
- Covington (Pop. 11,641)
- Mandeville (Pop. 13,053)
- Addis (Pop. 7,797)
- Rayne (Pop. 6,910)
- Harahan (Pop. 8,596)
For more Louisiana reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Louisiana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Louisiana
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Louisiana
- Safest Places In Louisiana
- Worst Places To Live In Louisiana
This list is bogus by having Denham Springs listed to start with. Tommy Peters is correct about I-20, it’s in the northern part of the state, from Shreveport to Vicksburg, MS. Not enough research done for this.
I am appalled at the fact that this report list Amite as the number one dangerous city. Obviously you have your facts wrong. I am sure that I people who lived there are offended that this report has put a negative spend on the city in which they live and love. As a native of that town I am offended because my family and friends still live there and I love going back for vacation.
Yes the city need some economic recovery,but Amite does not deserve this negative publicity.
I respectfully ask the editor and publisher of this article to retract this story and stop the publishing of this shred information.
I don’t know about these other cities but I completely agree about Alexandria and I really thought it would have been higher on the list. My city has gotten so bad. Within the past months we have had so many people get shot and killed and females found dead.
Alexandria and the other cities, especially Nactitoches are mostly black, reckon that has anything to do with it?
Garbage check your facts you obviously have never been to louisiana or any of these towns this list is a joke.
To blame race for the crime rate and not poverty is so bigoted. As an upwardly mobile professional African American who lives in Louisiana, it saddens me that we are all lumped into the same pot. Some of these comments sicken me. Last I checked, criminals come in a myriad of colors.
Bologna……Its true and you know it…..blacks commit 4-1 more crimes than any other race…truth is truth…Get real buddy
I don’t know where you are getting your facts from, but they are blatently wrong. Let’s start with Hammond not being off of I-20. It is off of I-12 and I-55. I-20, at it’s nearest is 2 1/2 hours away, in Mississippi. Hammond and Ponchatoula are not more dangerous than New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Being that I live in Hammond, my shop is in Ponchatoula, and have been working all over the state for the last 20 years, I can tell that you are pulling facts out of thin air. I also happen to be born in New Orleans. I live in Hammond/Ponchatoula (5 minutes apart, since you have no real spectrum of the area) because they are safer than New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and a few others on your list. Stop pushing crap facts.
Put Houma in there to
Whoever wrote this is a complete idiot!!! Slidell, La and Mandeville, La, are not redneck you idiot!!! You must also think everybody in Louisiana, has an alligator as a pet and that we walk them on a leash!!! Not everybody yells “Shoot em, Shoot em!!!!!!!” Big dummy!!
I thought I would make a correction to one of the statements about Hammond, it’s several hours away from I-20 since I-20 is in North Louisiana. Hammond is near I-55 that runs north to south, I-55 ends when it meets I-10 at LaPlace. I’m surprised that Bogalusa isn’t higher on the list considering all the drugs that around that town and the crimes that addicts do to get their fix. When I go to Bogalusa, I’m armed just to protect myself bc you can’t trust anyone there especially if they look like they have been awake for a week and their eyes are as big as saucers or the other group that wear long sleeves in the summer to cover up the track marks.
Adam, I totally agree with you. I don’t know who paid these ppl to write this article. I live about 30 mins north of Hammond and it’s way safer than Bogalusa. I don’t know how Hammond and Toula ended up being on this list, I think it’s complete bs especially when they don’t even know what interstate Hammond is near. When I actually watch the news, you hear about multiple murders, robberies, rapes and carjacking everyday so seems like New Orleans would be number 1
This joke of an article was obviously written by some ignorant yankee and has never set foot in any of the places he’s talking about here. I’ll tell you one thing, I’d be scared as heck to live in a Northern and/or Liberal state right now! We may have some dangers lurking in certain areas of our state, but because (most of) our lawmakers/enforcers still believe in the 2nd amendment, we can handle business if and when the need arises.
I don’t know where y’all get y’all information from but Ville Platte doesn’t have 0 murders, they have over 16 so far this year.
We get data from the 2022 FBI Crime stats like it says in the article. Can you point me to where you have you’re data point? If it’s 2023, that won’t be released until next September.