The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Rhode Island


The most dangerous places in Rhode Island are Woonsocket and Providence for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Most dangerous cities in Rhode Island research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data using Saturday Night Science to determine the most dangerous cities in Rhode Island.

We examined the violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 35 Rhode Island cities. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The most dangerous city in Rhode Island is Woonsocket based on the most recent FBI crime data.

  • The violent crime rate in Rhode Island is 449 per 100k people.

  • The property crime rate in Rhode Island is 1,786 per 100k people.

  • The safest city in Rhode Island is Scituate.

  • Rhode Island is the 45th most dangerous state in the United States.

Most Dangerous Cities In Rhode Island Map


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Methodology | FAQs | References


It appears that there are some things more dangerous in Rhode Island than a slow driver on the Providence Parkway. The Ocean State has its fair share of dangerous cities.

High crime rates seem centered around the fastest-growing places in the state. More established cities like Warwick and Newport need help to lower crime.

How’d we determine the most dangerous places in Rhode Island? We used Saturday Night Science to analyze the FBI’s latest crime report for violent and property crime rates for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we reviewed the crime data for 35 cities.

The Most Dangerous Cities In Rhode Island For 2024

  1. Woonsocket
  2. Providence
  3. Pawtucket
  4. Central Falls
  5. Newport
  6. Lincoln
  7. Cranston
  8. Johnston
  9. Warwick
  10. Warren

What’s the most dangerous place in Rhode Island? According to the most recent FBI data, Rhode Island’s most dangerous place is Woonsocket.

Not every place in Rhode Island can be like the state’s safest city. So, it’s in your best interest to review the list of Rhode Island’s most dangerous places before you make any major life decisions.

For more Rhode Island reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Rhode Island For 2024

Woonsocket, RI

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 42,925
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 449 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,786 (Third most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Woonsocket: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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 193 violent crimes in a year. With a population of 42,925, that equates to a per-capita violent-crime rate of 449/100k. That figure puts Woonsocket at highest in the state.

The city has a particular problem with rapes, with 24 such attacks in a year. On a per-capita basis, that puts the city as the fourth highest in Rhode Island for that horrendous crime.

Things are a little better when it comes to property crimes. Woonsocket saw 767 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.

Providence, RI

Source: Wikipedia User FlickreviewR 2 | CC BY 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 189,064
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 340 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,531 (Most dangerous)
Murders: 7
More on Providence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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 2 most dangerous city in Rhode Island for 2024.

With a population of 189,064, the city reported 643 violent crimes over the course of a year. These included 7 murders and 65 rapes. In addition to this violent streak, Providence has its share of property crimes, with 4,786 such events in a year.

Looking at things in terms of population, Providence suffers a per-capita property-crime rate of 2,531/100k, highest in the state. Meanwhile, the city showed a per-capita violent-crime rate of 340/100k, ranking it third highest in Rhode Island for that category.

Pawtucket, RI

Source: Wikipedia User Kenneth C. Zirkel | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 74,967
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 286 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,252 (Second most dangerous)
Murders: 3
More on Pawtucket: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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 74,967 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 1,689 such events in a year, the city ranked second highest in Rhode Island on a per-capita basis.

The city had 215 violent crimes during a year. That includes 36 rapes and 35 robberies. On a per-capita basis, Pawtucket ranked fourth highest for violent crime in the state.

Central Falls, RI

Source: Wikipedia User John Phelan | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 22,340
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 402 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,190 (Seventh most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Central Falls: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Named after a waterfall in the local Blackstone River, Central Falls, Rhode Island, is small but compact. The municipality has just 22,340, 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 4 most dangerous spot in Rhode Island. True, the number of violent crimes only totaled 90 for the year and the tally of property crimes only reached 266. But given the small population, those represent significant numbers.

On a per-capita basis, the violent-crime rate in Central Falls is the second highest in the state.

Newport, RI

Source: Wikipedia User MVASCO | GFDL

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 25,039
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 227 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,573 (Fourth most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Newport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

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 5 most dangerous place in Rhode Island for 2024.

In terms of raw numbers, Newport might not seem too daunting. After all, the city reported just 57 violent crimes and 394 property crimes in a year. However, it’s important to remember that these figures came in an area with a population of only 25,039.

Referencing the crime wave in terms of population, Newport saw a per-capita pace of violent crime of 227/100k, putting it fifth highest in the state as a whole. This included 22 rapes, giving it the community the 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.

6. Lincoln

Lincoln, RI

Source: Wikipedia User Kenneth C. Zirkel | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 22,400
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 129 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,040 (Ninth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on 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 6 most dangerous spots in Rhode Island.

During a year, Lincoln reported 233 property crimes. This included 21 burglaries and 28 car thefts. Those totals might not seem intimidating in terms of raw numbers. But, remember, Lincoln’s population only reaches 22,400. 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 29 violent crimes in a year, Lincoln has the ninth highest per-capita pace in Rhode Island.

Cranston, RI

Source: Wikipedia User thisisbossi | CC BY-SA 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 82,205
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 119 (Tenth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,155 (Eighth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Cranston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Part of the Providence metropolitan area, Cranston, Rhode Island, is more than just a simple suburb. With 82,205 people, the city ranks, on its own, as the 3rd 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 7 most dangerous place in Rhode Island.

This comes as the city reported 98 violent crimes during a year, a total that included 27 rapes. For property crimes, Cranston’s tally reached 950. Comparing those numbers to the city’s overall population, the per-capita rate of violent crime equaled 119/100k, putting it tenth highest in the state. The pace of property crime reached 1,155/100k, a figure which sits at eighth highest for Rhode Island as a whole.

8. Johnston

Johnston, RI

Source: Wikipedia User John Phelan | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 29,430
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 105 (13th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,250 (Sixth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on 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 8 most dangerous spot in Rhode Island. Property crime represents the main worry in the area, including a high rate of car thefts.

Warwick, RI

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 82,966
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 75 (15th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,406 (Fifth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Warwick: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

One of a series of communities surrounding the capital of Providence, Warwick ranks as the number 2.0 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 63 violent crimes and 1,167 property crimes in a year. In an area with a population of 82,966, that translates to a per-capita rate of 75/100k for violent crimes and a pace of 1,406/100k for the property variety.

All in all, this puts Warwick at the relatively tame 15th 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 fifth highest in Rhode Island.

10. Warren

Warren, RI

Source: Public domain

Population: 11,243
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 213 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 764 (16th most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on 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 11,243. This relatively small total accounted for 24 violent crimes and 86 property crimes. These figures included 2 rapes, 20 burglaries, and 7 car thefts.

On a per capita basis, this gives Warren the sixth highest violent-crime rate in the state. At the same time, the town’s property-crime rate is 16th highest in Rhode Island.

Crime By City In Rhode Island

Rank City Population Total Crimes Per 100K Violent Crimes Per 100K Property Crimes Per 100K Murders
1 Woonsocket 42,925 2,236 449 1,786 0
2 Providence 189,064 2,871 340 2,531 7
3 Pawtucket 74,967 2,539 286 2,252 3
4 Central Falls 22,340 1,593 402 1,190 0
5 Newport 25,039 1,801 227 1,573 1
6 Lincoln 22,400 1,169 129 1,040 0
7 Cranston 82,205 1,274 119 1,155 0
8 Johnston 29,430 1,355 105 1,250 0
9 Warwick 82,966 1,482 75 1,406 0
10 Warren 11,243 978 213 764 0
11 North Providence 33,809 1,061 115 946 1
12 Middletown 16,898 834 130 704 0
13 West Warwick 31,227 851 156 694 0
14 North Smithfield 12,538 1,012 79 933 0
15 Coventry 35,730 1,066 72 993 0
16 Westerly 23,563 954 67 886 0
17 North Kingstown 28,008 714 114 599 0
18 Tiverton 16,244 923 67 855 0
19 East Providence 46,655 904 66 838 0
20 Charlestown 8,117 542 73 468 1
21 East Greenwich 14,260 624 63 561 0
22 Cumberland 36,345 613 57 555 1
23 Narragansett 14,653 498 61 436 0
24 Barrington 17,364 604 46 558 0
25 Burrillville 16,246 400 61 338 0
26 Smithfield 21,762 560 41 519 0
27 South Kingstown 32,046 477 46 430 0
28 West Greenwich 6,727 535 29 505 0
29 Hopkinton 8,486 353 47 306 0
30 Bristol 22,220 355 54 301 0
31 Jamestown 5,545 432 18 414 0
32 Portsmouth 17,716 366 16 349 0
33 Richmond 8,243 303 36 266 0
34 Glocester 10,147 236 39 197 0
35 Scituate 10,385 173 9 163 0

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Rhode Island for 2024?

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 2022 data, specifically the 2022 Crime In The United States Report for Rhode Island.

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.

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 Rhode Island and is updated for 2024.

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 most dangerous in the United States — 37.58% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Ocean State ranks 44th most dangerous in the United States — 36.27% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.

No, Providence is not a dangerous city. Providence ranks as the #153 safest 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 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 216th highest in America — 38.56% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 169th highest in the United States — 7.23% better 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 Rhode Island

Most Dangerous Cities In Rhode Island Graph

Click To Enlarge

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 — 2022.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Woonsocket ranks as the most dangerous city in Rhode Island for 2024.

The most dangerous cities in Rhode Island are .

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.

What’s the most dangerous place in Rhode Island? According to the most recent FBI data, Rhode Island’s most dangerous place is Woonsocket.

Not every place in Rhode Island can be like the state’s safest city. So, it’s in your best interest to review the list of Rhode Island’s most dangerous places before you make any major life decisions.

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:

  1. Smithfield (Pop. 21,762)
  2. South Kingstown (Pop. 32,046)
  3. West Greenwich (Pop. 6,727)
  4. Hopkinton (Pop. 8,486)
  5. Bristol (Pop. 22,220)
  6. Jamestown (Pop. 5,545)
  7. Portsmouth (Pop. 17,716)
  8. Richmond (Pop. 8,243)
  9. Glocester (Pop. 10,147)
  10. Scituate (Pop. 10,385)

For more Rhode Island reading, check out:

References

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

One thought on “The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Rhode Island

  1. I just wanna say, in other websites to go along with crime data and statistics, Johnston is safer than Warwick. Most even show map crimes of RI, and it even shows North Providence is safer. I don’t know if all of them are wrong, or it’s only yours.

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