Top 10 Most Dangerous U.S. States of 2016

The Top Ten

  1. Michigan

    Michigan is a state located in the Great Lakes and Midwestern regions of the United States. It is the only state to consist of two peninsulas and is bordered by four of the five Great Lakes. Michigan is a major center of the U.S. automotive industry, with Detroit historically known as the Motor City... read more

    First, you have the Flint water crisis, which is a huge USA failure. Then you have Detroit falling behind almost everywhere else because of its poor air quality, and the fact that it can't beat states like California in the auto industry anymore.

  2. Arkansas

    Arkansas is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. Its name is of Siouan derivation, denoting the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas features diverse geography, including mountains, forests, and the Mississippi River.

    With relatively weak workforce engagement as well as low educational attainment rates, Arkansas has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country. There are 480 violent crimes for every 100,000 state residents a year in Arkansas, far more than the national rate of 366 incidents per 100,000 people.

    Highest murder rate per capita. Highest meth usage in the U.S. Second highest fentanyl usage. Extremely high rate of theft and burglary. Insanely horrible public education system and low wages are part of the blame.

  3. Maryland

    Maryland is a state located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. It is one of the smallest states by area but among the most densely populated. Maryland has a diverse economy, including biotechnology, defense... read more

    "There is nothing that says the crime rate has to stay where it is now." Tessa Hill-Aston, president of the Baltimore chapter of the NAACP, said the lack of jobs and the prevalence of drug addiction in Baltimore are to blame for the crime, and community leaders are working on solutions.

    Sea level is rising more rapidly in Maryland than in most coastal areas because the land is sinking.

  4. Louisiana

    Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States. It is bordered by Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, Mississippi to the east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Louisiana is known for its unique Creole and Cajun cultures, as well as the vibrant city of New Orleans.

    In August 2016, prolonged rainfall from an unpredictable storm resulted in catastrophic flooding in the state of Louisiana.

    Whether or not tropical storms become more frequent, rising sea levels make low-lying areas more prone to flooding.

  5. Tennessee

    Tennessee is a state located in the southeastern United States. Tennessee is the 36th largest and the 17th most populous of the 50 United States. It is known for its contributions to country and blues music, especially in cities like Nashville and Memphis.

    The first MCS produced several reports of wind damage across northern parts of Middle Tennessee, while the second MCS produced scattered wind damage and dropped 3 to 8 inches of rain, which caused major flash flooding over northern Middle Tennessee.

  6. Alaska

    Alaska is a U.S. state situated in the northwest extremity of the Americas. The Canadian administrative divisions of British Columbia and Yukon border the state to the east, and it has a maritime border with Russia to the west across the Bering Strait. Alaska is the largest U.S. state by area and is... read more

    Global warming and loss of habitat are concerns, but the fact that it can freeze you to death is enough to make this state go into the top 5.

    Global warming in Alaska has led to wildfires, drought, animal habitat loss, and coastal erosion. Conditions have gotten so bad in one coastal Alaskan town north of the Arctic Circle that it may be physically unlivable for an entire tribe of people who have resided there for decades.

    Fracking is inherently dangerous and has no place in the Inlet or other fragile ocean ecosystems.

  7. New Jersey

    New Jersey is a state in the northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania, and on the southwest by Delaware. It has one of the highest population densities in... read more

    Levinson Axelrod, P.A. highlights New Jersey's most dangerous roadways and offers tips to reduce the risk of accidents on these routes.

    Flood risks can occur any time of the year in New Jersey due to melting snow combined with rain in the winter and early spring, and severe thunderstorms.

  8. Oklahoma

    Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central United States. It shares borders with Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Colorado. The state has a strong Native American presence and is known for its oil and gas industry and severe weather patterns, particularly tornadoes.

    The abuse of methamphetamines is still rampant in certain parts of the United States, with areas like Ada, Oklahoma, being hit especially hard.

    Oklahoma's geography influences its climate. In the spring, ferocious thunderheads well up over the horizon, usually from the southwest. Thunderstorms and the clash of cold and hot air spawn tornadoes that skip across the land, sometimes causing death and destruction.

  9. Missouri

    Missouri is a state located in the Midwestern United States. It is the 21st most extensive and the 18th most populous of the fifty states. Major cities include Kansas City, St. Louis, and Springfield, and the state is known for its diverse geography and cultural history.

    Drug crime rates in Missouri are still considerably higher than in many other states.

    Changing the climate is likely to increase the frequency of floods in Missouri.

  10. Texas

    Texas is a state in the southern United States. It is the second largest by both area and population. Its largest city is Houston, and the state's economy is diverse, including energy, technology, agriculture, and aerospace. It is also known for its hot weather, which can reach around 100 °F in many... read more

    Texas's location in the tropical zone of the planet and its nearness to a great body of water are two factors that give rise to the extreme weather conditions.

    With over 13,000 miles of asphalt, Texas contains more highway miles than any other state in the U.S.

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Washington

    Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States located north of Oregon, west of Idaho, and south of the Canadian province of British Columbia on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is the only state named after a president. Washington is a hub for technology and aerospace industries... read more

  12. ?

    Kansas

    Kansas is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. Kansas is known for its agricultural output, especially wheat production, and for being historically significant in the pre-Civil War conflict known as Bleeding... read more

    After researching dangerous places to live, NeighborhoodScout found Topeka to be one of the top 100 most dangerous cities in the U.S.A.

    13. The Contenders

  13. Ohio

    Ohio is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ohio is the 34th largest by area, the 7th most populous, and the 10th most densely populated of the 50 United States. The state is a key political swing state and is home to major cities like Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.

    A Cincinnati neighborhood that had been the site of days of civil unrest in 2001 was recently named the most dangerous in the United States.

    So much crime. I can't believe they put up with this. Cincinnati has crime, Columbus has crime, Cleveland has crime, and maybe a school shooting or two.

    Every day on the news: shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting, shooting.

  14. Georgia

    Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. Georgia has a diverse economy and is home to major cities such as Atlanta, a major transportation and business hub.

  15. Florida

    Florida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is the southeasternmost U.S. state, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Florida is known for its warm climate, tourism industry, and diverse population.

    Their buildings collapse on their own. Great job, Florida.

    Building collapse, anyone?

    Their news scares me.

  16. South Carolina

    South Carolina is a state in the southeastern region of the United States. The state is bordered to the north by North Carolina, to the south and west by Georgia across the Savannah River, and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy includes manufacturing, agriculture, and a growing tourism sector... read more

  17. New York

    New York is a state located in the Mid-Atlantic region. It was one of the original thirteen colonies that formed the United States. As of 2025, it is the fourth most populous state, with over 19 million residents. To distinguish the state from the city with the same name, it is sometimes referred to... read more

    Extremely harmful, polluted, and impoverished in certain areas.

  18. Nevada

    Nevada is a state in the Western, Mountain West, and Southwestern regions of the United States of America. It is known for its arid climate, vast deserts, and legalized gambling, particularly in Las Vegas. Nevada also has a significant mining industry, especially for gold and silver.

  19. Mississippi

    Mississippi is a southern U.S. state with the Mississippi River to its west, the state of Alabama to its east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. The state is known for its rich cultural contributions to blues music, literature, and southern cuisine. It has a predominantly agricultural economy with... read more

    More dangerous than you think.

  20. North Carolina

    North Carolina is a state in the southeastern region of the United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west, Virginia to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It is known for its diverse geography, from the Appalachian Mountains to coastal plains... read more

  21. Delaware

    Delaware is one of the Mid-Atlantic states located in the Northeast megalopolis region of the United States. It was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787. Delaware is known for its business-friendly corporate laws and numerous incorporated companies.

  22. West Virginia

    West Virginia is a state located in the Appalachian region of the Southern United States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania to the north, Maryland to the east and northeast, Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, and Ohio to the northwest. West Virginia is the 41st largest state by area,... read more

  23. New Mexico

    New Mexico is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America. It shares borders with Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora. Known for its desert landscapes, Native American heritage, and influence of Spanish colonial culture, New... read more

  24. Minnesota

    Minnesota is a state in the Midwestern United States. It was admitted as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858, created from the eastern portion of the Minnesota Territory.

    The state is known for its lakes, natural beauty, and high standard of living. It has a cold climate, particularly in the winter... read more

  25. Arizona

    Arizona is a U.S. state in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the Western and the Mountain states. Arizona is known for its desert climate, the Grand Canyon, and its rapidly growing urban centers like Phoenix and Tucson.

  26. California

    California is a state in the Southwestern United States. With 39.6 million residents across a total area of about 163,696 square miles (423,970 square kilometers), California is the most populous U.S. state and the third largest by area. The state capital is Sacramento, and the largest city is Los Angeles.... read more

    Only danger there is just gangsters, the hood, and humans.

  27. Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

    Its two largest cities are Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Philadelphia is known for being the home of the Liberty Bell and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches... read more

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