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Number Crunchers
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1996 CRIME STATISTICS MAIN PAGE
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CRIME IN THE NINETIES
BIG CITY VIOLENT CRIME RATES
1990 – 1996

Rank	City & State	1996 Population (est)	1996 Number of Violent Crimes	1996 Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000 residents)	Percent Change, Violent Crime Rate, 1995 – 1996	Percent Change, Violent Crime Rate, 1992 – 1996	Percent Change, Violent Crime Rate, 1990 – 1996
1	MOBILE, AL	207,106	2,185	1,055.0	-5.1%	-7.9%	-64.9%
2	AMHERST TOWN, NY	107,331	98	91.3	15.0%	-65.5%	-62.1%
3	AURORA, CO	262,188	1,629	621.3	-18.5%	-64.2%	-56.8%
4	SIMI VALLEY, CA	108,469	156	143.8	-21.1%	-44.0%	-46.8%
5	STERLING HEIGHTS, MI	120,737	231	191.3	-29.5%	-30.2%	-45.9%
6	PROVIDENCE, RI	149,805	1,033	689.6	-15.5%	-17.3%	-44.2%
7	SEATTLE, WA	539,591	4,543	841.9	-9.1%	-37.4%	-44.1%
8	NEW YORK, NY	7,339,594	98,596	1,343.3	-13.8%	-37.9%	-43.6%
9	CAMBRIDGE, MA	100,725	649	644.3	-18.7%	-29.4%	-42.1%
10	POMONA, CA	145,916	1,537	1,053.3	-11.5%	-31.3%	-41.7%
11	HARTFORD, CT	124,223	2,132	1,716.3	-18.0%	-23.0%	-41.6%
12	LONG BEACH, CA	440,023	5,069	1,152.0	-11.1%	-25.9%	-41.1%
13	PITTSBURGH, PA	354,308	2,847	803.5	-17.9%	-33.2%	-40.8%
14	BAKERSFIELD, CA	193,777	1,121	578.5	-14.4%	-37.6%	-40.3%
15	CHATTANOOGA, TN	156,524	2,145	1,370.4	8.6%	-26.3%	-39.8%
16	FORT WORTH, TX	470,254	4,984	1,059.9	-8.7%	-47.5%	-39.4%
17	ABILENE, TX	114,523	598	522.2	-15.9%	-32.6%	-39.1%
18	FULLERTON, CA	118,524	485	409.2	-1.9%	-28.2%	-37.7%
19	PATERSON, NJ	139,759	1,634	1,169.2	-1.9%	-24.5%	-37.6%
20	DALLAS, TX	1,060,585	16,280	1,535.0	0.2%	-25.9%	-37.0%
21	BEAUMONT, TX	119,715	1,252	1,045.8	-0.4%	-37.9%	-35.1%
22	DES MOINES, IA	195,455	923	472.2	-8.5%	-5.3%	-35.1%
23	MESQUITE, TX	117,795	438	371.8	-28.4%	-41.5%	-34.9%
24	PASADENA, CA	136,077	1,178	865.7	-17.9%	-41.7%	-34.4%
25	DAYTON, OH	179,680	2,026	1,127.6	-16.6%	-37.9%	-33.5%
26	PASADENA, TX	134,568	903	671.0	-16.2%	-39.4%	-33.4%
27	MIDLAND, TX	100,087	377	376.7	-22.0%	-22.4%	-31.9%
28	TORRANCE, CA	140,185	632	450.8	-9.4%	-29.6%	-30.5%
29	BOSTON, MA	552,519	9,154	1,656.8	-4.6%	-18.7%	-30.4%
30	CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG, NC	554,070	8,920	1,609.9	-5.1%	-30.4%	-30.1%
31	ANN ARBOR, MI	109,939	409	372.0	-13.8%	-30.5%	-29.7%
32	BERKELEY, CA	101,250	1,086	1,072.6	-14.1%	-31.0%	-29.4%
33	ELIZABETH, NJ	107,427	1,187	1,104.9	-12.2%	-17.4%	-29.0%
34	WEST COVINA, CA	104,766	568	542.2	-13.1%	-41.5%	-28.6%
35	NEW HAVEN, CT	119,566	2,616	2,187.9	17.4%	-11.9%	-28.5%
36	MIAMI, FL	384,976	11,990	3,114.5	-8.8%	-16.5%	-28.4%
37	HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA	191,911	611	318.4	7.0%	-30.4%	-27.6%
38	MORENO VALLEY, CA	141,292	1,192	843.6	-9.3%	-30.4%	-26.7%
39	INGLEWOOD, CA	111,650	1,943	1,740.3	-2.8%	-24.5%	-26.6%
40	OCEANSIDE, CA	148,308	1,239	835.4	-20.5%	-29.8%	-26.6%
41	KNOXVILLE, TN	174,054	1,526	876.7	-52.6%	-52.0%	-26.6%
42	LITTLE ROCK, AR	182,799	2,757	1,508.2	-26.3%	-48.9%	-26.6%
43	LOS ANGELES, CA	3,498,139	62,838	1,796.3	-11.7%	-27.0%	-25.3%
44	FORT WAYNE, IN	186,196	1,069	574.1	14.1%	3.9%	-25.1%
45	PUEBLO, CO	105,059	1,387	1,320.2	-0.6%	-14.3%	-24.9%
46	SAN ANTONIO, TX	1,021,477	4,741	464.1	-10.4%	-36.7%	-24.2%
47	TOLEDO, OH	324,610	2,635	811.7	-8.5%	-13.1%	-23.7%
48	JACKSONVILLE, FL	690,367	9,765	1,414.5	0.1%	-18.7%	-22.7%
49	SANTA CLARITA, CA	125,435	596	475.1	-12.9%	-27.8%	-22.6%
50	SAN FRANCISCO, CA	745,127	9,887	1,326.9	-10.1%	-27.1%	-22.5%
51	KANSAS CITY, MO	448,474	8,885	1,981.2	-9.3%	-30.6%	-22.3%
52	BRIDGEPORT, CT	133,015	2,107	1,584.0	33.0%	-22.5%	-22.3%
53	COLUMBUS, GA	194,345	886	455.9	-11.7%	-1.0%	-21.1%
54	ST. LOUIS, MO	374,041	10,203	2,727.8	-18.6%	-17.1%	-20.9%
55	ROCHESTER, NY	231,373	2,270	981.1	-11.2%	-9.2%	-20.7%
56	GRAND RAPIDS, MI	192,358	2,443	1,270.0	-1.3%	-19.8%	-20.6%
57	HIALEAH, FL	200,339	2,013	1,004.8	6.5%		-20.6%
58	GARDEN GROVE, CA	150,062	845	563.1	-9.4%	-16.2%	-20.4%
59	SAN DIEGO, CA	1,168,364	10,148	868.6	-9.2%	-32.4%	-19.9%
60	ESCONDIDO, CA	118,003	819	694.1	-7.8%	-17.2%	-19.6%
61	CHULA VISTA, CA	151,377	1,094	722.7	-0.3%	-19.3%	-19.5%
62	EVANSVILLE, IN	131,455	780	593.4	7.0%	11.7%	-19.2%
63	ATLANTA, GA	413,123	13,695	3,315.0	-9.1%	-14.1%	-18.9%
64	ONTARIO, CA	136,742	1,425	1,042.1	-8.7%	-7.4%	-18.4%
65	ST. PETERSBURG, FL	246,229	4,728	1,920.2	-10.1%	-17.1%	-18.3%
66	RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA	116,431	370	317.8	0.2%	-33.2%	-18.2%
67	DENVER, CO	516,224	3,832	742.3	-13.8%	-31.0%	-17.5%
68	SANTA ANA, CA	294,963	2,231	756.4	-12.0%	-28.7%	-16.6%
69	TACOMA, WA	189,568	2,785	1,469.1	-15.2%	-20.0%	-16.2%
70	NORWALK, CA	102,176	1,176	1,151.0	7.0%	-11.7%	-15.8%
71	LIVONIA, MI	101,450	239	235.6	-10.6%	-17.4%	-15.4%
72	CLEVELAND, OH	496,049	7,631	1,538.4	-6.6%	-7.4%	-15.4%
73	PHOENIX, AZ	1,139,793	10,529	923.8	-13.5%	-15.3%	-14.8%
74	DETROIT, MI	1,002,299	23,239	2,318.6	-3.7%	-8.5%	-14.1%
75	EL PASO, TX	602,951	5,138	852.1	1.6%	-21.7%	-14.1%
76	BOISE, ID	153,258	499	325.6	-24.4%	-16.5%	-14.0%
77	NEWARK, NJ	261,909	8,761	3,345.1	-16.1%	-4.4%	-13.8%
78	COLUMBIA, SC	105,316	1,816	1,724.3	-17.9%	-11.1%	-13.8%
79	NORFOLK, VA	245,956	2,332	948.1	-3.4%	-5.7%	-13.1%
80	SUNNYVALE, CA	121,284	231	190.5	-9.9%	-15.8%	-13.1%
81	TULSA, OK	379,798	4,428	1,165.9	0.9%	-12.7%	-12.6%
82	COLUMBUS, OH	640,297	6,216	970.8	-6.4%	-11.2%	-12.5%
83	ORLANDO, FL	182,616	4,002	2,191.5	4.4%	16.4%	-12.2%
84	JERSEY CITY, NJ	228,424	3,791	1,659.6	-12.9%	-16.4%	-11.6%
85	CINCINNATI, OH	360,457	3,921	1,087.8	-15.7%	-30.6%	-11.5%
86	LAFAYETTE, LA	103,134	844	818.4	-17.6%	-10.2%	-11.4%
87	TAMPA, FL	294,670	8,689	2,948.7	-2.1%	-12.7%	-11.3%
88	ALEXANDRIA, VA	114,996	636	553.1	-3.6%	-15.2%	-11.3%
89	RENO, NV	159,559	1,123	703.8	-2.3%	0.2%	-11.2%
90	YONKERS, NY	183,650	1,104	601.1	-3.2%	-2.7%	-10.5%
91	ST. PAUL, MN	267,292	2,437	911.7	-4.9%	-3.0%	-10.2%
92	SAVANNAH, GA	146,534	1,428	974.5	0.6%	-6.5%	-10.1%
93	BUFFALO, NY	313,238	4,532	1,446.8	-28.6%	-24.9%	-10.0%
94	STAMFORD, CT	107,165	441	411.5	-13.7%	-10.0%	-9.4%
95	AKRON, OH	223,303	2,345	1,050.1	3.2%	-10.1%	-9.4%
96	SACRAMENTO, CA	379,283	3,707	977.4	-14.2%	-19.9%	-9.2%
97	WINSTON-SALEM, NC	160,678	2,268	1,411.5	-7.1%	-16.1%	-8.9%
98	CHESAPEAKE, VA	183,965	804	437.0	-2.9%	-20.1%	-8.8%
99	HOUSTON, TX	1,772,143	22,456	1,267.2	-1.3%	-13.5%	-8.7%
100	GLENDALE, AZ	183,029	1,221	667.1	-16.9%	-10.8%	-8.2%
101	LANSING, MI	120,821	1,649	1,364.8	-0.1%	-1.0%	-7.3%
102	WACO, TX	110,213	1,352	1,226.7	-12.2%	-2.6%	-7.0%
103	HAYWARD, CA	117,233	817	696.9	-5.3%	-22.3%	-6.8%
104	FORT COLLINS, CO	103,472	419	404.9	-10.3%		-6.7%
105	PORTLAND, OR	467,906	7,835	1,674.5	-13.1%	-8.6%	-6.5%
106	GLENDALE, CA	181,019	721	398.3	-6.6%	3.9%	-6.1%
107	ERIE, PA	108,432	669	617.0	-0.3%	-15.7%	-5.5%
108	FORT LAUDERDALE, FL	168,059	2,584	1,537.6	10.9%	4.9%	-5.4%
109	FLINT, MI	139,588	3,325	2,382.0	-15.0%	-9.3%	-5.1%
110	BURBANK, CA	101,082	456	451.1	-10.2%	-22.7%	-5.1%
111	RIVERSIDE, CA	245,081	3,169	1,293.0	-17.6%	-13.0%	-5.1%
112	MILWAUKEE, WI	627,139	5,997	956.2	-11.6%	-2.9%	-4.4%
113	WICHITA FALLS, TX	101,755	878	862.9	-0.2%	-15.7%	-4.1%
114	HOLLYWOOD, FL	128,996	1,158	897.7	1.4%	6.9%	-4.0%
115	PORTSMOUTH, VA	105,404	1,066	1,011.3	-29.6%	-15.0%	-3.3%
116	NEWPORT NEWS, VA	182,487	1,176	644.4	-33.4%	-41.9%	-3.1%
117	GARLAND, TX	201,336	777	385.9	-20.5%	-25.3%	-2.8%
118	EL MONTE, CA	106,149	1,282	1,207.7	-8.9%	-12.7%	-2.6%
119	SHREVEPORT, LA	199,418	2,489	1,248.1	-4.2%	0.1%	-1.9%
120	SALT LAKE CITY, UT	180,180	1,501	833.1	6.5%	6.5%	-1.7%
121	HAMPTON, VA	142,248	592	416.2	5.9%	-12.8%	-1.6%
122	FREMONT, CA	186,186	812	436.1	-33.7%	26.5%	-0.8%
123	ORANGE, CA	118,445	562	474.5	-4.5%	2.4%	-0.6%
124	AUSTIN, TX	537,484	3,822	711.1	-8.1%	20.8%	-0.5%
125	NEW ORLEANS, LA	488,300	11,021	2,257.0	1.1%	13.9%	-0.1%
126	VALLEJO, CA	113,069	1,565	1,384.1	-4.9%	-16.3%	0.0%
127	WASHINGTON, DC	543,000	13,411	2,469.8	-7.2%	-12.8%	0.5%
128	DOWNEY, CA	101,309	590	582.4	1.3%	-2.9%	0.9%
129	PLANO, TX	163,817	569	347.3	-13.9%	-6.1%	0.9%
130	SYRACUSE, NY	160,033	1,398	873.6	-5.0%	-4.7%	2.2%
131	SANTA ROSA, CA	118,625	663	558.9	-3.8%	-7.1%	2.8%
132	LAKEWOOD, CO	131,786	630	478.0	13.1%	-10.6%	2.8%
133	BIRMINGHAM, AL	272,169	4,416	1,622.5	-33.9%	-28.1%	2.9%
134	CHANDLER, AZ	129,554	428	330.4	1.2%	18.9%	3.1%
135	LANCASTER, CA	120,881	1,383	1,144.1	3.8%	-17.3%	3.4%
136	ALBANY, NY	104,919	1,132	1,078.9	-8.0%	-4.5%	3.7%
137	RICHMOND, VA	204,881	3,383	1,651.2	-4.2%	11.1%	3.8%
138	OKLAHOMA CITY, OK	469,632	5,308	1,130.2	-12.6%	-19.2%	4.4%
139	SPRINGFIELD, MA	150,421	3,428	2,278.9	48.2%	-21.6%	4.9%
140	SPOKANE, WA	199,636	1,308	655.2	-19.0%	-22.0%	4.9%
141	WICHITA, KS	312,706	2,372	758.5	8.2%	-14.6%	5.3%
142	WATERBURY, CT	103,490	657	634.8	24.9%	-15.6%	5.4%
143	LEXINGTON, KY	241,150	1,998	828.5	-5.4%	-3.8%	5.5%
144	TEMPE, AZ	156,788	871	555.5	-0.4%	3.4%	5.8%
145	ANAHEIM, CA	286,146	2,051	716.8	-17.9%	13.3%	6.0%
146	IRVING, TX	170,960	804	470.3	-4.9%	-9.0%	6.3%
147	VIRGINIA BEACH, VA	439,851	1,075	244.4	10.1%	-14.3%	6.5%
148	GREENSBORO, NC	203,186	1,927	948.4	-9.8%	10.5%	7.4%
149	HONOLULU, HI	878,044	2,748	313.0	-4.4%	15.0%	8.5%
150	CONCORD, CA	113,479	646	569.3	-3.3%	-8.2%	8.7%
151	LAREDO, TX	156,032	1,040	666.5	-8.0%	-5.8%	9.2%
152	OXNARD, CA	147,937	1,382	934.2	-5.1%	-15.1%	10.3%
153	ALBUQUERQUE, NM	426,736	6,266	1,468.4	30.2%	-4.4%	10.3%
154	SALINAS, CA	121,517	1,359	1,118.4	-10.7%	6.7%	10.4%
155	MODESTO, CA	178,865	1,267	708.4	-8.2%	5.7%	10.5%
156	STOCKTON, CA	225,799	3,115	1,379.5	-3.1%	-9.9%	10.8%
157	BALTIMORE, MD	716,446	19,507	2,722.7	-9.8%	-5.6%	11.7%
158	FONTANA, CA	105,211	1,347	1,280.3	-12.6%	-17.9%	11.7%
159	INDEPENDENCE, MO	113,382	587	517.7	-7.4%	2.1%	11.8%
160	FRESNO, CA	392,049	5,462	1,393.2	-4.4%	-4.6%	12.2%
161	PHILADELPHIA, PA	1,528,403	23,367	1,528.9	7.0%	28.3%	13.3%
162	MACON, GA	113,802	921	809.3	3.9%	-22.8%	13.5%
163	COLORADO SPRINGS, CO	331,020	1,595	481.8	-0.2%	-7.5%	14.4%
164	ARLINGTON, TX	298,632	2,478	829.8	-5.8%	9.8%	15.8%
165	SALEM, OR	119,822	394	328.8	-9.1%	-8.6%	16.6%
166	GRAND PRAIRIE, TX	112,930	1,156	1,023.6	63.4%	5.4%	17.9%
167	LINCOLN, NB	206,704	1,215	587.8	-9.5%	-6.9%	20.0%
168	MESA, AZ	340,818	2,459	721.5	-11.2%	5.8%	20.6%
169	TUCSON, AZ	472,385	5,199	1,100.6	-8.7%	7.8%	21.2%
170	SAN JOSE, CA	830,374	6,075	731.6	-9.5%	9.4%	21.8%
171	SCOTTSDALE, AZ	165,644	445	268.6	-7.4%	0.9%	23.9%
172	MADISON, WI	197,572	772	390.7	24.2%	7.3%	25.4%
173	BROWNSVILLE, TX	117,511	1,151	979.5	37.9%	12.1%	25.4%
174	GREEN BAY, WI	104,283	388	372.1	-24.3%	-14.6%	25.9%
175	TOPEKA, KS	121,495	1,502	1,236.3	-0.6%	-7.2%	27.5%
176	SPRINGFIELD, MO	152,024	795	522.9	-4.7%	14.9%	28.7%
177	MEMPHIS, TN	631,626	12,537	1,984.9	12.2%	27.8%	33.4%
178	NASHVILLE, TN	530,059	10,021	1,890.5	5.6%	16.1%	37.2%
179	LAS VEGAS, NV	831,303	8,409	1,011.5	-15.7%	13.9%	38.2%
180	SIOUX FALLS, SD	110,891	473	426.5	-6.0%	2.0%	38.7%
181	ANCHORAGE, AK	254,774	2,078	815.6	-17.6%	0.0%	38.8%
182	JACKSON, MS	196,619	2,366	1,203.3	-12.0%	-6.5%	39.3%
183	OAKLAND, CA	372,145	8,168	2,194.8		-16.4%	39.8%
184	AMARILLO, TX	171,779	1,428	831.3	1.3%	20.1%	41.5%
185	OMAHA, NB	350,607	4,742	1,352.5	31.3%		44.6%
186	LOUISVILLE, KY	274,506	3,389	1,234.6	3.2%	14.1%	45.6%
187	EUGENE, OR	122,637	739	602.6	-0.2%	46.0%	46.6%
188	HUNTSVILLE, AL	162,376	1,339	824.6	4.5%	-11.0%	48.2%
189	RALEIGH, NC	245,176	2,109	860.2	1.6%	-14.9%	51.7%
190	INDIANAPOLIS, IN	376,531	7,418	1,970.1		42.8%	53.1%
191	DURHAM, NC	148,571	1,687	1,135.5	-9.7%	-10.6%	53.1%
192	MONTGOMERY, AL	197,972	1,589	802.6	12.2%	3.5%	55.3%
193	GARY, IN	116,024	3,880	3,344.1		92.1%	57.4%
194	IRVINE, CA	127,410	274	215.1	27.5%	66.3%	58.2%
195	ALLENTOWN, PA	105,372	653	619.7	-15.7%	58.6%	65.7%
196	CORPUS CHRISTI, TX	286,660	3,020	1,053.5	7.0%	10.1%	68.8%
197	LUBBOCK, TX	202,403	2,066	1,020.7	6.2%	61.5%	70.3%
198	BATON ROUGE, LA	229,501	9,794	4,267.5	49.2%	64.3%	130.0%

NOTES

A number of cities with populations greater than 100,000 are not included on this list.. These cities either do not participate in the FBI's voluntary Uniform Crime Reporting problem, or have not reported crimes completely for the years in question.

Cities not included in this report:

City & State

AURORA, IL

BABYLON TOWN, NY

BROOKHAVEN, NY

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA

CHICAGO, IL

CLEARWATER, FL

HENDERSON, NV

HUNTINGTON, NY

ISLIP, NY

KANSAS CITY, KS

MINNEAPOLIS, MN

NAPERVILLE, IL

OVERLAND PARK, KS

PALMDALE, CA

PEORIA, IL

ROCKFORD, IL

SAN BERNARDINO, CA

SOUTH BEND, IN

SPRINGFIELD, IL

TALLAHASSEE, FL

THOUSAND OAKS, CA

WARREN, MI

WORCESTER, MA

METHODOLOGY

Statistics were drawn from FBI Uniform Crime Reports, specifically 9-track computer tape versions of the FBI's Return A Master for 1990, 1992, and 1995; and from the 1996 Uniform Crime Reports Preliminary Annual Report (June 1, 1997), and in additions made to the Preliminary Annual Report through June 5, 1997.

Population statistics are estimates from the U. S. Census Bureau, as provided to the FBI and included on Return-A master. In the case of the 1996 Preliminary Annual Report, populations are 1996 estimates provided to the FBI by the U. S. Census Bureau.

Calculations and rankings were performed by Number Crunchers Precision Journalism®.

Over that period of time, some law-enforcement agencies have substantially changed jurisdictions, which means that figures and rates for successive years may not be comparable.

THE INDEX

There are seven crimes included in the FBI's Crime Index. Four are crimes against persons, also known as violent crimes. Three are crimes against property. A fourth category of property crime – arson – was added to the FBI Crime Index in the late 1970s. However, not all agencies report the category. Thus, seven crimes are included in these statistics. They are:

VIOLENT CRIME	PROPERTY CRIME
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter	Burglary
Forcible Rape	Larceny-Theft
Robbery	Motor Vehicle Theft
Aggravated Assault

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

The FBI Crime Index has several substantial strengths and weaknesses as a measure of crime. Primary among its strengths is how widespread it is. The overwhelming majority of law-enforcement agencies across the country voluntarily contribute data to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program each year.

Among the weaknesses is that the FBI Crime Index counts only those incidents in selected categories known to police. Crimes – such as rape, for instance – in categories where reporting is known to be less than complete may not be accurately represented. Also, crimes within certain communities which may not cooperate fully with and trust their law-enforcement agencies may be skewed.