When you think of Florida, you probably think of beautiful beaches and family attractions, but just like every other place, the Sunshine State has its fair share of crime. We looked at NeighborhoodScout’s 2016 list of the 100 most dangerous cities in the U.S., and Florida had 12 cities make the list – that’s a lot – and they make up the most dangerous cities in Florida.
To make the list, researchers dug through data reported to the FBI from more than 18,000 relevant reporting agencies on cities in the U.S. with at least 25,000 people. Keep in mind that they did not just compare the number of crimes. They factored in the size of the city as well, to give potential visitors an idea of the actual likelihood of becoming a victim of a violent crime. So the places on this list are not necessarily the worst places to live in Florida. Take a look at some of the most dangerous cities in Florida.
Is Florida Dangerous?
Florida is one of the most popular places to visit in the US and is also home to millions of people who love the sunshine, warmth, and closeness to water on most sides. But is Florida dangerous? Florida can be dangerous for a variety of reasons, just like every other state, and you live in Florida or are considering a move, take a look at the most dangerous cities in Florida, due to their crime rates.
1. Homestead
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For the third year in a row, Homestead was named number one of the list of dangerous places to avoid in Florida. The fact that it’s a mid-sized city was probably a factor in its placement on the list. Your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Homestead is 1 in 76, giving it the highest crime rate in Florida. Even though visitors should be cautious, there are still plenty of reasons to visit this unique city, including its historic buildings and prime location near two of Florida’s best parks: Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. Read more about Homestead, Florida.
Homestead, FL, USA
2. Daytona Beach
Flickr/Al Case
Daytona Beach, home of the Daytona 500 and the Daytona Beach Pier, has long been a popular tourist spot in Florida, so it is somewhat disturbing how high it ranks on the list. The rate of violent crimes per 1,000 residents is more than twice as high as the rest of Florida and three times that of the national average. There are plenty of good things about Daytona Beach, despite the crime. One of the great aspects is the number of fun attractions. For example, check out this drive-in church in Daytona Beach.
Daytona Beach, FL, USA
3. Riviera Beach
Flickr/Doug Kerr
Riviera Beach has fewer than 34,000 people, which may explain why it’s so high in the rankings of the most dangerous places in Florida. Visitors have a 1 in 84 chance of being the victim of a violent crime. Check out more about Riviera Beach.
Riviera Beach, FL, USA
Most Dangerous City in Florida
This may be a list of the most dangerous cities in Florida, but keep in mind that many of these are also popular travel destinations. The crime rates are based on crime per capita, so the population of a city plays a huge part. But, according to these statistics, as mentioned above, Homestead is the most dangerous city in Florida.
4. Lake Worth
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Lake Worth is the annual host of the largest street painting festival in the country, which is a must-see for art lovers. Unfortunately, according to NeighborhoodScout’s crime index, which takes into account violent and property crimes, 97% of U.S. cities are safer than Lake Worth. See more about Lake Worth.
Lake Worth, FL, USA
5. Fort Myers
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Fort Myers had 776 reported violent crimes last year, giving it a crime rate twice as high as the rest of Florida. Nonetheless, there are plenty of good reasons to visit this city, including the winter estates of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. Find out more about Ft. Myers.
Fort Myers, FL, USA
6. Fort Pierce
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
The Sunrise City is the county seat of St. Lucie County. There is a 1 in 93 chance that a visitor will become a victim of a violent crime in Fort Pierce. Read more about Fort Pierce.
Fort Pierce, FL, USA
Highest Crime Rate in Florida
As we continue through this list, we continue to look at places with the highest crime rate in Florida. Miami, next up on the list, does rank as one of the most dangerous cities in the country, not just Florida. But this large, vibrant city is also an exciting place to live and visit, which so much to offer both residents and tourists.
7. Miami
Flickr/Thibault Houspic
Miami has long been beloved by the rich and famous. Like any big city, it has plenty of crime, too. 96% of cities in the U.S. are safer than Miami. These statistics are good to know, but don’t let them deter you from visiting. Take extra precautions, and you can still enjoy all of the history, art, cuisine, and culture Miami has to offer. There are lots of fun places to go in this city. Take a look at this list of fun date ideas in Miami.
Miami, FL, USA
8. Miami Beach
Flickr/Mig Gilbert
Miami Beach had a startling 897 violent crimes last year, and you would be hard pressed to find a less safe city in the U.S. It’s really a shame, because this city is home to the stunning Art Deco Historic District, which is the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world. You can still visit, of course, but stay vigilant since it’s considered one of the most dangerous places in Florida. Learn more about Miami Beach.
Miami Beach, FL, USA
9. Tallahassee
Flickr/Steven Martin
It seems kind of depressing that our state’s capital would make this list, but Tallahasee had an alarming 1,790 violent crimes (1,255 were aggravated assault) last year. Hopefully our capital and home to one of our top universities will see a drop in crime soon. See more about Tallahassee.
Tallahassee, FL, USA
Places to Avoid in Florida
As we are in the home stretch of the list, keep in mind that these cities are not places to avoid in Florida. Unfortunately, crime can be found everywhere, so don’t feel like you have to scratch them off of your list of places to visit. As you research the worst neighborhoods in Florida and other places to avoid, these statistics are just one factor to consider.
10. North Miami
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This city’s size of around 61,000 probably explains its ranking, because the number of violent crimes here was 580 last year. 95% of other cities in the country are safer than North Miami. North Miami is home to an impressive Museum of Contemporary Art and Oleta River State Park. Learn more about North Miami.
North Miami, FL, USA
11. Panama City
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Panama City is one of only a few Florida cities on this list that were not on the list last year. Though property crime is much worse than violent crime in this city, its relatively small size probably explains its spot on the list. Visitors to Panama City have a 1 in 110 chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime. Read more about Panama City.
Panama City, FL, USA
12. Orlando
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Concluding our list of the most dangerous places in Florida is Orlando. This city, known as the home of our theme parks and family destinations, actually has pretty upsetting crime rates. There were 2,374 violent crimes in Orlando last year, and 98% of other cities in the U.S. are safer than Orlando. This isn’t going to stop us from visiting the most magical place on Earth, but it’s good to be aware of your surroundings. Check out more about Orlando.
Orlando, FL, USA
Did any of these surprise you? High crime or not, what do you think are the best and worst neighborhoods in Florida? We don’t need to discuss the worst places to live in Florida, so what do you think are the best? We’d love to hear from you. And if you’d like a recap of the list, check below.
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