Rhode Island is a beautiful place to live, but even beautiful places have crime. How much do you actually know about the crime rate in Rhode Island cities? To help you determine which cities are more dangerous than others, here’s a look at the five most dangerous cities in Rhode Island.
1. Providence
Providence is, by far, the largest city in Rhode Island. And when it comes to Rhode Island crime, Providence has one of the highest crime rates. It has the highest rate of property crime in Rhode Island and has the second highest rate of violent crime. In fact, crime is so prevalent in the state that your chances of being a victim of a violent crime are 1 in 176. This includes things like domestic violence, assault, and more. And with a 1 in 29 chance of being a victim of property crime, theft and burglary are also major issues.
Looking at the numbers from a broader view isn’t much better. The crime rate in Providence is 38% higher than the average crime rate in the US. The overall crime rate in Providence is 85% higher than the Rhode Island crime rate. It’s not hard to see that Providence is one of the most dangerous cities in the state. The combination of frequent violent and property crimes make it the first and most dangerous city in Rhode Island.=
2. Newport
Although Newport has a much smaller population than Providence, it’s still one of the state’s most dangerous cities. With a population of just over 24,000, there is a 1 in 258 chances of becoming a victim of violent crime. Property crimes are also rather common, considering that 727 property crimes were reported in 2015 and there is a 1 in 33 chance of being a victim of property crime. Theft is one of the most common issues experienced by residents; 551 of the reported property crimes were theft.
There is a bright side, however. Crime has been on the decline in the past few years. In 2014, Newport’s crime index was worse than any other state in Rhode Island, making it the worst place for Rhode Island crime. In 2015, that number improved. If the improvement in the crime rate continues this year, Newport could lose its rank as one of the most dangerous cities in Rhode Island.
3. Central Falls
Central Falls has the highest population density in Rhode Island, so it’s not surprising that it ranks as one of the most dangerous cities. Located just outside of Providence, Central Falls has one of the highest violent crime rates- not only in the state- but in the country. There is a 1 in 129 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Domestic violence is a known problem in the city and there have been two deaths related to domestic violence in the past ten years.
Property crime is less of an issue in this city than it is in some of the other cities on this list. There is a 1 in 56 chance of being a victim of property crime, which is slightly better than the state’s average of 1 in 53. However, the high rate of violent crime still makes it an unsafe place to live.
4. Woonsocket
The sixth largest city in Rhode Island, Woonsocket has a high violent crime rate that makes it one of the state’s most dangerous cities. It’s similar to Providence in that there is a 1 in 176 chance of being a victim of a violent crime. The violent crime rate is about 53% higher than the national average.
Property crime is a relatively common event, with a 1 in 45 chance of being a victim of property crime. Theft and burglary are the most common types of property crime in this city. Although the number of thefts and burglaries have declined slightly over the past few years, it’s still an alarmingly high number. When compared to Rhode Island crimes per square mile, Woonsocket is lagging far behind most of the state.
5. Pawtucket
Pawtucket has a population of over 71,000. And although it might not have a violent crime rate as high as some of the other cities on this list, it’s still a dangerous place. There is a 1 in 244 chance of being a victim of a violent crime, but violent crime has dropped since 2013.
The real danger in this city and the reason it’s on our most dangerous cities list is property crime. Similar to Newport’s property crime rate, there’s a 1 in 38 chance of being a victim of property crime. That’s not a statistic to take lightly.
Living in Rhode Island’s Most Dangerous Cities
Although the crime rate in these five Rhode Island cities might be overwhelming, it’s important to remember that there are ways to stay safe in these cities. And if you do happen to live in one of the most dangerous cities in the state, there is help available. A Rhode Island criminal defense lawyer can help you keep things together if you become one of the victims of violent or property crime.
