Arkansas Crime Rate by City [2024 Updated]

Arkansas has, for years, had problems with its crime rates, which are some of the highest in the United States. In fact, the state has an average crime rate that is double the crime rate of the entire country. There has always been a strong correlation between crime and poverty rates, which we get a strong sense of in Arkansas. It is a state with a fairly high poverty rate, higher than the national poverty rate, and we see how it influences crime in the state. Let’s explore the Arkansas crime rate by city.

Crime in Arkansas

It is difficult to say with complete certainty which city is the most dangerous or the safest in Arkansas, but there are several cities that are at the top of the list for both.

The accuracy of these numbers is heavily dependent on the number of crimes that get reported in a city, and that is then compared to the population of that city. There are some smaller towns that have comparably high crime rates and, in some cases, very high rates for the number of residents. It could be argued that, in these small towns, crime gets reported more frequently than in larger cities.

Although it is known that economics and education often contribute to high crime rates, in some of these Arkansas cities with high crime, those two factors don’t seem to contribute as much as in other cities with similar crime rates.

10 Cities With High Crime Rates in Arkansas

While the entire state has a high crime rate, there are specific cities that are deemed unsafe or dangerous because of their respective crime rates per 1,000 residents:

• Osceola: A small town of between 6,000 and 7,000 residents, Osceola has a crime rate near 51.3 per 1,000 residents.
• Helena-West Helena: This population is closer to 10,000, with a crime rate of around 50.1, although it is considered to be much safer than Osceola.
• West Memphis: With a crime rate that is amongst the highest in Arkansas, this city, with a population nearing 25,000 people, has a crime rate of 73.92.
• Little Rock: This is the capital of Arkansas and its biggest city, with a population of around 200,000 residents. It’s no surprise that Little Rock has a high crime rate of 72.08.
• El Dorado: With a population circling 18,000 people, this town has a crime rate of 48.99.
• Hot Springs: This city, with a population of over 37,000, has a crime rate of 63.87. The property crime rates here are amongst the highest in the state. Violent crime is fairly low, however.
• Fordyce: One of the smallest towns in Arkansas, it has a population hovering around 4,000 residents. Despite the small population, the crime rate is still exceptionally high at 68.84.
• Fort Smith: This community with a population nearing 90,000 has a high crime rate of 60.11, despite it being a good location for families and having good schools.
• Newport: Another town with a small population of around 8,000 people, Newport has a crime rate of 58.11.
• Jacksonville: With a low population of around 28,000 residents, the crime rate in this small city is 57.6.

10 Cities With Low Crime Rates in Arkansas

Although Arkansas as a state has a very high crime rate compared to most other states in the country, there are still several cities and towns that have low crime rates per 1,000 people, compared to the rest of the state and the country.

• Greenbrier: With a small population of around 6,000 residents, this town has a low crime rate of 9.96.
• Bella Vista: With a population of nearly 30,000, this city has a crime rate of 4.25.
• Greenwood: Another small town with a population near 10,000, Greenwood’s crime rate is at 5.46.
• Farmington: Farmington’s population hovers around 7,000 people. The small town has a crime rate of 7.
• Centerton: Many of the 15,000 residents in Centerton boast about the community in the small town, with its crime rate of 6.29.
• White Hall: With 5,000 residents, this small town has a crime rate that is on the higher side for the cities on this list, at 11.11.
• Lowell: Having a population of just over 9,000 residents, this small community has a crime rate of 9.81.
• Pea Ridge: With a population nearing 6,000 people, this small town has a crime rate of 8.24.
• Maumelle: With just over 18,000 residents, the crime rate in this city reaches up to 14.16.
• Hot Springs Village: This city has just over 15,000 residents and a low crime rate estimated at 11.8.

FAQs

Q: What City in Arkansas Has the Highest Crime Rate?

A: Although it has a very low population, Osceola, AR, is one of the top few cities in Arkansas with the highest reported crime rate compared to its population size. This could be due to the high poverty rate in the small city. Despite the efforts of citizens and law enforcement, the crime rate remains a big problem.

Q: What City in Arkansas Has the Lowest Crime Rate?

A: One of the top few cities in Arkansas that has the lowest reported crime rate is Bella Vista, AR. Many residents of the city feel a great sense of security living in Bella Vista since crime is nearly nonexistent. It is arguably one of the safest cities to live in Arkansas.

Q: Where Does Little Rock Rank Amongst the State’s Most Dangerous Cities?

A: Little Rock, AR, ranks fairly high amongst the most dangerous cities in Arkansas and in the United States as a whole. It is arguable that Little Rock is the most dangerous city in Arkansas, and it is in the top three most dangerous cities in the U.S. as well. With such a large population, rates of violent crime and property crime are high.

Q: Why Is the Crime Rate So High in Arkansas?

A: In most places, there is a direct correlation between crime rate and the socioeconomic status of residents, not to mention education levels. Arkansas is one of the many states in the U.S. where a large part of the population is living in poverty. Therefore, the crime rate in the state is very high.

Contact an Attorney at Lemley Law Partners

If you have been charged with a crime in the state of Arkansas, contact Lemley Law Partners to speak with one of our skilled attorneys. We are here to help you and address any concerns you may have.