Violent crime surged by 85.5% in the Monroe, La., metro area over the last five years — the largest increase of any metro area in the country.
25. San Angelo, Texas 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +32.7%
24. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +33.5%
23. Binghamton, N.Y. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +33.5%
22. Fort Wayne, Ind. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +33.6%
21. Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +33.8%
20. Bay City, Mich. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +35.0%
19. Chico, Calif. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +35.7%
18. Albuquerque, N.M. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +36.1%
17. Alexandria, La. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +36.2%
16. Danville, Ill. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +37.3%
15. Harrisonburg, Va. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +37.3%
14. Logan, Utah-Idaho 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +38.8%
13. Albany, Ga. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +39.2%
12. Anchorage, Alaska 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +41.3%
11. Springfield, Mo. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +41.7%
10. Houma-Thibodaux, La. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +42.8%
9. El Centro, Calif. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +43.8%
8. Farmington, N.M. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +51.6%
7. St. Joseph, Mo.-Kans. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +52.6%
6. Dubuque, Iowa 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +56.5%
5. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, Calif. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +58.7%
4. Gainesville, Ga. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +67.3%
3. Michigan City-LaPorte, Ind. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +79.5%
2. Sioux Falls, S.D. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +80.4%
1. Monroe, La. 5-yr. violent crime rate change: +85.5%
To identify the cities where crime is soaring, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the percent change in the violent crime rate for metropolitan statistical areas between 2011 and 2016 from the FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Report. To be considered, areas had to have retained the same geographic boundaries during the period covered. Total violent crimes, property crimes, and each of their constituent crime types also came from the FBI.