The Most Safest and Dangerous Cities in Indiana

From major cities like Indianapolis to small rural towns along the Ohio River, Indiana has something for almost everyone. However, just as is the case with its cities and towns, the state's criminal portfolio is quite diverse.

Some cities, including Dyer and St. John, had lower crime rates than the national averages. Meanwhile, other cities, like South Bend and North Webster, recorded crime rates that were higher than the state and national averages. These patterns raise awareness of how vital local economies, community structures and demographics are for local public safety.

According to FBI data, the state had the 39th-highest property crime rate and the 25th-highest violent crime rate out of all 50 states in 2023. This means many states have more crime than Indiana.

Indiana cities with the highest and lowest crime rates

(per 100,000 people)

Cities with the highest property crime rates
North Webster	5,677
Terre Haute	4,257
Clarksville	3,936

Cities with the highest violent crime rates
South Bend	1,208
Elkhart	1,177
Evansville	1,133

Cities with the lowest property crime rates
Topeka	81
Cicero	106
Columbus	112

Cities with the lowest violent crime rates
Dyer	12
Columbus	19
St. John	21

Note: Excluding cities with crime rates of zero. Source: 2023 FBI Data

Top Crime Hotspots in Indiana

According to the crime statistics published by the FBI in 2023, violent crime rates reached 1,208 incidents per 100,000 people in South Bend, making it the most violent city in Indiana. Elkhart ranked slightly lower, but it still had 1,177 incidents for each 100,000 people. Then it was Evansville, which reported 1,133 incidents per 100,000 citizens.

Specifically, in Indiana, the most frequent form of violent crime was aggravated assault. Such crimes are common in regions¹ where resources are limited and many residents don’t have access to mental health care or conflict resolution programs. Other types of violent crimes include murder, rape and robbery.

For property crime, which includes larceny, burglary and motor vehicle theft, North Webster had the most incidents, 5,677 per 100,000 residents. Terre Haute followed in second place, with 4,257 cases per 100,000 and Clarksville was third, with 3,936 cases per 100,000.

Property crime rates may be higher in North Webster since it’s a popular recreational area with many visitors, especially during the summertime. Local police authorities have urged state governments to allocate more funds for law enforcement, especially in June and July, a busy time of year for tourism.

Cities Where Safety Shines: Indiana’s Standouts

Where are Hoosiers feeling the safest in the state? Dyer had the lowest rate of violent crimes in the state, with just 12 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023. Columbus had 19 incidents, followed closely by St. John with a reported 21 incidents per 100,000 people. The numbers for Columbus and St. John are particularly interesting, especially given the size of those cities.

Low-crime cities tend to have strong and diverse economies,² with higher median income levels and neighborhoods that discourage criminal acts. Another element is a visible and constant commitment to funding public safety, which includes neighborhood patrols and policing strategies that focus more on engagement than enforcement.

For property crime, Topeka topped the safest cities list, with just 81 incidents per 100,000 residents. Cicero (106) and Columbus (112) were next in line for the lowest rates. Most of these communities are in rural areas.

Statewide Crime Trends Analysis

Overall, Indiana's violent crime rate was 332 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2023, which was 9% below the national average. However, the state did see an increase of 8.5% year over year.

Violent crime rates

(per 100,000 residents)

Crime Type	Indiana	National
Murder	5.6	5.7
Aggravated assault	252.1	263.7
Robbery	40.4	65.4
Rape	34.1	38.0

The violent crimes list included 252 aggravated assault cases for each 100,000 residents, which was the largest portion of violent crime rates in the state. This was, however, slightly below the national average. The other crimes making the list were robbery at 40.4 incidents and rape at 34.1 incidents per 100,000 residents.

Property crime rates

(per 100,000 residents)

Crime Type	Indiana	National
Burglary	218.3	250.7
Larceny	1,089.3	1,343.9
Vehicle theft	235.7	317.2

At the same time, the property crime rate in Indiana was 1,543 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is 19% below the national average. The property crime rates remained static from the previous year, with a -0.1% change in year-over-year numbers.

Larceny-theft was still the most prevalent property crime in Indiana at 1,089.3 incidents per 100,000 residents, while the motor vehicle theft rate was 235.7 and the burglary rate was 218.3. Notably, all these were below the national averages.

Even while violent crime is still a problem, a closer look at the data shows that there is cause for optimism given Indiana's continuously low and stable rates of property crime. The Hoosier State's public safety might be enhanced further by state-level initiatives to promote community-based policing, increase economic opportunities and enhance mental health resources.

Where Our Crime Data Comes From

Unless specified otherwise, the information in this article is based on crime data compiled by the FBI and made available through the Crime Data Explorer. Statewide violent and property crime statistics are drawn from the FBI’s 2023 Crime in the United States Report (Table 5) and, for city-level crime rates, we referred to Table 8, which lists reported offenses by state and city.

Important note: Crime statistics offer valuable insights, but they aren’t the only way to evaluate a community’s safety. Local context, law enforcement practices and reporting standards can all influence how crime is recorded. Additionally, FBI publication tables and the data displayed on the Crime Data Explorer may differ slightly due to variations in methodology.

Navigate Crime Data by State

Citations

Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2024). Report on Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2023 and Indicator 2 – Incidence.
https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/report-indicators-school-crime-and-safety-2023-and-indicator-2-incidence
U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). Indiana.
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/IN/IPE120221

The Safest and Most Dangerous Cities in Indiana

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