AR · 2 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Arkansas
Arkansas recorded 536 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.6 times the national rate and down 19% since 2022. We cover Little Rock and Fayetteville. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Little Rock
FayettevilleFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Arkansas, ranked
The 2 Arkansas cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 1 of 2 run above the state average of 536. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Rock | 1,485 | 3,979 | 205,320 |
| 2 | Fayetteville | 447 | 1,911 | 105,335 |
| Arkansas average | 536 | 1,670 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported by each city's police department per 100,000 residents; most cities use 2025 data, and a small year next to a name marks a different latest complete year. Only cities with a neighborhood guide are included, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
Arkansas crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Arkansas?
Of the 2 Arkansas cities in our ranking, Little Rock has the highest violent crime rate: 1,485 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 2.8 times the state average. Fayetteville comes next. Even in Little Rock, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Little Rock guide shows which ones.
Is Arkansas safe to visit?
Most visits go without trouble, but Arkansas has more violent crime than the US as a whole. Arkansas recorded 536 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.6 times the national rate of 330. Crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods and hours rather than spread evenly, so knowing where those areas are matters more than the statewide figure; our 2 city guides cover them block by block.
Is crime going up or down in Arkansas?
Violent crime in Arkansas went from 660 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 536 in 2025, down 19%. Property crime went from 2,508 to 1,670 over 2022–2025, down 33%.
Where do these crime figures come from?
From the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which collects the offenses reported by each police department. Rates are offenses per 100,000 residents, so cities of different sizes can be compared, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Our methodology explains the details.