CT · 5 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Connecticut
Connecticut recorded 111 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 66% below the national rate and down 29% since 2022. Of the 5 cities we cover, Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven have the highest rates and Stamford the lowest. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Hartford
New Haven
Bridgeport
Stamford
WaterburyFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Connecticut, ranked
The 5 Connecticut cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 5 of 5 run above the state average of 111. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
- 1
Hartford
459 violent crimes per 100k
4.1× the state average
- 2
Bridgeport
403 violent crimes per 100k
2.9× the state average
- 3
New Haven
399 violent crimes per 100k
3.6× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford | 459 | 2,263 | 122,548 |
| 2 | Bridgeport2024 | 403 | 1,266 | 148,132 |
| 3 | New Haven | 399 | 3,116 | 139,715 |
| 4 | Waterbury | 295 | 2,354 | 116,419 |
| 5 | Stamford | 154 | 1,016 | 140,066 |
| Connecticut average | 111 | 1,160 | ||
| 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.
Connecticut crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Connecticut?
Of the 5 Connecticut cities in our ranking, Hartford has the highest violent crime rate: 459 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 4.1 times the state average. Bridgeport and New Haven come next. Even in Hartford, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Hartford guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Connecticut?
Among the cities we rank, Stamford has the lowest violent crime rate, at 154 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.4 times the state average. Waterbury follows with 295. All 5 are large cities with rates above the Connecticut average, so many smaller towns in the state are safer still.
Is Connecticut safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Connecticut recorded 111 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 66% below 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 5 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Connecticut cities have above-average crime?
5 of the 5 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Connecticut average of 111 per 100,000 residents: Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury and Stamford. The other 0 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Connecticut?
Violent crime in Connecticut went from 156 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 111 in 2025, down 29%. Property crime went from 1,524 to 1,160 over 2022–2025, down 24%.
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.