DE · 2 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Delaware
Delaware recorded 354 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 7% above the national rate and down 10% since 2022. We cover Wilmington and Dover. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
FBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Delaware, ranked
The 2 Delaware cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 2 of 2 run above the state average of 354. 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 | Wilmington | 1,159 | 2,905 | 73,773 |
| 2 | Dover | 852 | 5,821 | 40,389 |
| Delaware average | 354 | 1,586 | ||
| 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.
Delaware crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Delaware?
Of the 2 Delaware cities in our ranking, Wilmington has the highest violent crime rate: 1,159 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 3.3 times the state average. Dover comes next. Even in Wilmington, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Wilmington guide shows which ones.
Is Delaware safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Delaware recorded 354 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 7% above 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 Delaware?
Violent crime in Delaware went from 394 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 354 in 2025, down 10%. Property crime went from 1,992 to 1,586 over 2022–2025, down 20%.
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.