MI · 8 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Michigan
Michigan recorded 431 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.3 times the national rate and down 8% since 2022. Of the 8 cities we cover, Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids have the highest rates and Sterling Heights the lowest. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Detroit
Ann Arbor
Clinton
Dearborn
Grand Rapids
Lansing
Sterling Heights
WarrenFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Michigan, ranked
The 7 Michigan cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 4 of 7 run above the state average of 431. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
- 1
Detroit
1,654 violent crimes per 100k
3.8× the state average
- 2
Lansing
1,342 violent crimes per 100k
3.1× the state average
- 3
Grand Rapids
894 violent crimes per 100k
2.1× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | 1,654 | 3,956 | 642,155 |
| 2 | Lansing | 1,342 | 2,114 | 114,787 |
| 3 | Grand Rapids | 894 | 2,334 | 200,467 |
| 4 | Warren | 497 | 1,371 | 137,310 |
| 5 | Ann Arbor | 297 | 1,707 | 122,740 |
| 6 | Dearborn | 249 | 1,730 | 105,599 |
| 7 | Sterling Heights | 220 | 1,157 | 134,402 |
| Michigan average | 431 | 1,300 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Safest cities in Michigan we cover
At the other end of the list, these have the lowest violent crime rates of the 7 cities in this ranking.
- Sterling Heights220 per 100k · 49% below the state average
- Dearborn249 per 100k · 42% below the state average
- Ann Arbor297 per 100k · 31% below the state average
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. Not enough reliable data to rank: Clinton. How we rank cities.
Michigan crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Michigan?
Of the 7 Michigan cities in our ranking, Detroit has the highest violent crime rate: 1,654 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 3.8 times the state average. Lansing and Grand Rapids come next. Even in Detroit, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Detroit guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Michigan?
Among the cities we rank, Sterling Heights has the lowest violent crime rate, at 220 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 49% below the state average. Dearborn follows with 249. A low citywide rate doesn't mean every block is the same, but day-to-day risk is lower.
Is Michigan safe to visit?
Most visits go without trouble, but Michigan has more violent crime than the US as a whole. Michigan recorded 431 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.3 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 8 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Michigan cities have above-average crime?
4 of the 7 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Michigan average of 431 per 100,000 residents: Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids and Warren. The other 3 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Michigan?
Violent crime in Michigan went from 471 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 431 in 2025, down 8%. Property crime went from 1,590 to 1,300 over 2022–2025, down 18%.
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.