RI · 1 city
Dangerous neighborhoods in Rhode Island
Rhode Island recorded 146 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 56% below the national rate and down 16% since 2022. Our Providence guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off, and below you'll see how Providence compares with the state's other cities.
FBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Rhode Island, ranked
Rhode Island's 10 cities of 10,000+ residents with recent FBI data, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 5 of 10 run above the state average of 146. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and our Providence guide above shows where.
- 1
Woonsocket
373 violent crimes per 100k
2.5× the state average
- 2
Providence
287 violent crimes per 100k
2.0× the state average
- 3
Central Falls
273 violent crimes per 100k
1.9× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woonsocket | 373 | 1,481 | 44,779 |
| 2 | Providence | 287 | 1,575 | 195,376 |
| 3 | Central Falls | 273 | 787 | 23,119 |
| 4 | Pawtucket | 224 | 1,240 | 77,252 |
| 5 | Newport | 194 | 1,330 | 24,287 |
| 6 | Johnston | 128 | 822 | 30,522 |
| 7 | North Providence2023 | 94 | 636 | 33,880 |
| 8 | Cranston2024 | 93 | 890 | 83,815 |
| 9 | Warwick | 87 | 910 | 83,590 |
| 10 | East Providence2024 | 74 | 686 | 47,555 |
| Rhode Island average | 146 | 922 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Safest cities in Rhode Island
At the other end of the list, these have the lowest violent crime rates of the 10 cities in this ranking.
- East Providence74 per 100k · 53% below the state average
- Warwick87 per 100k · 40% below the state average
- Cranston93 per 100k · 40% 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. It includes every city of 10,000+ residents with complete recent data, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
Rhode Island crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Rhode Island?
Of the 10 Rhode Island cities in our ranking, Woonsocket has the highest violent crime rate: 373 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 2.5 times the state average. Providence and Central Falls come next.
What is the safest city in Rhode Island?
Among the cities we rank, East Providence has the lowest violent crime rate, at 74 per 100,000 residents in 2024, 53% below the state average. Warwick follows with 87. A low citywide rate doesn't mean every block is the same, but day-to-day risk is lower.
Is Rhode Island safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Rhode Island recorded 146 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 56% 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 Providence guide covers them block by block.
Which Rhode Island cities have above-average crime?
5 of the 10 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Rhode Island average of 146 per 100,000 residents: Woonsocket, Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket and Newport. The other 5 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Rhode Island?
Violent crime in Rhode Island went from 174 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 146 in 2025, down 16%. Property crime went from 1,303 to 922 over 2022–2025, down 29%.
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.