TN · 6 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Tennessee
Tennessee recorded 499 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.5 times the national rate and down 22% since 2022. Of the 6 cities we cover, Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville have the highest rates and Clarksville the lowest. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Nashville
Memphis
Chattanooga
Clarksville
Knoxville
MurfreesboroFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Tennessee, ranked
The 6 Tennessee cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 4 of 6 run above the state average of 499. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
- 1
Memphis
1,853 violent crimes per 100k
3.7× the state average
- 2
Nashville
962 violent crimes per 100k
1.9× the state average
- 3
Knoxville
685 violent crimes per 100k
1.4× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis | 1,853 | 5,029 | 606,629 |
| 2 | Nashville | 962 | 3,873 | 718,499 |
| 3 | Knoxville | 685 | 2,359 | 200,645 |
| 4 | Chattanooga | 679 | 3,314 | 193,881 |
| 5 | Murfreesboro | 405 | 1,556 | 172,248 |
| 6 | Clarksville | 366 | 1,289 | 190,532 |
| Tennessee average | 499 | 1,662 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Safest cities in Tennessee we cover
At the other end of the list, these have the lowest violent crime rates of the 6 cities in this ranking.
- Clarksville366 per 100k · 27% below the state average
- Murfreesboro405 per 100k · 19% below the state average
- Chattanooga679 per 100k · 1.4× 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. How we rank cities.
Tennessee crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Tennessee?
Of the 6 Tennessee cities in our ranking, Memphis has the highest violent crime rate: 1,853 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 3.7 times the state average. Nashville and Knoxville come next. Even in Memphis, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Memphis guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Tennessee?
Among the cities we rank, Clarksville has the lowest violent crime rate, at 366 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 27% below the state average. Murfreesboro follows with 405. A low citywide rate doesn't mean every block is the same, but day-to-day risk is lower.
Is Tennessee safe to visit?
Most visits go without trouble, but Tennessee has more violent crime than the US as a whole. Tennessee recorded 499 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.5 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 6 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Tennessee cities have above-average crime?
4 of the 6 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Tennessee average of 499 per 100,000 residents: Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga. The other 2 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Tennessee?
Violent crime in Tennessee went from 639 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 499 in 2025, down 22%. Property crime went from 2,350 to 1,662 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.