WA · 10 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Washington State
Washington State recorded 292 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 11% below the national rate and down 24% since 2022. Of the 10 cities we cover, Tacoma, Seattle and Spokane have the highest rates and Bellevue the lowest. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Seattle
Bellevue
Everett
Federal Way
Kent
Renton
Spokane
Spokane Valley
Tacoma
VancouverFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Washington State, ranked
The 10 Washington State cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 6 of 10 run above the state average of 292. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
- 1
Tacoma
866 violent crimes per 100k
3.0× the state average
- 2
Seattle
706 violent crimes per 100k
2.4× the state average
- 3
Spokane
613 violent crimes per 100k
2.1× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tacoma | 866 | 4,031 | 230,369 |
| 2 | Seattle | 706 | 4,461 | 791,503 |
| 3 | Spokane | 613 | 4,393 | 230,962 |
| 4 | Kent2023 | 556 | 3,776 | 133,312 |
| 5 | Vancouver | 556 | 2,890 | 200,968 |
| 6 | Federal Way2024 | 555 | 4,417 | 96,631 |
| 7 | Renton | 258 | 3,916 | 105,251 |
| 8 | Everett | 252 | 2,509 | 113,547 |
| 9 | Spokane Valley | 234 | 3,341 | 109,455 |
| 10 | Bellevue | 114 | 3,380 | 155,043 |
| Washington State average | 292 | 2,018 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Safest cities in Washington State we cover
At the other end of the list, these have the lowest violent crime rates of the 10 cities in this ranking.
- Bellevue114 per 100k · 61% below the state average
- Spokane Valley234 per 100k · 20% below the state average
- Everett252 per 100k · 14% 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. How we rank cities.
Washington State crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Washington State?
Of the 10 Washington State cities in our ranking, Tacoma has the highest violent crime rate: 866 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 3.0 times the state average. Seattle and Spokane come next. Even in Tacoma, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Tacoma guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Washington State?
Among the cities we rank, Bellevue has the lowest violent crime rate, at 114 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 61% below the state average. Spokane Valley follows with 234. A low citywide rate doesn't mean every block is the same, but day-to-day risk is lower.
Is Washington State safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Washington State recorded 292 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 11% 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 10 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Washington State cities have above-average crime?
6 of the 10 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Washington State average of 292 per 100,000 residents: Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane, Kent, Vancouver and Federal Way. The other 4 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Washington State?
Violent crime in Washington State went from 383 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 292 in 2025, down 24%. Property crime went from 3,409 to 2,521 over 2022–2024, down 26%.
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.