TL;DR: Baltimore recorded 133 homicides in 2025 — the fewest in nearly 50 years and down about 60% from the 2021 peak. FBI data still ranks it #2 among large U.S. cities for violent crime, so the “dangerous city” label is outdated but not dead: risk is concentrated in specific neighborhoods.
For decades, “Baltimore crime” was shorthand for one thing: danger. At the 2021 peak, the city was losing more than 300 people a year to homicide. Ask the average American today whether Baltimore is safe, and most would say no without hesitation.
But 2025 data tells a story almost nobody outside Maryland has heard. Baltimore closed the year with 133 homicides — the fewest in nearly half a century, down 31% from roughly 200 in 2024 and about 60% from the post-pandemic peak. Non-fatal shootings fell 24.5% to 311, down from 423 the year before. If you’re still picturing Baltimore as the murder capital it once was, you’re working from outdated information.
The Numbers That Rewrote the Narrative
The figures come from Mayor Brandon Scott’s office, announced in January 2026. The decline has been steady: homicides dropped 25% between 2022 and 2025, and the 133 recorded last year is the lowest count since the 1970s — a generational milestone for a city of more than 565,000 people.
Put it in perspective: in 2021, Baltimore lost well over 300 residents to homicide. Four years later, that number was 133. A June 2026 University of Pennsylvania paper, published through the National Bureau of Economic Research, found the city’s violence-reduction work drove homicides 25% below what comparable cities experienced.
The Honest Part: Baltimore Is Still a High-Crime City
The progress is real, but so is the remaining risk. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report data for major U.S. cities, Baltimore still has a violent crime rate of 1,606 per 100,000 residents and a murder rate of 34.8 per 100,000 — ranking #2 among the 39 largest American cities, behind only Memphis. The national average is about 328.
So the “most dangerous city” reputation is outdated — Baltimore has improved faster than almost any major city in America — yet still technically true per capita. Most of the violence is hyperlocal: it concentrates in specific West and East Baltimore neighborhoods, while downtown, the Inner Harbor, and Fells Point are heavily policed and heavily visited. If you’ve read our breakdown of Washington D.C.’s most dangerous cities, the same neighborhood-level pattern shows up there too.
What’s Actually Driving the Improvement
City officials credit the Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), a focused-deterrence program launched in the Baltimore Police Department’s Western District in 2022 and since expanded to six of nine police districts. It targets the small number of people most at risk of shooting or being shot, combining direct warnings with life coaching and services. In 2026, $1.2 million in federal funding was earmarked to expand it.
Alongside GVRS sits the Safe Streets program, whose teams have mediated 8,197 violent conflicts since 2021, with eight of ten sites going more than a year without a homicide. Hospital-based violence intervention and a citywide Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan round out the effort — researchers estimated the social value of the averted violence at 35 times the program’s first-year cost.
Visiting Baltimore? What to Actually Know
The Inner Harbor, Camden Yards, Fells Point, and Mount Vernon are the city’s main visitor draws — generally safe, well-trafficked, and well-policed. But stay street-smart:
- Stay in well-lit, busy areas after dark. Downtown and Harbor East are the safest bets; avoid unfamiliar residential blocks.
- Use rideshares at night rather than walking longer distances.
- Park smart. Use secured garages, lock your car, and never leave valuables visible.
- Research your neighborhood before booking. Check Airbnb listings against recent crime maps before committing — some sit blocks from high-crime areas.
- Keep your phone out of sight when walking on quieter streets, the way you would in any unfamiliar city.
For comparison, our guide on whether Las Vegas is safe in 2026 applies the same data-first approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baltimore safe in 2026?
Baltimore is safer than it has been in nearly 50 years: 133 homicides in 2025, down 60% from the 2021 peak. FBI data still ranks it #2 among large U.S. cities for violent crime, so take standard precautions at night and outside tourist areas.
How many homicides did Baltimore have in 2025?
Baltimore recorded 133 homicides in 2025 — a 31% decline from roughly 200 in 2024 and 60% below the 2021 peak.
What is the Group Violence Reduction Strategy?
GVRS is Baltimore’s focused-deterrence program, launched in 2022. It targets those most likely to be involved in shootings, pairs warnings with life coaching and services, and was linked to a 33% drop in shootings and homicides in its first district.
Is Baltimore safer than Chicago or Philadelphia?
Baltimore’s murder rate (34.8 per 100,000) exceeds Chicago’s (17.5) and Philadelphia’s (16.9) in the latest FBI major-city data — but Baltimore improved far faster, with homicides down roughly 60% from the 2021 peak.
Which areas of Baltimore should visitors avoid?
Gun violence concentrates in parts of West and East Baltimore. The Inner Harbor, Camden Yards, Fells Point, and Harbor East are the main visitor areas — generally safe and well-policed. Avoid unfamiliar residential neighborhoods after dark.
Why did Baltimore’s crime drop?
City officials credit the Group Violence Reduction Strategy, the Safe Streets conflict-mediation program, and hospital-based violence intervention. A 2026 UPenn/NBER study found Baltimore’s approach directly drove part of the reduction.
Is Baltimore safe for families visiting?
Yes, with normal precautions. The National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, and Fort McHenry are in well-visited, heavily policed areas. Stay in a downtown or Inner Harbor hotel, use rideshares at night, and keep valuables out of sight.
Are carjackings still common in Baltimore?
Carjackings spiked during the post-pandemic wave but fell sharply — researchers linked GVRS to a 40% reduction in the first district. Stay alert at gas stations and parking lots.
