Tacoma records 843 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents — 1,856 total incidents in 2024, nearly triple Washington’s statewide average of 294 per 100,000 — making it the state’s most dangerous city in the FBI’s 2024 crime data. Tukwila (737), Port Angeles (688), and Yakima (681) follow; Seattle — despite the most violent crimes in raw terms — ranks fifth once population is factored in. Washington as a whole sits below the national violent-crime average.
How this Washington ranking works
Cities are ranked by violent crime rate — murders, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents in 2024 — using figures compiled from the FBI Crime Data Explorer and published by Local Observer Daily. Methodology note: some aggregators HomeSnacks report a higher Tacoma figure (around 1,060 per 100,000) because they count differently; the numbers below follow the Local Observer Daily compilation used across this series — Tacoma ranks No. 1 either way. And the standard caveat: in small towns like Tukwila, Port Angeles, and SeaTac, a handful of incidents swings the per-100,000 rate sharply.
The 10 most dangerous cities in Washington
1. Tacoma — 843 per 100,000
Washington’s third-largest city tops the state at 843 violent crimes per 100,000 residents — 1,856 total incidents in 2024, including a robbery rate of 198 and an assault rate of 575 per 100,000, nearly triple the statewide average of 294. Note: some aggregators report a higher figure (around 1,060 per 100,000) using different counting methods; the numbers here follow the Local Observer Daily compilation of FBI 2024 data used across this series. Tacoma ranks No. 1 either way.
2. Tukwila — 737 per 100,000
This small city south of Seattle records 737 violent crimes per 100,000, driven by an unusually high robbery rate of 298 per 100,000 — retail-corridor crime inflates the per-capita figure in a small population.
3. Port Angeles — 688 per 100,000
This Olympic Peninsula gateway city posts 688 violent crimes per 100,000, with an assault rate of 496 per 100,000 — small-town arithmetic: 140 incidents in a small population produce a large per-capita rate.
4. Yakima — 681 per 100,000
Central Washington’s agricultural hub records 681 violent crimes per 100,000 across 639 incidents, with an assault rate of 541 — the second-highest in the state’s top 10.
5. Seattle — 626 per 100,000
The state’s largest city logged the most violent crimes in raw terms — 4,832 — but its large population dilutes the rate to 626 per 100,000, fifth statewide, with a robbery rate of 191.
6. Lakewood — 620 per 100,000
Tacoma’s southern neighbor records 620 violent crimes per 100,000, with an assault rate of 444 per 100,000.
7. Spokane — 600 per 100,000
Eastern Washington’s largest city posts 600 violent crimes per 100,000 across 1,341 incidents — the second-highest raw total in the state after Seattle.
8. Olympia — 500 per 100,000
The state capital lands eighth at 500 violent crimes per 100,000, with a robbery rate of 129 per 100,000.
9. SeaTac — 482 per 100,000
The airport city records 482 violent crimes per 100,000, including a murder rate of 14 per 100,000 — the highest in the state’s top 10.
10. Vancouver — 474 per 100,000
Portland’s Washington-side neighbor closes the top 10 at 474 violent crimes per 100,000 across 884 incidents.
Washington crime in context
Washington’s statewide violent crime rate of 294 per 100,000 sits below the national average — but that average hides enormous variation. Tacoma’s 843 is nearly triple the state figure, while Seattle’s 4,832 raw incidents show how totals and rates tell different stories. Crime concentrates in specific neighborhoods and corridors; a citywide rate never describes every block.
For comparison, see our rankings of the 10 most dangerous cities in California and Illinois, built with the same FBI-2024 methodology.
FAQs
What is the most dangerous city in Washington state?
Tacoma: 843 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2024 FBI data — 1,856 total incidents, nearly triple the statewide average of 294 per 100,000.
Is Seattle dangerous?
Seattle ranks fifth statewide at 626 violent crimes per 100,000 — the most violent crimes in raw terms (4,832), diluted by a large population. Crime is concentrated in specific downtown and corridor areas.
How is this ranking calculated?
Cities are ranked by violent crime rate — murders, rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents — using 2024 data compiled from the FBI Crime Data Explorer.
Why do different websites show different Tacoma crime rates?
Aggregators count differently: some include estimates for non-reporting agencies or use different population bases. HomeSnacks, for example, reports around 1,060 per 100,000 for Tacoma versus 843 in the compilation used here. Tacoma ranks No. 1 under either method.
Is Washington a safe state overall?
By violent crime, Washington’s statewide rate of 294 per 100,000 sits below the national average — but city-level rates vary enormously, from Tacoma’s 843 down to far safer suburbs.
Why are small cities like Tukwila and Port Angeles so high on the list?
Per-capita math: in a small population, a few dozen incidents produce a large per-100,000 rate. Retail corridors (Tukwila) and small-city policing footprints amplify the effect.
What about property crime in Washington?
This list ranks violent crime only. Washington’s property crime rate runs higher than its violent crime rate — car theft and larceny are the categories most residents encounter.
Where can I check Washington crime data myself?
You can explore official figures in the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which publishes agency-reported crime counts for cities across the country.
