It’s Houston. Of every major city in Texas, Houston recorded the highest homicide rate in 2024 — 13.80 murders per 100,000 residents, or 320 killings in a single year, according to FBI Crime Data Explorer figures compiled in a January 2026 research analysis. Dallas came in a close second. But the full ranking holds a few surprises — including which counties, not cities, top the charts.
TL;DR: Houston has Texas’s highest big-city murder rate at 13.80 per 100,000 (320 homicides in 2024). Dallas is second at 13.62. Statewide, Texas’s homicide rate actually fell to 5.88 per 100,000 in 2024 — just below the national average of 6.00.
The Numbers: Houston Tops Texas
Among Texas cities with more than 100,000 residents, the 2024 homicide ranking looks like this, per the FBI data:
- Houston: 13.80 per 100,000 (320 homicides)
- Dallas: 13.62 per 100,000 (180 homicides)
- Beaumont: 12.58 per 100,000 (14 homicides)
- Killeen: 12.37 per 100,000 (20 homicides)
- Wichita Falls: 8.76 per 100,000 (9 homicides)
Houston’s lead over Dallas is narrow — less than two-tenths of a point — but with 320 murders, the sheer volume dwarfs every other Texas city. For context, San Antonio, the state’s second-largest city, recorded 127 homicides at a rate of 8.39 per 100,000, well below both Houston and Dallas.
One important caveat from the researchers: cities with fewer than 100,000 people were excluded, because a handful of murders in a small town can produce a wildly inflated rate that doesn’t reflect the real risk.
How Texas Compares to the Nation
Here’s the twist most people miss: while Houston’s numbers are grim, Texas as a whole is doing better than the national average. The state’s homicide rate fell from 7.10 per 100,000 in 2023 to 5.88 in 2024, compared with a national rate of 6.00. Texas ranked 24th among states for homicides.
That’s a remarkable turnaround from history. Between 1968 and 1996, Texas averaged 13.80 homicides per 100,000 — far above the national average of 9.02. The rate peaked at 14.70 in 1980 and 1981. Like the rest of the country, Texas saw homicides spike during COVID, hitting 7.80 in 2021, but rates have declined every year since 2022.
The County Picture: Small Counties, Big Rates
Zoom out to the county level and the map shifts. Potter County (home to Amarillo) posted the state’s highest homicide rate in 2024 at 13.96 per 100,000 — though that represents 16 murders in a smaller population. Jefferson County followed at 11.50 (29 murders), then Harris County at 10.40.
Harris County deserves special attention: its rate is lower than Potter’s, but with 503 homicides it recorded more killings than any other Texas county. Dallas County had the most homicides of any single county at 255, with a rate of 9.78 per 100,000.
Who Are the Victims?
The data paints a stark demographic picture. In 2024, Texas men were nearly 3.5 times more likely to be homicide victims than women — 9.25 versus 2.52 per 100,000. Young adults aged 20 to 24 faced the highest risk of any age group at 11.61 per 100,000, while children under 14 and adults over 45 had the lowest rates.
And the weapon of choice is overwhelmingly clear: 74.85% of homicides reported to the FBI in 2024 involved firearms, followed by knives at 8.42%.
How Houston Stacks Up Nationally
Among U.S. cities with over a million residents, Houston’s 13.80 rate is high — but it’s not the nation’s worst. Chicago recorded 17.47 per 100,000 (461 homicides) and Philadelphia 16.91 (262) in 2024. By contrast, Los Angeles sat at 6.95, New York City at 3.92, and San Diego at just 2.52.
For readers following violent crime stories, see also our coverage of the Kentucky trooper killed on I-65 and four fatal shootings in nine days in Fayetteville, NC.
The Trend Is Moving in the Right Direction
The broader story is one of improvement. Homicide rates have fallen across Texas since the 2021 peak, mirroring a national decline. Even Texas border cities — often portrayed as dangerous — posted some of the lowest murder rates in the country: Laredo and Brownsville each recorded roughly 2 murders per 100,000 in 2024, according to Texas Public Radio’s analysis of FBI data.
The numbers tell a complicated story: concentrated violence in a handful of cities, real progress statewide, and a long way still to go.
FAQ
Which Texas city has the highest murder rate?
Houston. In 2024, Houston recorded 13.80 homicides per 100,000 residents (320 total), the highest rate of any Texas city with over 100,000 people, according to FBI Crime Data Explorer figures.
Is Houston the most dangerous city in Texas overall?
It depends on the metric. Houston has the highest homicide rate among large Texas cities, but “most dangerous” rankings that include all violent and property crime sometimes rank smaller cities higher on a per-capita basis.
How does Dallas compare to Houston?
Dallas is a close second with 13.62 homicides per 100,000 (180 total) in 2024 — less than two-tenths of a point behind Houston.
What about smaller Texas cities?
The FBI-based analysis excluded cities under 100,000 people because small populations can produce misleadingly high rates from just a few incidents.
Is Texas more dangerous than the U.S. average?
No. Texas’s 2024 homicide rate was 5.88 per 100,000, slightly below the national average of 6.00. Texas ranked 24th among states.
Are murder rates in Texas going up or down?
Down. The state rate fell from 7.10 in 2023 to 5.88 in 2024, continuing a decline from the 2021 pandemic-era peak of 7.80.
Which Texas county has the highest homicide rate?
Potter County, at 13.96 per 100,000 (16 homicides) in 2024. However, Harris County recorded the most total homicides with 503.
What weapons are most used in Texas homicides?
Firearms, by a wide margin — 74.85% of homicides reported to the FBI in 2024 involved guns. Knives accounted for 8.42%.
Who is most at risk of homicide in Texas?
Men are nearly 3.5 times more likely to be victims than women, and adults aged 20-24 face the highest rate of any age group at 11.61 per 100,000.
Where does this data come from?
FBI Crime Data Explorer figures and CDC mortality data, compiled in a January 2026 research analysis. City-level rates cover municipalities with 100,000+ residents.
