Memphis, also known as the “Home of the Blues” and the “Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” has gained a reputation for being the most dangerous city to live in the United States. According to a study conducted by the Major Cities Chiefs Association Violent Crime Survey, Memphis had 129 homicides in the first six months of 2024, making it the city with the highest number of homicides in the nation.
Despite a slight decrease in homicides compared to the previous year, Memphis continues to face challenges in terms of overall safety. The city ranks poorly in various key factors used to determine a population’s safety. A WalletHub survey of 182 cities placed Memphis at the bottom of the list due to low scores in categories such as financial safety, home and community safety, and risk of natural disasters.
Specifically, Memphis ranked second-to-last in residents’ financial safety, with the lowest percentage of households having emergency savings. It also ranked third-to-last in home and community safety, with high rates of homicide and assault per capita. Additionally, the city ranked 173rd in traffic deaths per capita, highlighting concerns about road safety.
Despite these challenges, Memphis fared slightly better in the category of natural disasters, ranking 101st in the study. However, a separate WalletHub study found that Memphians were among the most stressed-out residents in the country.
In contrast, cities like Yonkers, New York, emerged as safer alternatives, with Yonkers ranking as the 6th safest city overall in the WalletHub survey. Other top-ranking cities included South Burlington, Vermont; Casper, Wyoming; Warwick, Rhode Island; Burlington, Vermont; and Boise, Idaho.
Overall, the study underscores the importance of considering multiple factors when assessing a city’s safety and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by residents of Memphis in terms of crime, financial security, and overall well-being.
