You may think the most dangerous places in Tennessee’s include big cities like Nashville and Knoxville. However, according to the data, the most dangerous places reside outside Tennessee’s biggest cities.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the FBI’s latest crime report for violent crime and property crime rates for every place with over 5,000 residents. We analyzed the crime rates for 96 Tennessee cities.
We’re not talking about speeding through Jackson or hopping the fence at Graceland; we’re talking about the crime that gets you put in jail.
So, grab a hot chicken and some Tennessee whiskey and review the following research.
Not sold on Tennessee? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
2,501 violent crimes /100k · 6,899 property crimes /100k · #1 most violent in Tennessee
Located in
Shelby County, Tennessee
Memphis is Tennessee’s 2nd biggest city, but in terms of crime, it takes the #1 spot. The violent crime rate is especially bad in Memphis, outstripping the national average by over 400% and ranking as the highest in the state.
Elvis Presley is probably rolling over in his grave at the state of things in Memphis. The city had 249 murders in 2024, the highest murder rate statewide. Overall, residents had a 1 in 40 chance of being the victim of a property crime.
And the bad news keeps on coming — Memphis had the third highest burglary rate in Tennessee and experienced 9,711 car thefts over 2024. Overall, the city averaged over ten property crimes per day.
Not to mention that Memphis had the highest rate of arson cases on this list by a very wide margin, averaging almost one per day.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers | Compare
1,257 violent crimes /100k · 4,756 property crimes /100k · #4 most violent in Tennessee
Located in
Dyer County, Tennessee
Dyersburg motto is the Gateway to Everywhere, but unfortunately, that includes being the gateway to staggeringly high crime rates.
It’s a good idea to triple check that you’ve locked your doors if you’re heading to one of Dyersburg city parks, seeing as the city had the highest burglary rates in Tennessee.
And it’s not just property crime going down in Dyersburg, either. The city had the fourth highest violent crime rate in the state, including the fourth highest murder rate.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
1,124 violent crimes /100k · 4,510 property crimes /100k · #6 most violent in Tennessee
Located in
Tennessee
We’re wrapping up our tour of Tennessee’s most dangerous places with its capital and biggest city, Nashville.
People come from far and wide to check out the Country Music Hall of Fame or see a show at the Grand Ole Opry, but tourists would be well-advised to keep their guard up in Nashville.
That’s because folks faced a 1 in 89 shot at being the victim of an assault, robbery, rape, or murder in 2024.
The silver lining is that property crime in Nashville is far lower than most places on the list, but try telling that to one of the 5,051 people who had their cars stolen in Nashville last year.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
824 violent crimes /100k · 3,942 property crimes /100k · #10 most violent in Tennessee
Located in
Hamilton County, Tennessee
Chattanooga might look like a peaceful city from the vistas afforded at Lookout Mountain, but down on the streets, crime is all too common.
Violent crime is pretty bad across the board, with Chattanooga reporting 172 rapes and 24 murders in 2024, the fourth highest and tenth highest rates statewide, respectively.
You’ll also want to make sure you lock your car doors wherever you go in Chattanooga because with 1,259 car thefts recorded over the year, stolen cars are more common here than in the bigger cities of Memphis and Nashville.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
950 violent crimes /100k · 3,160 property crimes /100k · #9 most violent in Tennessee
Located in
Madison County, Tennessee
Jackson is the county seat of Madison County, Tennessee. Located 70 miles east of Memphis, it is a regional center of trade for West Tennessee. Its total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census and 67,265 in the 2012 Census estimate.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
788 violent crimes /100k · 3,168 property crimes /100k · #11 most violent in Tennessee
Located in
Sevier County, Tennessee
Pigeon Forge, ranked as the sixth most dangerous place to live in Tennessee, has experienced concerning crime statistics. With a population of 6,344, this mountain resort city in Sevier County has seen a notable crime rate that contributes to its reputation for being dangerous. In particular, Pigeon Forge reported 50 incidents of violent crime. Additionally, property crimes are prevalent in the area, with 201 reported cases.
Despite these challenges, it’s important to approach the topic with a neutral perspective and acknowledge that Pigeon Forge can improve its safety record with dedicated efforts. Located just 5 miles north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge is a popular tourist destination that attracts visitors from all over. By prioritizing community safety and implementing proactive measures, such as enhanced law enforcement and community outreach programs, Pigeon Forge can create a safer environment for residents and tourists alike.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
685 violent crimes /100k · 4,308 property crimes /100k · #17 most violent in Tennessee
Located in
Cocke County, Tennessee
We’re moving away from the western part of the state to Tennessee’s far east to reach Newport. In terms of property crime, it’s hard to out-do Newport. Residents of Newport had a 1 in 23 chance of having their belongings stolen or damaged in 2024, the fourth highest rate in Tennessee.
That includes more than one car theft per week, on average. We just hope nobody steals a racecar from the Newport Speedway, because they might be hard to catch.
The prevalence of property crime in Newport is such that the city actually has the fourth highest overall crime rate in Tennessee — more than three times higher than the national average.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
1,270 violent crimes /100k · 2,481 property crimes /100k · #3 most violent in Tennessee
Bolivar is a city in Hardeman County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,417. It is the county seat of Hardeman County. The town was named for South American revolutionary leader Simn Bolvar.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
1,113 violent crimes /100k · 2,530 property crimes /100k · #7 most violent in Tennessee
Located in
Tipton County, Tennessee
Covington is a city of 8,537 located in western Tennessee that struggles with both high property and violent crime rates.
We don’t envy the Covington Police Department, who had to handle 95 violent crimes and 216 property crimes over 2024.
On the bright side, there were no murders in Covington over the year. On the not-so-bright side, a car was robbed, and a home was broken into more than once per week, on average.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
1,036 violent crimes /100k · 2,504 property crimes /100k · #8 most violent in Tennessee
Located in
Haywood County, Tennessee
Brownsville is a city in Haywood County, Tennessee. It is the county seat of Haywood County, which is in the broad delta floodplain near the Mississippi River. Its population as of the 2010 census is 10,292.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Tennessee’s statewide median.
On the map
Where crime hits hardest in Tennessee
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the most dangerous cities in Tennessee for 2026?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Tennessee. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Tennessee, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2024 data, specifically the 2024 Crime In The United States Report for Tennessee.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Tennessee cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 96 cities in Tennessee.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 96 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Tennessee — Memphis. Any ties went to the smaller city.
This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our eleventh time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Tennessee and is updated for 2026. Property crime in Tennessee runs about 16 percent above the national rate — worth a minute to compare home security systems before you sign a lease.
The full plate
Crime By City In Tennessee
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Dangerous Index | Population | Total Crimes Per 100K | Violent Crimes Per 100K | Property Crimes Per 100K | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis | 1.00 | 613,207 | 9,400 | 2,501 | 6,899 | 249 |
| 2 | Dyersburg | 3.00 | 15,917 | 6,012 | 1,257 | 4,756 | 3 |
| 3 | Nashville | 4.50 | 698,987 | 5,634 | 1,124 | 4,510 | 102 |
| 4 | Chattanooga | 7.50 | 188,894 | 4,766 | 824 | 3,942 | 24 |
| 5 | Jackson | 10.00 | 68,286 | 4,111 | 950 | 3,160 | 17 |
| 6 | Pigeon Forge | 10.50 | 6,344 | 3,956 | 788 | 3,168 | 1 |
| 7 | Newport | 10.50 | 7,010 | 4,993 | 685 | 4,308 | 0 |
| 8 | Bolivar | 11.50 | 5,119 | 3,751 | 1,270 | 2,481 | 0 |
| 9 | Covington | 11.50 | 8,537 | 3,643 | 1,113 | 2,530 | 0 |
| 10 | Brownsville | 13.00 | 9,264 | 3,541 | 1,036 | 2,504 | 0 |
| 11 | Knoxville | 13.00 | 200,457 | 3,462 | 740 | 2,721 | 22 |
| 12 | Millington | 14.00 | 11,785 | 4,404 | 602 | 3,801 | 1 |
| 13 | Athens | 14.00 | 14,949 | 4,288 | 622 | 3,666 | 1 |
| 14 | Ripley | 16.00 | 7,575 | 3,894 | 1,743 | 2,152 | 1 |
| 15 | Savannah | 16.50 | 7,344 | 3,200 | 694 | 2,505 | 0 |
| 16 | Morristown | 16.50 | 32,660 | 3,236 | 765 | 2,471 | 1 |
| 17 | Crossville | 17.00 | 12,842 | 3,232 | 646 | 2,585 | 0 |
| 18 | Harriman | 17.50 | 6,246 | 4,067 | 480 | 3,586 | 0 |
| 19 | Union City | 19.00 | 10,887 | 3,123 | 698 | 2,425 | 0 |
| 20 | Manchester | 20.00 | 13,626 | 3,112 | 653 | 2,459 | 1 |
| 21 | Sevierville | 22.00 | 18,084 | 3,611 | 437 | 3,174 | 0 |
| 22 | Columbia | 22.00 | 49,374 | 3,060 | 573 | 2,487 | 6 |
| 23 | Kingsport | 23.00 | 57,138 | 3,401 | 441 | 2,960 | 2 |
| 24 | Fayetteville | 25.00 | 7,042 | 2,826 | 1,150 | 1,676 | 0 |
| 25 | Lewisburg | 26.50 | 13,406 | 2,648 | 716 | 1,932 | 1 |
| 26 | Rockwood | 27.50 | 5,698 | 2,650 | 579 | 2,071 | 0 |
| 27 | Pulaski | 28.00 | 8,243 | 2,827 | 461 | 2,366 | 0 |
| 28 | Dickson | 28.00 | 16,980 | 2,792 | 465 | 2,326 | 1 |
| 29 | Cleveland | 28.00 | 49,482 | 2,837 | 453 | 2,385 | 2 |
| 30 | Milan | 30.50 | 8,331 | 2,557 | 564 | 1,993 | 0 |
| 31 | Winchester | 30.50 | 10,177 | 2,967 | 373 | 2,594 | 0 |
| 32 | Clinton | 31.50 | 10,430 | 2,598 | 451 | 2,148 | 0 |
| 33 | McMinnville | 33.50 | 13,787 | 2,307 | 638 | 1,668 | 0 |
| 34 | Johnson City | 34.50 | 74,093 | 2,705 | 402 | 2,303 | 4 |
| 35 | La Vergne | 35.00 | 39,897 | 2,311 | 476 | 1,835 | 2 |
| 36 | Murfreesboro | 35.00 | 169,520 | 2,442 | 420 | 2,022 | 5 |
| 37 | East Ridge | 36.50 | 21,886 | 2,408 | 411 | 1,997 | 1 |
| 38 | Humboldt | 37.00 | 7,828 | 2,197 | 575 | 1,622 | 0 |
| 39 | Lexington | 37.00 | 8,000 | 2,400 | 412 | 1,988 | 0 |
| 40 | Shelbyville | 38.00 | 25,655 | 2,343 | 433 | 1,910 | 1 |
| 41 | Madisonville | 39.00 | 5,379 | 2,584 | 372 | 2,212 | 0 |
| 42 | Smyrna | 42.50 | 58,791 | 2,665 | 279 | 2,386 | 1 |
| 43 | Bristol | 43.50 | 28,082 | 2,322 | 363 | 1,959 | 0 |
| 44 | Clarksville | 44.50 | 185,349 | 2,042 | 410 | 1,632 | 9 |
| 45 | Tullahoma | 45.00 | 21,208 | 2,061 | 391 | 1,669 | 1 |
| 46 | Jefferson City | 47.50 | 8,877 | 2,230 | 293 | 1,938 | 0 |
| 47 | Lenoir City | 51.00 | 12,354 | 1,951 | 348 | 1,603 | 1 |
| 48 | Alcoa | 51.00 | 14,270 | 1,745 | 385 | 1,359 | 0 |
| 49 | Smithville | 51.50 | 5,514 | 1,650 | 399 | 1,251 | 0 |
| 50 | Greeneville | 51.50 | 15,866 | 2,156 | 258 | 1,897 | 0 |
| 51 | Red Bank | 53.00 | 12,113 | 1,569 | 396 | 1,172 | 0 |
| 52 | Cookeville | 53.00 | 37,248 | 1,954 | 293 | 1,662 | 0 |
| 53 | Lawrenceburg | 53.50 | 12,110 | 1,800 | 322 | 1,478 | 0 |
| 54 | Sweetwater | 54.00 | 6,696 | 1,717 | 343 | 1,374 | 1 |
| 55 | Munford | 56.00 | 6,901 | 1,072 | 449 | 623 | 1 |
| 56 | Springfield | 57.50 | 19,729 | 1,308 | 390 | 917 | 5 |
| 57 | Dayton | 59.00 | 7,465 | 1,674 | 241 | 1,433 | 0 |
| 58 | Paris | 59.00 | 10,360 | 1,853 | 164 | 1,689 | 0 |
| 59 | Oak Ridge | 59.00 | 34,071 | 1,567 | 291 | 1,277 | 0 |
| 60 | Lebanon | 59.50 | 51,653 | 1,378 | 345 | 1,034 | 3 |
| 61 | Martin | 60.50 | 11,059 | 1,383 | 298 | 1,085 | 0 |
| 62 | Bartlett | 60.50 | 55,494 | 1,533 | 250 | 1,283 | 0 |
| 63 | La Follette | 63.50 | 7,187 | 1,197 | 320 | 877 | 0 |
| 64 | Lafayette | 65.50 | 5,923 | 1,840 | 118 | 1,722 | 0 |
| 65 | Elizabethton | 66.50 | 14,228 | 1,708 | 148 | 1,560 | 0 |
| 66 | Germantown | 67.00 | 39,938 | 1,345 | 168 | 1,177 | 0 |
| 67 | Dunlap | 68.50 | 5,959 | 1,208 | 168 | 1,040 | 0 |
| 68 | Jonesborough | 68.50 | 6,684 | 1,481 | 150 | 1,332 | 0 |
| 69 | McKenzie | 69.00 | 5,603 | 999 | 286 | 714 | 0 |
| 70 | Portland | 69.00 | 13,703 | 832 | 372 | 460 | 0 |
| 71 | Collierville | 69.50 | 51,312 | 1,419 | 150 | 1,269 | 0 |
| 72 | White House | 70.50 | 16,177 | 971 | 235 | 736 | 0 |
| 73 | Gallatin | 70.50 | 52,346 | 957 | 208 | 749 | 1 |
| 74 | Mount Juliet | 72.50 | 44,049 | 1,124 | 159 | 965 | 0 |
| 75 | Henderson | 74.50 | 6,441 | 776 | 186 | 590 | 0 |
| 76 | Franklin | 75.50 | 90,077 | 1,075 | 132 | 943 | 1 |
| 77 | Ashland City | 76.50 | 5,728 | 1,205 | 105 | 1,100 | 0 |
| 78 | Millersville | 76.50 | 6,295 | 699 | 238 | 461 | 0 |
| 79 | Atoka | 76.50 | 10,777 | 696 | 176 | 520 | 0 |
| 80 | Soddy-Daisy | 76.50 | 13,281 | 760 | 166 | 595 | 0 |
| 81 | Goodlettsville | 77.50 | 17,312 | 1,022 | 127 | 895 | 1 |
| 82 | Loudon | 79.00 | 6,876 | 698 | 160 | 538 | 0 |
| 83 | Spring Hill | 80.50 | 59,921 | 663 | 164 | 499 | 0 |
| 84 | Medina | 82.00 | 5,654 | 407 | 177 | 230 | 0 |
| 85 | Hendersonville | 82.00 | 64,126 | 837 | 123 | 714 | 2 |
| 86 | Greenbrier | 83.50 | 6,949 | 619 | 158 | 460 | 0 |
| 87 | Maryville | 84.00 | 32,583 | 638 | 132 | 506 | 0 |
| 88 | Brentwood | 84.00 | 45,208 | 787 | 58 | 730 | 0 |
| 89 | Collegedale | 84.50 | 11,599 | 845 | 17 | 828 | 0 |
| 90 | Fairview | 86.50 | 10,496 | 591 | 124 | 467 | 0 |
| 91 | Oakland | 87.50 | 11,026 | 580 | 73 | 508 | 1 |
| 92 | Kingston | 88.50 | 6,306 | 428 | 127 | 301 | 0 |
| 93 | Signal Mountain | 90.50 | 8,935 | 526 | 90 | 436 | 0 |
| 94 | Pleasant View | 93.50 | 5,709 | 333 | 35 | 298 | 0 |
| 95 | Church Hill | 94.50 | 7,311 | 301 | 27 | 274 | 0 |
| 96 | Nolensville | 94.50 | 15,930 | 257 | 50 | 207 | 0 |
Source: FBI UCR 2024. 96 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Locking It All Up In Tennessee
So what is the most dangerous city in Tennessee? After analyzing 96 cities in Tennessee, Memphis takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Tennessee based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2024.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Memphis ranks as the most dangerous city in Tennessee for 2026.
The most dangerous cities in Tennessee are Memphis, Dyersburg, Nashville, Chattanooga, Jackson, Pigeon Forge, Newport, Bolivar, Covington, and Brownsville.
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Memphis and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up. Wondering how Memphis stacks up against a bigger name? See Memphis, TN vs. Cincinnati, OH side by side.
Questions and answers
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Tennessee FAQs
Is Tennessee a dangerous state?
Yes, Tennessee is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #5 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Tennessee ranks third most dangerous in the United States — 81.91% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Volunteer State ranks tenth most dangerous in the United States — 27.55% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
Is Memphis, TN a dangerous city?
Yes, Memphis is a dangerous city. Memphis ranks as the #2 most dangerous out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Memphis might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Windyke-Southwind is the safest in Memphis, while Downtown is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Memphis ranks highest in America — 337.36% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks third highest in the United States — 162.61% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
