Top 7 Most Dangerous Cities in Florida 2023

It’s true that Florida is known for its offbeat culture, but that’s not all it has going for it. The Sunshine State ranked as the 21st riskiest state to reside in a recent survey of all 50 United States. This may seem like a normal fact, yet two of the five most hazardous cities in the United States are located in Florida. Knowing which parts of Florida to avoid is so crucial.

For the entire year of 2016, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement documented 1,111 homicides. The murder rate of five per one thousand people is comparable to the average across the country. In other words, Floridians may or may not be living in one of the safest states in the union, depending on their specific location within the state.

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Below we’ve listed for you the most dangerous cities in the Sunshine State: 

1) Miami-Dade County

With a safety rating of -3.66, Florida City is the most dangerous city in Florida. A city in Florida has a crime rate of 126 offenses per one thousand citizens, making it not only one of the most hazardous cities in Florida, but also one of the most dangerous cities in the United States, according to FBI data.

Riviera Beach (with 50 per thousand residents) and Lauderdale Lakes are also considered high-crime areas in Southern Florida (42 crimes per thousand residents).

2) Opa-Locka

Opa-Locka, a very tiny city close to Miami, is the second most dangerous in Florida. 78 crimes per one thousand residents give it a safety rating of -2.93. In spite of the high crime rate, this is Miami, therefore there are lots of lovely beaches in the vicinity; just be careful on your way there. Opa-poverty Locka’s rate (50.9% of the population) is lower than Florida City’s (61% of the population).

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There are other risks associated with being in southern Florida. Sometimes deadly exotic pets owned by the wealthy, such as hippopotami and pythons, end up back in the wild. This has led to a spike in the number of non-native pythons in Florida.

Residents of Miami-Dade County can take heart in the fact that their police department is the largest in the southeastern United States and is making significant strides in the fight against crime. There are a number of possibilities for interaction with law enforcement offered. However, the high crime rates in the neighborhood keep the police quite busy.

3) Daytona Beach

There are sixty criminal acts committed for every one thousand residents in the city of Daytona Beach. This area of Florida is known for being a popular spring break destination, and it also frequently hosts motorcycle rallies and other large gatherings. As a result, it can get quite busy at times, which may result in an increase in the number of violent crimes committed during certain times of the year. In addition, between the years 2005 and 2007, this region was the scene of a short-lived murderous rampage committed by Robert Hayes. He is suspected of killing as many as four women in the neighborhood.

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4) Tampa

The crime rate in Tampa is 22.5 crimes per thousand residents, which is significantly lower than the crime rate in cities in the Miami area, but the crime rate in Tampa is still not ideal. According to Neighborhood Scout, Tampa is safer than 25 percent of the cities in the United States. While this isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement, it also doesn’t make Tampa the most dangerous city in the country.

5) Orlando

The most well-known attractions in Orlando are the city’s theme parks, such as Disneyworld and Universal Studios Park (which both feature sections dedicated to Harry Potter). Unfortunately, an increase in the number of tourists also means an increase in the number of criminal acts. With 57 crimes committed per one thousand residents, the crime rate in Orlando is nearly on par with that of Daytona Beach and significantly higher than that of Tampa. As of 2019, the number of homicides committed in Orlando was also climbing.

6) Tallahassee

Tallahassee is yet another city in Florida with a high crime rate; in this case, the rate is 55 crimes committed for every one thousand residents. In the city’s long and storied past, Tallahassee has been the setting for a number of high-profile homicides, including those committed by notorious serial killer Ted Bundy and the still-unsolved 1966 triple homicide of the Sims family. Despite all of this, Tallahassee is a thriving city in its own right.

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7) Jacksonville, FL

In comparison to other cities located further south, Jacksonville’s crime rate of 40 crimes per thousand residents is considered to be relatively low. Even though it is far from ideal, Jacksonville has a significantly lower rate of violent crime in comparison to cities such as Miami.