“Dangerous places” isn’t a phrase you hear too often being associated with Connecticut. Known for being a pretty safe state overall, that doesn’t mean we are without crime. This list explores the towns where crime is higher, with the top three places ranking in the top 25 for Business Insider’s Most Dangerous Cities In America at one point. It was composed using FBI Crime Reports and Connecticut Uniform Crime Reporting, provided by the Connecticut Department of Public Safety, as well as Neighborhood Scout.
- Hartford
Dave Ginsberg/Flickr There’s a 1 in 32 chance you’ll be the victim of property crime here, which has dropped some in recent years. Not to mention, Hartford comes in at 277 crimes per square mile (which has also come down considerably). Hartford, CT, USA
- Bridgeport
Alexander Rabb/Flickr Bridgeport had five violent crimes per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the state average. In 2020 it had 24 murders and 47 rapes. Bridgeport, CT, USA
- New Haven
Thoman Bunton/Flickr This place may be home to an Ivy Leaguer, but that doesn’t stop theft. Be careful leaving things out in the open in your car! The city reported 574 burglaries in 2020. New Haven, CT, USA
- Waterbury
chris mendillo/Flickr Safer than only 14% of cities in the United States, Waterbury reports 559 vehicle thefts and 13 murders. Waterbury, CT, USA
- Stamford
Michael Cory/Flickr Another town with a lot of burglary. Despite the low rate of murder and other violent crimes, it still reported 1,206 counts of theft in 2020. Stamford, CT, USA
- Bristol
Lisa Jacobs/Flickr Ranking in the bottom 42% nationally, this place actually falls below the state average for violent crimes. But you do run the risk of being mugged - and it will be at gunpoint almost one-third of the time. Bristol, CT 06010, USA
- Meriden
Lisa Jacobs/Flickr Despite having only 60,800 residents, Meriden reported almost 1,000 thefts, and surpasses the state average for violent offenses. Meriden, CT, USA
- Manchester
Laura Bittner/Flickr With even fewer residents than Meriden, Manchester reported even more crimes! Neighborhood Scout gave them a 13/100 for safety, likely because of the high rate of property crime. Manchester, CT, USA
- New Britain
pedrik/Flickr With a ranking of 14, they double the state average for violent crimes. 1 murder, 40 rapes, and 195 counts of aggravated assault. New Britain, CT, USA
Did any of these surprise you? You can check the stats on these dangerous places for yourself by reading the report here. And you can also see where the safest places are!
Dave Ginsberg/Flickr
There’s a 1 in 32 chance you’ll be the victim of property crime here, which has dropped some in recent years. Not to mention, Hartford comes in at 277 crimes per square mile (which has also come down considerably).
Hartford, CT, USA
Alexander Rabb/Flickr
Bridgeport had five violent crimes per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the state average. In 2020 it had 24 murders and 47 rapes.
Bridgeport, CT, USA
Thoman Bunton/Flickr
This place may be home to an Ivy Leaguer, but that doesn’t stop theft. Be careful leaving things out in the open in your car! The city reported 574 burglaries in 2020.
New Haven, CT, USA
chris mendillo/Flickr
Safer than only 14% of cities in the United States, Waterbury reports 559 vehicle thefts and 13 murders.
Waterbury, CT, USA
Michael Cory/Flickr
Another town with a lot of burglary. Despite the low rate of murder and other violent crimes, it still reported 1,206 counts of theft in 2020.
Stamford, CT, USA
Lisa Jacobs/Flickr
Ranking in the bottom 42% nationally, this place actually falls below the state average for violent crimes. But you do run the risk of being mugged - and it will be at gunpoint almost one-third of the time.
Bristol, CT 06010, USA
Despite having only 60,800 residents, Meriden reported almost 1,000 thefts, and surpasses the state average for violent offenses.
Meriden, CT, USA
Laura Bittner/Flickr
With even fewer residents than Meriden, Manchester reported even more crimes! Neighborhood Scout gave them a 13/100 for safety, likely because of the high rate of property crime.
Manchester, CT, USA
pedrik/Flickr
With a ranking of 14, they double the state average for violent crimes. 1 murder, 40 rapes, and 195 counts of aggravated assault.
New Britain, CT, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Most Dangerous Places in Connecticut January 04, 2022 Tori Jane What are Connecticut crime rates like? Residents of Connecticut have reason to be proud – Connecticut was, per the FBI, the fourth-safest state to live in in 2020! Its homicide rate is 40% lower than the national average, and property crime rates are about that amount as well. Connecticut is a remarkably safe place to call home, with the three other states ahead of it in terms of safety being Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Talk about a point of state pride! On the other hand, there are plenty of super-safe places to live, too; some of the safest towns in the entire state include Ridgefield, where crime is almost nonexistent, Weston, which reported just 20 property crimes and no violent crimes last year, and Darien, which reports just nine crimes per 100,000 residents. For more information about each of these and then some, check out this article of the nine safest places to live in Connecticut! Did your town make the list? What are some dangerous places to avoid in Connecticut? Despite its overall safety, there are still some places in Connecticut with a higher crime rate than the rest of it (and even then, it’s still pretty low). Norwalk, for example, has the 10th-highest violent crime rate in the state, Norwich has the fifth-highest violent crime rates in Connecticut, and East Haven is the 23rd-worst in violent crime. Adding to East Haven’s issues is a lower-than-average school system, and few employment opportunities. The natural world is not an exception, either, as Connecticut is home to several dangerous species including bobcats, timber rattlesnakes, copperhead snakes, and eastern black bears. Honestly, we’re more inclined to believe you’re in more danger in the wilderness of Connecticut than in any of the towns; when it comes down to it, it’s a pretty darn safe place to live!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Most Dangerous Places in Connecticut
January 04, 2022
Tori Jane
What are Connecticut crime rates like? Residents of Connecticut have reason to be proud – Connecticut was, per the FBI, the fourth-safest state to live in in 2020! Its homicide rate is 40% lower than the national average, and property crime rates are about that amount as well. Connecticut is a remarkably safe place to call home, with the three other states ahead of it in terms of safety being Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Talk about a point of state pride! On the other hand, there are plenty of super-safe places to live, too; some of the safest towns in the entire state include Ridgefield, where crime is almost nonexistent, Weston, which reported just 20 property crimes and no violent crimes last year, and Darien, which reports just nine crimes per 100,000 residents. For more information about each of these and then some, check out this article of the nine safest places to live in Connecticut! Did your town make the list? What are some dangerous places to avoid in Connecticut? Despite its overall safety, there are still some places in Connecticut with a higher crime rate than the rest of it (and even then, it’s still pretty low). Norwalk, for example, has the 10th-highest violent crime rate in the state, Norwich has the fifth-highest violent crime rates in Connecticut, and East Haven is the 23rd-worst in violent crime. Adding to East Haven’s issues is a lower-than-average school system, and few employment opportunities. The natural world is not an exception, either, as Connecticut is home to several dangerous species including bobcats, timber rattlesnakes, copperhead snakes, and eastern black bears. Honestly, we’re more inclined to believe you’re in more danger in the wilderness of Connecticut than in any of the towns; when it comes down to it, it’s a pretty darn safe place to live!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Residents of Connecticut have reason to be proud – Connecticut was, per the FBI, the fourth-safest state to live in in 2020! Its homicide rate is 40% lower than the national average, and property crime rates are about that amount as well. Connecticut is a remarkably safe place to call home, with the three other states ahead of it in terms of safety being Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Talk about a point of state pride! On the other hand, there are plenty of super-safe places to live, too; some of the safest towns in the entire state include Ridgefield, where crime is almost nonexistent, Weston, which reported just 20 property crimes and no violent crimes last year, and Darien, which reports just nine crimes per 100,000 residents. For more information about each of these and then some, check out this article of the nine safest places to live in Connecticut! Did your town make the list?
What are some dangerous places to avoid in Connecticut?
Despite its overall safety, there are still some places in Connecticut with a higher crime rate than the rest of it (and even then, it’s still pretty low). Norwalk, for example, has the 10th-highest violent crime rate in the state, Norwich has the fifth-highest violent crime rates in Connecticut, and East Haven is the 23rd-worst in violent crime. Adding to East Haven’s issues is a lower-than-average school system, and few employment opportunities. The natural world is not an exception, either, as Connecticut is home to several dangerous species including bobcats, timber rattlesnakes, copperhead snakes, and eastern black bears. Honestly, we’re more inclined to believe you’re in more danger in the wilderness of Connecticut than in any of the towns; when it comes down to it, it’s a pretty darn safe place to live!
