These U.S. Tourist Hotspots Are Also the Most Dangerous, New Study Says
A new report uncovers the U.S. destinations where bustling tourism meets above-average crime rates.
A new study is drawing attention to an uncomfortable truth: some of America’s most popular tourist destinations are also among its most dangerous.
“American cities are grappling with a complex challenge where their most attractive tourist destinations often overlap with areas of heightened crime risk,” said Chandon Alexander, CEO of Spartacus Law Firm, the organization behind the study. “The situation is particularly concerning for overseas visitors who could become targets simply because they’re unfamiliar with potentially dangerous neighborhoods adjacent to popular tourist zones.”
To quantify that risk, the firm compared crime data in major U.S. metropolitan areas with official overseas visitation numbers, creating a Tourist-Risk Score that highlights where high visitor volume meets high crime rates. The analysis factored in both violent and non-violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
Below are the 10 U.S. cities ranked as the riskiest for tourists, starting with number 10.
10. Portland, Oregon
Portland’s food carts and indie charm mask a harsher reality: a crime rate of 2,897 per 100,000 residents, one of the highest in the study. The city welcomes about 138,000 overseas visitors yearly and earned a tourist-risk score of 76.7.
9. Dallas, Texas
Around 655,000 international visitors explore Dallas each year, but the city’s crime rate of 2,078 per 100K keeps it on this list. With a score of 76.9, it’s one of two Texas cities to make the top ten.
8. Los Angeles, California
L.A. is America’s tourism giant, drawing 3.6 million overseas travelers annually. Yet it scored 78.9 on the risk index. While its overall crime rate of 1,966 per 100K is the lowest on the list, the sheer number of visitors means many still encounter safety concerns in areas far from Hollywood Boulevard.
7. Minneapolis, Minnesota
With only 167,000 overseas visitors, Minneapolis attracts fewer tourists than most on the list—but its crime rate of 2,859 per 100K pushes it into seventh place with a score of 79.1.
6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia logs 2,602 crimes per 100K residents and welcomes about 529,000 international visitors a year. That combination earns it a tourist-risk score of 79.7. While its historic core is well-policed, crime rises sharply beyond Center City.
5. Seattle, Washington
Seattle ranks fifth with a score of 79.8. The Emerald City’s crime rate of 2,579 and 579,000 overseas visitors each year reveal a balance of popularity and risk—especially in downtown areas where petty theft remains common.
4. Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital draws 1.6 million overseas tourists annually (second only to Los Angeles), but its crime rate of 2,125 lands it near the top of the danger index, with a score of 81.1. Tourists often underestimate how quickly safety levels shift just beyond the National Mall.
3. Denver, Colorado
Denver places third with a score of 82.9, a crime rate of 2,710, and roughly 286,000 overseas visitors a year. Its issues lean more toward property crime than violent offenses, but the study notes travelers should still stay alert in the downtown corridor.
2. Detroit, Michigan
Detroit’s crime rate of 2,941 is the highest in the ranking, giving it a tourist-risk score of 84.3 despite relatively modest tourism numbers (220,000 visitors annually). Even with the city’s cultural revival, safety remains a concern for travelers.
1. Houston, Texas
Houston tops the list with a tourist-risk score of 88.2. It welcomes 887,000 international tourists each year, but its crime rate of 2,656 per 100K keeps safety warnings front and center. Most reported incidents are non-violent, but the city’s sprawl makes it easy to stumble into the wrong area.
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