The dynamic King County, Washington, is well-known for its varied neighborhoods and strong economy, but it also has problems with safety and crime. It is important for citizens, tourists, and legislators to be aware of the cities in King County that have higher rates of criminal activity.
By offering insights into crime trends, causes of higher rates, and potential remedies to these issues, this article seeks to shed light on the most dangerous cities in King County.
People are able to make well-informed decisions regarding their safety and well-being in the Emerald City region by looking at these data-driven insights.
King County’s Crime Hotspots: The 5 Most Dangerous Cities
Tukwila
Tukwila is among the most dangerous cities in King County on a regular basis. Residents are at a higher risk of experiencing violent and property crimes due to a crime rate that is much higher than the national average.
| Population | 20,196 |
| Violent Crime (per 100k) | 458 |
| Murder Rate (per 100k) | 5 |
| Property Crime (per 100k) | 1,193 |
The city is a focus of law enforcement activities because of its small population, which worsens the per capita crime figures.
Aberdeen, WA
In a city of less than 20,000 people, six murders per capita are shocking given that Aberdeen’s violent crime rate is much below the national average and its property crime rate is only slightly higher.
| Population | 16,456 |
| Violent Crime (per 100k) | 298 |
| Murder Rate (per 100k) | 6 |
| Property Crime (per 100k) | 338 |
Aberdeen is not just among the most hazardous places in Washington, but it is also more dangerous than 94% of all cities in the United States, according to data gathered from 18,000 local law enforcement organizations.
Read Also: NYC Crime Watch 2024: Neighborhoods with the Highest Risk
Bellingham, WA
Bellingham has less violent crime than the national average, but there is a comparatively high amount of property crime.
| Population | 91,906 |
| Violent Crime (per 100k) | 220 |
| Murder Rate (per 100k) | 4 |
| Property Crime (per 100k) | 2,101 |
The high murder rate per capita is also a cause for concern, particularly in light of the fact that Seattle is a much larger city with a far lower murder rate.
Read Also: Where Crime Rates Soar: The Most Dangerous Cities in Texas
Lakewood, WA
One city that is now on this list but might not be in the future is Lakewood.
| Population | 60,111 |
| Violent Crime (per 100k) | 424 |
| Murder Rate (per 100k) | 3 |
| Property Crime (per 100k) | 417 |
According to statistics provided by the local police department, crime has been steadily declining in Lakewood since 2004, even though the averages for violent and property crime are currently far higher than the national norms.
Read Also: Ohio’s Danger Zones: The 5 Most Dangerous Places in the State
Shelton, WA
The fact that Shelton had no homicides in 2017 is astounding, as evidenced by statistics from Washington and the rest of the country. These are the most recent figures that are available.
| Population | 10,167 |
| Violent Crime (per 100k) | 350 |
| Murder Rate (per 100k) | 0 |
| Property Crime (per 100k) | 405 |
This may seem to keep Shelton off the list of “most dangerous cities,” but regrettably, the city still has a higher than average rate of violent and property crime. It should be noted that, although being a small city, the southeast and other parts are noticeably safer than the rest.
To Conclude
Despite being a thriving and diversified region, King County, Washington, has problems with safety and crime in certain of its communities.
Based on data assessing violent and property crime rates, Tukwila, Aberdeen, Bellingham, Lakewood, and Shelton have emerged as King County’s most hazardous cities.
These cities struggle with a number of difficulties that lead to greater crime rates, such as underlying social concerns, resource constraints, and socioeconomic inequality.
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