How Safe Are U.S. Border Cities?

Among all of the border cities — both north and south — the average violent crime rate is 3.7 incidents per 1,000 people. That's lower than the national average of 4.43. The average violent crime rate in border cities didn't change year over year.

The average property crime rate among all border cities is 19 incidents per 1,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 22.89. Border cities saw an average decline of 10.5% in property crime year over year.

The averages tell just one side of the story. In reality, crime rates vary widely from city to city.    

Cities within 60 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border report different crime rates and trends compared to cities within 60 miles of the U.S.-Canada border. Here's what the data shows:

• Cities along the U.S.-Canada border have higher average violent crime rates and property crime rates than cities along the U.S.-Mexico border.
• U.S.-Mexico border cities saw a larger decline in property crime than U.S.-Canada border cities.
• Aggravated assault and burglary are slightly more common in northern border cities.
• Larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft are slightly more common in southern border cities.
• Murder and rape occur at nearly the same rate in both regions. 

Crime rates hold steady along the southern U.S. border regardless of a city's proximity to Mexico. Violent crime, for example, averages 3.27 in cities directly on the U.S.-Mexico border and 3.42 in cities within a 60-mile radius. 

Things look a little different along the northern border. Violent and property crime rates are highest in cities directly across from Canada, and they steadily decline in cities further away. The average crime rates in cities directly on the U.S.-Canada border are nearly twice that of cities directly on the U.S.-Mexico border. 

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

• 115 border cities met our criteria for ranking and analysis — 60 along the U.S.-Mexico border and 55 along the U.S.-Canada border.
• The 60 U.S.-Mexico border cities have a total population of nearly 6.1 million. Nearly 2.6 million people live in the 55 U.S.-Canada border cities. 
• 3 border towns are the safest cities in their state: Anthony, NM; Sedro-Woolley, WA; and San Luis, AZ. 
• San Diego, CA is the largest border town in the U.S. with a population of more than 1.3 million.
• Havre, MT is the "most improved" city on our list thanks to a 9.8-point increase in its safety score.
• Aggravated assault: Sedro-Woolley reported zero aggravated assaults in the 2026 reporting year. Highland Park, MI reported the highest aggravated assault rate (25.4 incidents per 1,000 people).
• Murder: 88 of the 115 cities (77%) reported no murders in the 2026 reporting year. The top 4 cities with the highest murder rates are all located in Michigan: Highland Park (0.4 incidents per 1,000 people), Detroit (0.3), Flint (0.3), and Pontiac (0.2). 
• Rape: 26 of the 115 cities (23%) reported zero rapes in the 2026 reporting year. Three cities reported a rape rate higher than 1 incident per 1,000 people: Havre (1.3), Inkster, MI (1.1), and Watertown, NY (1.1).
• Robbery: Twelve of the 115 cities (10%) reported zero robberies in the 2026 reporting year. Highland Park reported the highest robbery rate (3.5 incidents per 1,000 people).
• Burglary: Hamburg Village, NY was the only border city to report zero burglaries in the 2026 reporting year. Five cities reported a burglary rate higher than 5 incidents per 1,000 people: Highland Park (9.1), Las Cruces, NM (7.3), Detroit (7.3), Ogdensburg, NY (7.1), and Raymondville, TX (5.1). 
• Larceny-Theft: Anthony was the only city with a larceny-theft rate lower than 1 incident per 1,000 people in the 2026 reporting year (0.7). Burlington, WA reported the highest larceny-theft rate (54.0).
• Motor vehicle theft: Three cities tie for the lowest motor vehicle theft rate in the 2026 reporting year: Perrysburg, OH (0.1 incidents per 1,000 people), Perrysburg Township, OH (0.1), and Potsdam Village, NY (0.1). The top 3 motor vehicle theft rates were reported by cities in Michigan: Harper Woods (14.7), Detroit (12.6), and Highland Park (12.6).

VC = Violent crime; PC = Property crime; Crime rates per 1,000 people

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