By: Aaron Eller
April 11, 2025
St. Louis’ Most Dangerous Neighborhoods
St. Louis City has the highest crime rates per capita in the United States for violent crime. St. Louis has a violent crime rate of 2,082.29 per 100,000 people. This is the worst in the country. While that may scare you away, not all of St. Louis city and the metro area is dangerous. In this article we are going to give you the worst and most dangerous neighborhoods in St. Louis that you should stay away from.
While we advise high caution and hesitancy to visit these neighborhoods, I have personally been through all of them and have not had any issues. I go to these areas for my business, Cash Offer Man, a home buying company that buys houses for cash and as-is. When I am in these areas I make sure to be more aware of my surroundings, I try not to go alone, and I never go to these neighborhoods at night which is when the most amount of violence and crime takes place.
Crime Rate in St. Louis
St. Louis has long struggled with high crime rates, particularly violent crime. According to the St. Louis Police Department data, the city has one of the highest violent crime rates per capita in the United States.
- Violent crime rate: Around 2,000 incidents per 100,000 people
- Property crime rate: Over 4,000 incidents per 100,000 people
While the metro area overall is relatively safe, certain pockets of the city account for a disproportionate share of crime. Socioeconomic factors, historical disinvestment, and systemic issues all play a role.
Top 7 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in St. Louis (2025)
Here are the neighborhoods with the highest reported crime rates based on the most recent data:
1. College Hill
- Location: North St. Louis
- Violent crime: Extremely high, especially assaults
- Notes: Vacant properties and low-income housing dominate the area. Residents report frequent gunfire.
2. Wells-Goodfellow
- Location: Northwest St. Louis
- Violent crime: Among the highest in the city
- Notes: Long-neglected, with high poverty rates and aging infrastructure. Many residents seek to sell quickly.
3. Walnut Park East & West
- Location: North St. Louis
- Violent crime: Consistently high robbery and assault rates
- Notes: Struggles with gang activity and lack of community investment.
4. The Ville
- Location: Central North St. Louis
- Violent crime: High, particularly in gun violence
- Notes: Once a vibrant cultural hub, now plagued by decay and crime.
5. Hamilton Heights
- Location: West St. Louis
- Violent crime: High, with sporadic surges in shootings
- Notes: Struggles with housing abandonment and unemployment.
6. JeffVanderLou
- Location: Near Downtown/North Side
- Violent crime: Elevated levels of all major crime types
- Notes: Some revitalization efforts are underway but haven’t slowed crime yet.
7. Hyde Park
- Location: North St. Louis
- Violent crime: High per capita rates
- Notes: A mix of old historic homes and major neglect. Prone to arson and drug-related crime.
Why Are These Areas Struggling?
There’s no single reason these neighborhoods top the crime charts. Instead, it’s a mix of systemic and historical challenges:
- Redlining & segregation: Decades of racial housing discrimination and zoning laws
- Economic decline: Lack of investment, job loss, and business flight
- Vacant properties: Abandonment leads to crime hotspots
- Underfunded schools & infrastructure: Fewer resources to support youth and families
What’s Being Done to Improve These Neighborhoods?
While progress is slow, there are initiatives aimed at improving safety and quality of life:
- Community policing efforts by St. Louis Metropolitan Police
- Nonprofit work from groups like Better Family Life and Urban League
- Redevelopment programs that aim to renovate or demolish vacant homes
- Youth mentorship and outreach programs to reduce gang influence
Should You Avoid These Areas Completely?
Not necessarily. While crime is a concern, it’s not a blanket statement. Many parts of these neighborhoods have tight-knit communities, churches, and long-time residents who care deeply about their blocks.
Visitors and locals should:
- Be aware of surroundings
- Travel in groups or during the day
- Stick to main roads and well-lit areas
- Be aware of your surroundings and have higher degree of caution
Investing or Living in High-Crime Areas
High-crime neighborhoods may scare off some, but others see opportunity:
- Real estate investors can find deeply discounted properties with potential
- Section 8 landlords find strong rental demand
- Homeowners may want to sell quickly to avoid further loss in value
At Cash Offer Man, we help homeowners in these neighborhoods sell fast, as-is, for cash — no matter the condition of the home or the area. We specialize in helping people move on from properties in tough situations.
Final Thoughts
St. Louis has its challenges, and some neighborhoods have it worse than others. But understanding where and why crime happens is key to keeping you safe. In general the closer you are to downtown the more cautious you should be, heading further west or south in the Metro Area of St. Louis gets more safer. North City is known as the worst and roughest part of the city but certain neighborhoods in South City also have high crime.
Q: Is downtown St. Louis safe?
A: Parts of downtown are safe, especially near Ballpark Village and Washington Ave. But caution is advised at night in certain areas.
Q: What area in St. Louis has the highest crime?
A: Neighborhoods like College Hill, Wells-Goodfellow, and Walnut Park consistently top crime lists. We recommend you stay on high alert and use increased caution.
Q: Are these neighborhoods getting better?
A: Some are seeing early signs of revitalization, but progress varies. The St. Louis Zoo has made an expansion North of St. Louis which could help with safety and investments in the area in the years to come.
Q: Can you live safely in these neighborhoods?
A: It depends. Some blocks are safer than others. Locals often say it’s about “knowing where to go and who to know.” Some Streets are very safe and tight knit families and neighbors when a street over has all abandoned properties and high crime.
Sources & References
Interviews and testimonials from local residents and personal expierence
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Crime Reports
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR)
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