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Fact check: After DC, what city has the highest per capita homicide rate?

Checked on August 31, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, there are conflicting answers to the question of which city has the highest per capita homicide rate after Washington, DC:

  • St. Louis, Missouri emerges as the most frequently cited answer, with a homicide rate of 69.4 per 100,000 people according to two sources [1] [2]. This data appears to be from 2025 rankings.
  • Memphis is identified as having the second-highest rate at 40.6 homicides per 100,000 residents according to FBI data, though this source acknowledges it may not reflect the most recent 2025 data [3].

The most current and consistent answer appears to be St. Louis, Missouri, as it's cited by multiple sources with specific 2025 data.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important pieces of context are missing from the original question:

  • Data recency matters significantly - homicide rates fluctuate year to year, and sources using older FBI data versus 2025 compilations show different results [3] [1]
  • Different data collection methods - Some sources reference FBI data while others cite compilations by organizations like Freedom for All Americans, which may use different methodologies [3] [2]
  • Geographic scope variations - One source mentions Cook County (which includes Chicago) having the most total homicides, highlighting the difference between total numbers versus per capita rates [4]
  • Trend analysis is absent - Washington, DC experienced a 42.4% increase in its homicide rate, suggesting these rankings are highly volatile [4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself doesn't contain misinformation, but it lacks crucial temporal context. Without specifying the year or data source, the question invites potentially outdated or conflicting answers. The analyses reveal that:

  • Data lag issues exist - some sources acknowledge their data may not be current for 2025 [3]
  • Source reliability varies - multiple sources provide different answers, suggesting either methodological differences or temporal gaps in data collection [3] [1] [2]
  • Several sources were unable to provide relevant information at all, indicating this data may not be consistently tracked or reported [5] [4]

The question would be more accurate if it specified "according to 2025 data" or referenced a particular data collection agency to avoid confusion between different ranking systems and time periods.

Want to dive deeper?
What is the current homicide rate in Baltimore compared to other major US cities?
How does the homicide rate in St Louis compare to the national average in 2025?
What city has the highest homicide rate per capita in the United States as of 2025?
Which US cities have implemented effective crime reduction strategies in recent years?
How do socioeconomic factors contribute to high homicide rates in certain cities?