Memphis isn’t just dangerous; it’s dramatic. The city has a long-standing feud with its own statistics. For example, a huge chunk of the homicides—something like 80%—are between people who know each other. This isn't random strangers jumping out of bushes; it’s Uncle Dave shooting Cousin Larry over a stolen lawnmower or a parking spot.
One officer told me, “It’s not a stranger-danger problem. It’s a ‘you-said-something-about-my-mama’ problem.” So, travel tip: if you visit, just avoid mentioning anyone’s mother, their parking skills, or the quality of their potato salad. You’ll be fine.
Is There a Runner-Up? (Because You Need a Vacation Destination, Right?)
If Memphis is too nerve-wracking for your 2026 bucket list, the next contenders are St. Louis, Missouri, and Birmingham, Alabama. St. Louis has a charming arch and a homicide rate that’s like a sequel to a horror movie—just as terrifying, but with fewer musical numbers. Birmingham, meanwhile, is aggressively cozy, but the gunfire sounds a lot like fireworks. (It’s not fireworks.)
Trump threatens Chicago 'Chipocalypse Now' on Truth Social post
And here’s the kicker: guess which city has the lowest murder rate? It’s a tie between Portland, Maine, and Naperville, Illinois. Portland, Maine doesn’t even have enough murders to fill a season of a true-crime podcast. Their biggest crime story last year was a dispute over a lobster roll pricing. Naperville’s police blotter mostly features “suspicious-looking squirrels.”
