Florida Cities Rank Among The 'Most Dangerous Beach Towns' In America
By Zuri Anderson
May 10, 2024
Beach towns hold a special place in Americans' hearts. These popular destinations have plenty of sun, sand, and surf plus amazing restaurants, shopping centers, cultural attractions, and other opportunities for outdoor adventures. Like any other populated place, beach towns can have their fair share of crime as revealed in a new report from 24/7 Tempo.
The website published a list of the most dangerous beach towns in America based on FBI and U.S. Census Bureau data. Several Florida spots landed on the list, and two even broke into the Top 10.
Miami Beach was the highest-ranking one at No. 7. The violent crime rate was 1,074.3 per 100,000 residents in 2022. Over 82,000 people call this popular city home. According to officials, the median home value is $532,300.
Riviera Beach ranked at No. 17 with a violent crime rate of 894.8 per 100,000 residents. Sarasota, Fort Pierce, and Bradenton were also featured in the rankings.
Here are the Top 10 most dangerous beach towns, according to the study:
- Dewey Beach, Delaware
- Ocean City, Maryland
- South Padre Island, Texas
- Pismo Beach, California
- Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
- Wildwood, New Jersey
- Miami Beach, Florida
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Seaside Heights, New Jersey
- Riviera Beach, Florida
Analysts also broke down how they compiled their rankings:
"To determine the most dangerous beach towns, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on crime incidents from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program. Cities were ranked based on the number of reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2022. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Only cities on the Atlantic, Pacific, or Gulf Coasts where at least 10% of housing stock is vacant for seasonal, recreational, or occasional use were considered. Supplemental data on median home value, population, and vacancy status for all housing units are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates."