A recent analysis by MoneyGeek based on FBI data revealed that in 2021, "the cost of crime" in cities of 100,000 inhabitants or more was around $2,000 per capita (a 6% ($100) increase over 2020).
Crime and safety are intertwined with prosperity, income and economic opportunity. Crime is costly to individual victims, perpetrators, communities and society at large.
To find these results, the authors combined "crime statistics with academic research on the societal costs of different types of crimes." This includes data analysis of violent crimes (murder, rape, and aggravated assault), property damage and crimes (home burglaries and vehicle theft), and "victim medical and mental health care needs, damage to and loss of property and police and corrections costs."
In 2021, mass shootings accounted for 4% of the nation's total crime costs and were up 33% compared to 2020. Boulder, Colo., had the highest societal costs due to shootings ($108.6 million).
Cities with the highest cost of crime
The study revealed which cities have the highest costs associated with crime. Birmingham, Ala., led by Democratic Mayor Randall L. Woodfin, tops the list with the highest cost of crime in the nation ($11,392 per capita).
Birmingham is followed by New Orleans, with a per capita cost of around $11,100. St. Louis ($11,055 per capita), led by Democrat Tishaura Jones has the third highest cost of crime in the country.
Following in the ranking are Detroit ($9,281), Memphis, Tenn., ($9,056), Baltimore ($8,160), Little Rock, Ark., with $7,391 and Cleveland ($7,397), all under the leadership of the Democratic Party.
On the other side of the ranking, Thousand Oaks, Calif., is the city with the lowest costs due to crime ($241 per capita).
