You can have stately Southern homes on one block and drive two blocks over to see small shotgun homes (the houses that are basic and long, as if a shotgun blast could go straight through it) and suspicious activity on the streets. This makes criminals more apt to do what they do because they have no fear of consequences. Come to Memphis at your own risk. I did not feel threatened by anyone, nor did I see the streets overrun by homeless people. Generally, Memphis is a safe place for tourists. It would even be ranked at the top of the most dangerous cities in the United States. The area is full of young professionals who want to live in the city but without chaos. Sure it has a few nice areas, but crime is higher than the national average in those areas too. Memphistravel.com is the official website for the tourism bureau in Memphis and Shelby County. However, downtown and midtown Memphis are now very desirable places to live. No issues in Memphis. Over the past 30 years Memphis has degenerated into an extremely violent third world cesspool. The city ranks in the top fiveof most dangerous cities in the U.S. Memphis has a thriving food, art, and music scene. Report inappropriate content FGrantWhittle Memphis, Tennessee Destination Expert for Memphis Level Contributor Midtown is hella safe too. It also ranked 3rd for highest property crime rate in the country, 6,297.83 per 100,000 residents. This charming city has kept its old charm and style throughout the ages. You can also be assured the tourism bureau wont send you somewhere dangerous. If you have traveling companions, its always safer to go walking with a friend than by yourself. The city also was a powerful influence on the Civil Rights Movement, but sadly it was the same city where Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was shot. East Memphis is safe enough as well. Not sure thats going to change anytime soon. Notorious motorcycle gang crews here have a reputation that goes beyond Memphis. Plenty of attractions guarantee a good time for any visitor looking to vacation in Memphis, irrespective of the time of the year. Memphis is considered one of the most dangerous cities in the United States for violent crime. It consistently ranks in the top positions for most dangerous cities in the United States. The only place I felt slightly unsafe in was up from Graceland along that main road. Until the community and police can work in tandem to fight crime, and heal the wounds of decades, its going to be an uphill battle here. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico have issued a new warning to visitors of Cancun and the Mexican state of Quintana Roo over a potential conflict between taxi drivers and ride-hailing service companies which has caused many tourists to wonder is Quintana Roo safe. That's not to say crime is not an issue, but as in any metro city, if you exercise caution and common sense, you will be OK. She has been living the van life for 3 years and has not looked back since. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. It consistently ranks in the top positions for most dangerous cities in the United States. Memphis is safe if you use caution and stay away from unsafe areas. CBS News named it the third most dangerous city in the nation. This combination leads to a lot of homeless people and a lot of beggars in the street. It has a violent crime rate of 1901 per 100,000 people. Some of the other crimes within the city have been slowly decreasing, but vehicle thefts have been on the rise. You can expect mugging to be a problem in most large cities across the nation, and they are, for the most part. You are advised to avoid putting on expensive jewelry or flashy clothing because it brings attention to you, making it easy for pickpockets to spot and target you. And I have only seen cops pulling people over one time. Is Memphis dangerous for tourists? Everything everywhere is run down, or broken for the most part. YES!!! If you are on Beale Street, stay on Beale Street and don't wander block by block. Despite its alarming levels of violent crimes, tourists can feel more secure in Memphis if they stay away from dangerous areas. Unfortunately in 2022, the city saw even more crime creep into some of the neighborhoods that were deemed safe. Memphis is the largest city in the top ten, and it's also the most violent of all the cities we're going to talk about. You may enjoy more safety if youre in a safe neighborhood, but your chances drastically dwindle if you are in a dangerous place. Graceland is a must-visit site for Elvis fans and history buffs, but the area can be dangerous, especially at night. By the number from 2021, here are some of the risks in Memphis: Memphis has too much history to be considered too dangerous to visit, but you need to have all your safety skills, awareness of the crime issues, and common sense at every step. Memphis, Tennessee is the most dangerous city in America. That being said, Memphis city schools are not providing skills/educations needed to prepare children for a prosperous life, Unfortunately. Theres no shortage of dangerous areas that tourists should stay away from in Memphis. A few days later, a mass shooter randomly drove around shooting people and stealing cars in a crime spree that led to lockdowns, a freeze on mass transportation, and a citywide call to stay inside. Take a look at some of the possible dangers you might encounter while visiting the city, so that you can stay safe and enjoy your visit. The United States has an average mugging of .73 for every 1000 people. Take a look at some of the possible dangers you might encounter while. If you dont have business being in a certain neighborhood do not go there. We will not be backEVER!! Mind your business and avoid getting into altercations with anyone, as things can take a turn for the worst in a snap. Darkness brings out more of the extreme criminals, and a neighborhood you walk through at noon may be an area where you hide in your home at night. Its just neighborhoods with mainly drug or gang related crime. At least in the 2023 NBA playoffs. I visited 15years ago one of our party got robbed and beaten up . The statistics showthat Memphis has a long way to go before the authorities can tame the crime levels up to where Memphis can get a clean bill of rights regarding safety. I dont know why anyone would move here. Memphis used to be cool. Other petty crime cases expected in the city include vandalism, robbery, mugging, theft, and breaking into cars. I Agree!! Downtown has the unenviable title of the most dangerous neighborhood in Memphis. Dont touch the water and certainly dont swim in it. I have been in & out of Memphis multiple times and have lived here over 20 years. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thanks for the info. Literally. Unless you know the layout of the city you can easily end up in one these sketchy neighborhoods. All in all Id go back, Graceland was cool. Memphis has rich people, but many people live average lives making average wages. No more. Last year, St. Louis, Missouri was named the most dangerous city in America. To me Memphis was beautiful and I will be moving there soon. Is Memphis TN a dangerous city? If the opinion of the residents is anything to go by, crime reports have much to do with property theft, physical assault, and gang-related activities. This often leaves criminals on the streets, supervised by people who have no time to do so. This can affect the people living there and the tourists visiting. The most dangerous neighborhood in Memphis is Shelby Forest-Frayser, due to the higher murder rate and the 1 in 12 chance of becoming a victim of a crime. Despite the high crime potential, Memphiss cultural, historical, and musical allure is undeniable. When you want to check out the attractions downtown, youll find that many of them are in close enough proximity to each other to make it practical to walk. Memphis, Tennessee August 19, 2018: Police car of Memphis park on the road among the building in downtown, USA/Mont592/Shutterstock. The rankings are calculated based on the number of violent crimes per 100,000 people for each neighborhood, compared to the Memphis violent crime average. The stench of civil rights injustices still lingers in the air, and theres as much affluence as there is poverty in a minority community sometimes in the same zip code. Ive had friends get broken into because they left a few quarters in the cup holder or had some books in the backseat. Unless your job has your assigned here, there is ZERO reason to be or stay here. I grew up there and am working on moving back there now. Theres good and bad every where, just like here in Australia, lots of knife crime and gangs etc, but I still feel safe because I know the spots to avoid etc. Memphis has also kept its reputation as one of the countrys most dangerous cities, an aspect of the town that is slowly improving. Whether gang on gang or citizen, they are a contributing cause of why Memphis is dangerous. Food was awesome though. By Max A. Cherney. They are feared and best avoided. In addition to the above, other safety concerns for visiting Memphis include: Theres cause for concern among tourists traveling to Memphis regarding their safety and well-being due to the rising criminal cases reported daily. Safe area-more residential and quiet. You can walk or run along nearly 11 miles of trails and two lakes where you can paddle or canoe. Just to the west of I-240 between Poplar and Walnut Grove are some of the nicest homes in Memphis. This article is trash. Common areas to find this type of activity is around banks, airports, and ATM locations. It was the biggest mistake! I wont go to Memphis without a legal gun. Taxis, rideshares, and rental cars are available. I am telling you that the safest place in Memphis are tourist attractions; there are cops everywhere. MEMPHIS, TN, USA MARCH 22, 2019/Rolf_52/Shutterstock. This is Elvis hometown and the home where he lived, Graceland, is one of the most visited places in the South. I know of several people living in $500k to $1M East Memphis houses who have been robbed in their driveways, so dont let the C&VB and the foolish millennials from other places say that crime is hyped. Travel news, itineraries, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox. ", "You should be fine visiting the touristy parts of town. We looked at 13 different areas in Memphis to discover the worst places to live. While Memphis saw a record number of homicides in 2020, most other crime metrics including, robbery, assault, burglary and larceny decreased. I haven't seen it mentioned yet, but keep all items out of sight in your car, no matter where you are. Generally, Memphis is a safe place for tourists. Midtown Memphis is home to Overton Square, an entertainment district with theaters, bars, and restaurants in a charming setting. If you are just visiting, you would have no reason to go to North Memphis anyway. One friend was shot in killed. Memphis is divided into many blocks. On the other hand, vendors will try to convince you to buy stuff from the trunk of their cars at incredible discounts.. If you are traveling downtown in a cab or transport shuttle, you will be perfectly safe, but it is a little different when things turn dark. Trying to commute to work is a nightmare. (2022 Crime Rates And Crime Stats), The 13 Best Restaurants In Fullerton In 2022, The 16 Best Restaurants In Sherman Oaks In 2022. link to What Ever Happened to Anne Schedeen From ALF? This article is trash. We deep dived into the statistics, crime reports and talked to the residents of the city to give you a better understanding of how safe the city really is. You can be a victim almost anywhere. Is Fort Lauderdale Safe to Visit in 2023? Dont talk on the phone so much you dont notice your surroundings. | Safety Concerns, The 17 Best Places to Visit in the United States in 2023. (2022 Crime Rates And Crime Stats), Is Atlanta Safe To Visit? Beale Street brings crowds for live music, Southern dining, and bars galore. While both cities can be considered dangerous in comparison to the national average, Memphis is a top five dangerous city, while Nashville ranks just outside the top 50. This analysis applies to the . You have to be smart about your surroundings. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I lived in Harbortown, arguably one of the safest neighborhoods in Memphis and my neighbor was robbed and shot dead. Memphis is undoubtedly one of America's greatest music cities - its rich heritage birthed rock 'n' roll and its own version of soul and the blues. The outdoor retail giant may not be our most ideal use of the facility but developers estimate one million visitors (and their wallets) to Memphis each year. On May 5, the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival will launch a new stage in its history.. There is a lot of violence and crime in these neighborhoods. The biggest problem you might encounter while visiting downtown are homeless people and aggressive panhandlers, but for the most part they are harmless. That means Memphis is rough. However, there are cabs and trolleys that will get you safely to your destination as well. Your description of the hwy is 100% accurate!! The crime index here is at a high level. Ive worked with a lot of people retire and move elsewhere because of the crime even though this was their birthplace. Sign up for our free newsletter. Theft from our hotel room while staying at the Peabody. While crime is concentrated to certain areas, those areas border good areas. Most tourist attractions and landmarks enjoy enhanced security than other areas in the city. Average murder rates are 52.44 out of 100,000, which includes tourists killed. Of course, there are some areas you should avoidjust like OTHER cities. In order to find the most dangerous tourist attractions on Earth, 24/7 Tempo . Green = Good, Purple = Good, Yellow = Precede with caution, Orange = Bad..but not the worst, and Red = Bad and worst. Graceland is in that area and it's fine during the day but stay away at night. Why Are Asian People So Smart? You'll notice a lot of police presence downtown (especially around Beale Street) in both the day and night, but travelers should still exercise caution in tourist areas, which are known to have a high concentration of panhandlers. The biggest issue in these areas are theft related. Mariska is a recovering attorney who gave up her professional job to discover new perspectives of life while traveling in a 2009 Ford Transit. A lot about the crime risk in Memphis is what you are used to at home. My job is horrible, the area is horrible. Spawn harbors a close-knit group of criminals that will rebel relentlessly if anyone tries to invade their territory. I have lived in Memphis for 50 years. Memphis faces a risk throughout the year of different varieties. See for yourself on site statistics from the FBI, statistics, city-data.com, or wikipedia. Tourists are prime targets for their criminal activities. We stayed right outside of Memphis in Arlington, TN. I tried telling Mum we should check out the Elvis stand-alone store on the other side of the highway and we started walking until she got freaked out and wanted to turn around. Downtown Memphis is a relatively safe area to visit during the day. Stick to the popular/touristy spots. | Safety Concerns, Written by: Author Andrew Helling |Reviewed by: Editorial Team. Homeboys driving over 100 mph, weaving thru the freeway traffic, no regard for human life. 332 homicides is the most number of homicides ever recorded in Memphis and shatters the 2016 record of 228 homicides. I do believe that INVESTORS RENTALS are the way to go as you earn equity with each rental payment because at the end of the day, Property Values will depreciate, my personal experience!!! Again, you are advised to stay on guard in this part of Memphis. Memphis is a popular city for tourists, and the climate is pretty warm year-round. ", " If youre not involved with gangs or drugs, youll avoid a vast majority of the crime thats represented in the crime statistics. Memphis more so than many other cities Ive visited is a block-by-block risk. Read on for an in-depth look at prevalent dangers and tips on what you can do to stay safe. Using official tourism sites helps you avoid viruses and phishing for the personal information you can find on third-party websites. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Why Is Galveston Beach So Dirty? The police have tried to bring sanity into the area by increasing their presence day and night. MEMPHIS, Tenn.- Memphis has been ranked as the most dangerous city in the United States, according to a 24/7 Wall St. study using FBI statistics. Stay in Germantown, Collierville or East Memphis, and you will most likely be fine. But its mostly petty crime there, a lot of car break ins. That said, then neighborhoods east of the airport and north of downtown can have more crime. Dont get into verbal altercations and dont go looking for recreational drugs. I still Love and Enjoy my Visits to Memphis!! As someone who lived in Memphis for several years, I must tell you - do NOT walk in dark streets and alleys. We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. The bridge has emergency call boxes and is under surveillance 24/7.