Morgan Quitno Press, click to return home

Morgan Quitno's 2000 Most Dangerous/Safest State

Which State Is The Most Dangerous?

Which State Is The Safest?

2000 Most Dangerous and Safest States

[Methodology] [Press Release] [Safest Order]

[State Rankings for the 6 Crimes] [Award Rankings 1994 to 2000]

"1" is Most Dangerous, "50" is Safest

2000 MOST DANGEROUS STATE

ALPHA ORDER

RANK ORDER

2000 RANK

STATE

SUM

1999 RANK

CHANGE

2000 RANK

STATE

SUM

1999 RANK

CHANGE

21

Alabama

-2.51

19

-2

1

New Mexico

55.33

4

3

13

Alaska

10.77

11

-2

2

Florida

47.00

2

0

7

Arizona

25.24

8

1

3

Nevada

42.34

1

-2

22

Arkansas

-7.88

20

-2

4

Louisiana

38.59

3

-1

12

California

11.96

10

-2

5

Maryland

31.59

7

2

26

Colorado

-15.43

31

5

6

South Carolina

28.62

6

0

34

Connecticut

-28.39

35

1

7

Arizona

25.24

8

1

11

Delaware

14.71

17

6

8

Tennessee

24.54

5

-3

2

Florida

47.00

2

0

9

Illinois

19.60

9

0

14

Georgia

10.45

14

0

10

Michigan

16.05

12

2

35

Hawaii

-29.73

29

-6

11

Delaware

14.71

17

6

40

Idaho

-44.33

41

1

12

California

11.96

10

-2

9

Illinois

19.60

9

0

13

Alaska

10.77

11

-2

25

Indiana

-11.18

24

-1

14

Georgia

10.45

14

0

42

Iowa

-46.14

42

0

15

North Carolina

7.50

16

1

27

Kansas

-17.37

28

1

16

Mississippi

6.12

13

-3

39

Kentucky

-37.72

37

-2

17

Texas

6.05

15

-2

4

Louisiana

38.59

3

-1

18

Oklahoma

2.46

18

0

48

Maine

-62.61

48

0

19

Washington

0.41

21

2

5

Maryland

31.59

7

2

20

Missouri

-2.18

22

2

29

Massachusetts

-21.45

30

1

21

Alabama

-2.51

19

-2

10

Michigan

16.05

12

2

22

Arkansas

-7.88

20

-2

33

Minnesota

-26.87

32

-1

23

New York

-8.47

23

0

16

Mississippi

6.12

13

-3

24

Oregon

-10.48

25

1

20

Missouri

-2.18

22

2

25

Indiana

-11.18

24

-1

45

Montana

-55.85

46

1

26

Colorado

-15.43

31

5

37

Nebraska

-30.94

39

2

27

Kansas

-17.37

28

1

3

Nevada

42.34

1

-2

28

Ohio

-18.19

26

-2

49

New Hampshire

-64.36

49

0

29

Massachusetts

-21.45

30

1

30

New Jersey

-21.58

27

-3

30

New Jersey

-21.58

27

-3

1

New Mexico

55.33

4

3

31

Pennsylvania

-22.79

33

2

23

New York

-8.47

23

0

32

Utah

-26.50

34

2

15

North Carolina

7.50

16

1

33

Minnesota

-26.87

32

-1

50

North Dakota

-64.61

50

0

34

Connecticut

-28.39

35

1

28

Ohio

-18.19

26

-2

35

Hawaii

-29.73

29

-6

18

Oklahoma

2.46

18

0

36

Virginia

-30.68

36

0

24

Oregon

-10.48

25

1

37

Nebraska

-30.94

39

2

31

Pennsylvania

-22.79

33

2

38

Rhode Island

-33.43

38

0

38

Rhode Island

-33.43

38

0

39

Kentucky

-37.72

37

-2

6

South Carolina

28.62

6

0

40

Idaho

-44.33

41

1

47

South Dakota

-59.97

44

-3

41

Wisconsin

-44.85

40

-1

8

Tennessee

24.54

5

-3

42

Iowa

-46.14

42

0

17

Texas

6.05

15

-2

43

Wyoming

-47.17

43

0

32

Utah

-26.50

34

2

44

West Virginia

-48.43

45

1

46

Vermont

-58.41

47

1

45

Montana

-55.85

46

1

36

Virginia

-30.68

36

0

46

Vermont

-58.41

47

1

19

Washington

0.41

21

2

47

South Dakota

-59.97

44

-3

44

West Virginia

-48.43

45

1

48

Maine

-62.61

48

0

41

Wisconsin

-44.85

40

-1

49

New Hampshire

-64.36

49

0

43

Wyoming

-47.17

43

0

50

North Dakota

-64.61

50

0

METHODOLOGY: The Most Dangerous State 2000 rankings are determined by a four step process. First, rates for six crime categories — murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft — are plugged into a formula that measures how a state compares to the national average for a given crime category.

Second, the outcome of this equation is then multiplied by a weight assigned to each crime category. For this year’s award, we again gave each crime category equal weight. Thus state comparisons are based purely on crime rates and how these rates stack up to the national average for a given crime category.

Third, the weighted numbers are added together to achieve state’s score ("SUM.") In the fourth and final step, these composite scores are ranked from highest to lowest to determine which states are the most dangerous and safest. Thus the farther below the national average a state’s crime rate is, the lower (and safer) it ranks. The farther above the national average, the higher (and more dangerous) a state ranks in the final list.