Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Helena-West Helena, AR has a Safety Score of 2/100 — higher crime than 98% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 6,593.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,912 of 2,969 US cities and #31 of 36 in Arkansas.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Helena-West Helena, Arkansas Safe?
Helena-West Helena has a safety score of 2/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 6,593.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,950.0 per 100,000.
Helena-West Helena ranks #31 out of 36 cities in Arkansas and #2912 out of 2969 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 2nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 98% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Helena-West Helena is murder, at 138.8 per 100K — 16.3x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.7x the national rate.
Year over year, Helena-West Helena's total crime rate decreased by 12.3%, with violent crime declining 9.7%.
Helena-West Helena Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 168 | 1,665.7 | 513.2 |
| Murder | 14 | 138.8 | 8.5 |
| Rape | 6 | 59.5 | 45.9 |
| Robbery | 16 | 158.6 | 109.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 131 | 1,298.8 | 349.3 |
| Property Crime | 497 | 4,927.6 | 2,436.8 |
| Burglary | 143 | 1,417.8 | 365.5 |
| Larceny-Theft | 330 | 3,271.9 | 1,750.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 24 | 238.0 | 321.3 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Helena-West Helena vs Arkansas Average
How does Helena-West Helena's crime rate compare to the Arkansas state average?
| Metric | Helena-West Helena | Arkansas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,665.7 | 936.5 | +77.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,927.6 | 3,803.4 | +29.6% |
| Murder Rate | 138.8 | 15.5 | +796.1% |
| Total Crime Rate | 6,593.3 | 4,739.9 | +39.1% |
Helena-West Helena Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Helena-West Helena, Arkansas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 10,086 | 6,593.3 | 1,665.7 | 4,927.6 |
| 2019 | 10,187 | 7,519.4 | 1,845.5 | 5,673.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Helena-West Helena, Arkansas safe?
Helena-West Helena has a safety score of 2/100, meaning it has less crime than about 2% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 6,593.3 per 100,000 residents in 2020, Helena-West Helena is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas?
According to FBI data for 2020, Helena-West Helena has a violent crime rate of 1,665.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,927.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Helena-West Helena compare to the national average?
Helena-West Helena's total crime rate of 6,593.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 10,086 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Helena-West Helena?
Based on FBI 2020 data, the most reported crimes in Helena-West Helena are larceny-theft (330 reported incidents) and burglary (143 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.0x in the city.
Is Helena-West Helena safe to visit?
Like any city, Helena-West Helena has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 2/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.