Violent crime declined nationwide in 2025, but a new survey shows several US cities moving in the opposite direction, reporting increases in homicides, rapes, robberies or aggravated assaults even as the national trend improved.
A survey from the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) covers violent crime reporting between January and September 2025 and the same period in 2024. The survey tracked four categories: homicide, rape or sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault.
The survey found that total violent crime nationwide decreased compared with the same period in 2024 across all four key categories:
- Homicide: 4,143 (2025) vs. 5,126 (2024)
- Rape: 20,407 vs. 21,728
- Robbery: 66,501 vs. 81,860
- Aggravated assault: 194,804 vs. 216,466
The association cautioned that the numbers are preliminary and based on voluntary reporting by participating law enforcement agencies.
Here’s a list of cities and metropolitan areas where violent crime rose locally despite a nationwide decline.
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha reported increases in all four violent crime categories; homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, according to MCCA data.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta saw year-over-year increases in rape, robbery and aggravated assault, bucking national declines across those categories.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus reported increases in robbery and aggravated assault, even as both crimes fell nationally.
Los Angeles County, California
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported increases in rape and aggravated assault from 2024 into 2025, according to preliminary data from the MCCA survey.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa recorded increases in rape and robbery, two categories that declined nationwide during the same period.
Suffolk County, New York
The suburban county east of New York City reported increases in homicide and robbery.
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita saw year-over-year increases in homicide and rape, reversing the national trend in both categories.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh reported increases in rape and aggravated assault, while other violent crime categories declined.
Denver, Colorado
Denver recorded an increase in rape, according to the MCCA.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia saw a rise in rape, even as national violent crime totals continued to decline.
Violent crime is trending downward in major US cities as President Donald Trump continues to focus federal attention on combating violent crime.
The administration has launched crime operations in cities across America, including Washington, DC, where he first deployed the National Guard to assist local police earlier this year.
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