The crime rate can be an important factor to consider when you're thinking about where you want to live or work. The good news is that crime is going down overall in the United States, with 359 violent crimes per 100,000 people. But information compiled from the FBI's Crime Data Explorer shows that the crime rate can vary greatly from state to state. Southern states are also represented in the top 10 states with high crime rates, with New Mexico coming in third place with 645 crimes per 100,000 residents. Other states landed in the top 10 overall most dangerous states because of the rate of specific crimes in their cities.