Every city has its share of crime and Grand Rapids is no different but there are five cities near Beer City USA that are far more dangerous.

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5 Most Dangerous Cities Near Grand Rapids

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ThinkStock/GettyStock
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I have been lucky enough to have traveled all over the United States and as far as cities go, Grand Rapids, Michigan, is one of the friendliest cities in the state and country. Grand Rapids is clean, there is a lot to do right in the city's heart, and you feel safe walking downtown in most areas. There are some areas to watch out for and you can find the top 5 most dangerous neighborhoods in GR here.

So where are the most dangerous cities near Grand Rapids? I have the top 5 listed below.

5. Albion

A look of downtown Albion, Michigan, facing north.
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I have never actually been to Albion and from the photo above it looks like a typical old small town in Michigan. Albion is most known for its Underground Railroad which operated during the Civil War.

For a town that has just a little over 8,300 residents, Albion has its fair share of violent crime. Based on its population, Albion has a crime rate that's over 80% higher than the national average. Burglary and petty theft are the most common crimes but the city has a few murders and robberies each year and an alarming number of assaults. If you live in Albion, you have a 1 and nearly 30 chance of becoming a victim of a crime.

4. Kalamazoo

Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images
Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images
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Kalamazoo is most known recently during the pandemic for the development of one of the COVID-19 vaccines with the Pfizer company. The city is also known for the Upjohn, Stryker Corporation, the original home of Gibson Guitars, Checker Motors, and for beer drinkers Bell's Brewery. Anytime you have a city that has a lot of good opportunities, you will usually find just as many bad opportunities.

Kalamazoo has a much larger population than Albion with nearly 76,000 residents in the city. A resident's chance of being the victim of a crime is 1 in 17. Kalamazoo overall has a nearly 170% higher crime rate than the national average. With almost 900 assaults, over a dozen murders and nearly 140 robberies each year you can see that city does have some issues.

3. Jackson

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Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
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As a kid growing up in the east of Michigan, all we knew was Jackson is where the state prison is located and that was the one place we never wanted to wind up. Now that I'm older I have learned Jackson is where the Republican Party was created. The city is also very well known for the number of quality golf courses in the region.

Jackson has a smaller population than Kalamazoo but for just under half as many residents there is a similar rate of crime.  Vehicle theft is very high in Jackson along with close to 1000 thefts each year. Jackson residents have a 1 in almost 85 chance of being a victim of a crime. Murders, robberies, and assault numbers make the city nearly 130% more dangerous than the Michigan average.

2. Benton Harbor

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SteveLagreca/ThinkStock/GettyStock
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As you can see from the picture above, Benton Harbor resides on Lake Michigan and the city has some spectacular views. Benton Harbor has a world-class golf course at Harbor Shores. It is surrounded by orchards, cider mills, and fruit farms. With all the numerous scenic trails there are lots of reasons to visit Benton Harbor.

Benton Harbor has a lot of great attributes to the city but is also one of the most dangerous cities in the entire state. Benton Harbor is nearly 250% more dangerous than Michigan's average city. With a population of just under 9,000, the residents have a 1 and nearly 30 chance of becoming a victim of a crime. The number of murders, robberies, and assaults is very high for a population of nearly 9,000 residents.

1. Muskegon Heights

Eric Laffrgue/Art in All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images
Eric Laffrgue/Art in All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images
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Muskegon Heights is best known for being a foundry town that manufactured tanks that were used in World War I & II. Muskegon Heights is still a major port city in Michigan and a popular place for getting to the shores of Lake Michigan.

The city of Muskegon Heights has nearly 11,000 residents and somehow it is the most dangerous city in Michigan and this beats Detroit with its overall crime rate. Muskegon Heights has a 330% higher crime rate than most cities in the entire country. If you live in Muskegon Heights you have a 1 in nearly 20 chance of becoming the victim of all levels of crime. Home invasions are very common in the city but the amount of violent and property crime is very disproportionate for the city's size.

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