10 Dangerous Neighborhoods in Houston You Should Avoid!

Food, Clothing, and Shelter are considered a person’s basic needs. However, even if someone has decent clothing and food it is useless unless they have a safe shelter because the thought of spending an uncertain night can make anyone restless. Let us look at the most dangerous neighborhoods in Houston, also known as the Space City. Dangerous neighborhoods in Houston have gained a notorious reputation for themselves, due to the violent crimes and safety concerns. Let’s dive deeper into the details of the dark side of Houston!

10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Houston!

In 2024, Houston's overall crime rate was 5,723 crimes per 100,000 people, making its crime percentage to be 5.72%. Among them, violent crimes in some areas of Houston occur at 2,455 incidents per 100,000 people, which is 2.45%! Nobody would want to be a victim in such an incident, and we are helping you do exactly that. We have compiled a list of the top 10 most dangerous neighborhoods in Houston so that when you move to Houston, you can make an informed decision and not put yourself in danger! Houston is one of the best places to live in the U.S., however, there are some neighborhoods that you might want to avoid in Houston. From Sunnyside to Greater Third Ward, we have covered all the areas that you need to beware of, along with what are the risks that you may face. So without any ado, let's understand more about the dangerous neighborhoods in Houston and the common crimes in the areas.

1. Sunnyside

Sunnyside neighborhood is ranked throughout the United States as the second most dangerous neighborhood! It has a notorious reputation for homicidal murders with a murder being reported every month. It is blighted by violent crimes, rape, and drug dealing, making it one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Houston. It also has the second-highest prison rate of 33 new prisoners per 1000 adults. Sunnyside's crime rate is 92 per 1000 which means that every 1 person out of 11 people is a criminal, making it one of the neighborhoods in Houston you might want to avoid, even though its cost of living is 29% less than the national average.

2. MacGregor

Tourists who stay in the MacGregor neighborhood feel unsafe, due to the empty streets and it is not without a reason, since Macgregor is known for its high number of homicides. The average crime score is 4 whereas it is 6 in Macgregor in terms of homicide. There are frequent assaults with weaponry, robbery, vandalism, and sexual assault. All these combine to make Macgregor one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Houston. This is also because of the large number of low-income households and frequent thefts that happen here. Another interesting fact about Macgregor is that it also has the most poorly rated schools in the entire Houston district. 

3. South Park

Famous for its name twinning with the animated sitcom South Park, don't get fooled by the animated impression it has created for being one of the nice neighborhoods in Houston. Well, maybe the crime part shown on the sitcom is accurate because South Park is famous for being one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Houston. It also has a reputation for gang violence. So be very careful while going around the area. Apart from gang violence, the residents also have to be careful of nightly shootings, fistfights, and drug dealing. It also has a crime score of 7 on 10 which is well above the average crime score of 4.

4. Alief

Almost sounding and spelled like an Alien, Alief has a reputation for violent crimes. So do not go to alienated places in Alief! That being said, Alief has a crime rate of 92 per 1,000 residents making it one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Houston. It also has a notorious reputation for shootings, homicides, and other violent incidents. There have also been incidents of violent gang fights here, including one, where a 17-year-old was charged with capital murder for shooting 3 people of a rival gang in an apartment in November 2024. 

5. Sharpstown

Sharpstown definitely has gone on its name, with violent gun crimes being higher than 67% than the other areas of Houston! It is also famous for violent vehicle thefts, meaning you might want to think twice before you hand over the key to a valet and enjoy a meal. However, if you do want to enjoy a nice meal, here are the some of best restaurants in Houston. Sharpstown crime reports show a moderate risk of vandalism, violent crime, and property crimes, making it one of the most dangerous Houston neighborhoods.

6. Greater Third Ward

You might have heard of people getting tired of their neighbors or their dogs, but have you ever heard of an entire neighborhood getting tired of frequent gunshots? It has become a grave reality of the Greater Third Ward, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of Houston. The greater third ward has become notoriously famous for its shootings, robbery, assault, and drug-related incidents. Even after multiple meetings with the Houston Police Department (HPD), the crime rates show no indication of receding in the greater third ward, including it in the list of dangerous neighborhoods of Houston.

7. East End

The East End neighborhood experiences a violent crime rate of about 5.672 incidents per 1,000 residents each year. This encompasses crimes like assault, robbery, rape, and murder. Notably, the violent crime rate in the East End is 101% higher than the U.S. national average, and the overall crime rate is 49% above the national average. However, that’s not it, because it has a safety rate of 18 percentile, which means that it is less safe than 82% of areas to live in Houston, making it one of the neighborhoods in Houston you want to steer clear of!

8. Greenspoint

Greenspoint, often referred to as "Gunspoint" due to its high crime rates, has a violent crime rate of approximately 6.979 incidents per 1,000 residents annually. Residents face frequent incidents of car theft and burglaries, making property crimes a major concern. The area struggles with poverty and limited resources, which are often cited as factors contributing to its high crime rate. Many apartment complexes in Greenspoint report high crime rates, with frequent assaults and domestic violence. Gang-related activity and youth involvement in criminal incidents are prevalent, especially near high schools and parks making it one of the dangerous neighborhoods in Houston.

9. Pasadena

Even though Pasadena has a nice, melodic ring to its name, its crime rate is something that will truly alarm you. Having a crime every 1 and a half hours, many parts of Pasadena are reported as being highly unsafe! It has a C- grade on the rate of crime, and 37th percentile on the safety index, meaning it is unsafe than 63% of places! It also has a crime rate of 36.57 out of 1000, making it into Houston dangerous neighborhoods list with ease. However, if you want to stay in a safe place in Houston, here is a list of the safest places to live in Houston!

10. Greater Fifth Ward

Greater Fifth Ward in Houston is high risk on the crime radar for 318 violent crimes, 1246 property crimes, 288 acts of vandalism, and 163 motor thefts in a year. Wow, that is a lot, isn't it? It is also known for being a low-income, ghetto, and high-crime area. It is also known as the 'Bloody Fifth' due to some of the highly publicized violent crimes in the area. It also has a rate of 8.188 highly violent crimes per 1000 people, and 26.55 property crimes per 100 people making it one of the dangerous neighborhoods in Houston. 

Now that you have a detailed idea of the most dangerous Houston neighborhoods, we hope that you avoid these areas and steer clear of danger. The best way to stay safe is to stay in a safe neighborhood. So if you are a student who is looking for safe accommodation in Houston, amber has got your back! Amber provides safe and secure housing to students in over 250+ countries and has over 1 million beds. So, rest assured with amber, to put you in the best neighborhoods in Houston! You can always go through this student housing guide, which will help you understand the kind of accommodation most suitable for you in Houston.