Michigan : Safety by City
- Ann Arbor
- Battle Creek
- Dearborn
- Detroit
- Farmington Hills
- Flat Rock
- Flint
- Frankenmuth
- Glen Arbor
- Grand Rapids
- Houghton
- Ironwood
- Kalamazoo
- Lansing
- Livonia
- Mackinac Island
- Mackinaw City
- Macomb
- Marquette
- Muskegon
- Pontiac
- Port Huron
- Saginaw
- Sault Ste. Marie
- Sterling Heights
- Taylor
- Traverse City
- Troy
- Warren
Detroit, Michigan, made the list of “World’s Greatest Places” by Time Magazine in August of 2022.
The Motor City keeps motoring forward, despite financial challenges and ongoing crime concerns, as innovation and cultural expansion are grabbing more headlines now.
“There’s something magical about experiencing the birthplace of the American automobile industry, exploring the legendary Motown music scene, experiencing the delectable culinary creations, and so much more that the city has to offer,” David Lorenz, Vice President, Travel Michigan, commented when hearing about the Time award.
This city is gritty in many ways, symbolic of hard work and blue-collar jobs that keep Americans moving.
There’s an ethnic mix here, with 77% of the city being African American, 8% being Latino/Hispanic, and 11% being Caucasian.
Asians make up 2% of the population as well.
The Detroit River runs on the city’s Southside, where you can cross over into Canada.
Yes, a fun trivia fact is that this is a place where you technically go south to cross the northern border.
Lakes Huron, Erie, and St. Clair are all nearby.
Another fun fact?
There’s also an island and beach to explore here, though definitely don’t go there in the winter.
The city is split into different neighborhoods, all spanning out from the downtown core.
Macomb is known as the “Eastside” and has great access to the water and surrounding nightlife and shopping.
Oakland is a suburban oasis that’s more relaxed while still having an elegant chic about it.
Wayne is the cultural southwest side of the city, with various ethnicities having a strong presence and an Avenue of Fashion on top of that.
Warnings & Dangers in Detroit
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
There is really no getting around the medium risk in Detroit. Crime rates, even with a decline in 2021, are still extraordinarily high, and 33% of the city lives in poverty. Hollywood hasn't helped Detroit's image with hit movies like 8 Mile. It is not a city too dangerous to visit, but you do need to do research, and we'll walk you through all the risks in this article.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
Download the Park Whiz app if you have a rental car here, as you'll need to find a parking spot in advance. Public transportation includes buses, trains, light rail, street cars, and shuttles. VisitDetroit.com has a long list of transportation methods, along with prices and routes. You can get anywhere in the city or the suburbs using one of the public systems, but taxis and rideshares are readily available. All come with a medium risk due to high crime rates, and car thefts were up 24% in 2021. There were 216 carjackings as well, so even having your own car doesn't lower the risk.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
There's a medium risk here, too, though this is a good news/bad news situation. The good news is, the pickpocket and purse snatching rate isn't as high as in other major cities. The bad news is that criminals would rather take things by force than by manipulation. Either way, always carry only the minimum items you need and keep valuables out of sight.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Winter is brutal in Detroit, but if you're from a place that gets really cold weather you might not notice it that much. Spring can bring tornadoes, but places farther south in the Midwest get more aggressive storms. Flooding is also a risk with so much water nearby. There's a medium risk here, and don't come for winter unprepared for frigid temperatures.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
The robbery rate is three times higher than the national average, so there's a medium risk here too. Never fight back against a robber in general, but especially in Detroit.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
Since it's such a big city with a large industrial presence, there's going to be a medium risk. As recently as 2022, several terrorism-related plots were thwarted by ongoing efforts by the FBI and Homeland Security.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
There are a lot of fraud and scam rings in Detroit. While most are focused on locals, there are rental scams and stolen credit card activity that should make you use the utmost caution. Also, don't buy items from people on the street or out of a car trunk. These are usually things that appear to be high value, like gold, but at a deep discount. Once the person finds out the gold is fake, they have no way to get their money back.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
The sexual assault rate is three times higher than the national average, but for overall violent crime, a woman is just as likely to be a victim of a crime as a man. You should never walk around Detroit alone at night, even on a well-lit street. Stick to rideshares or your own car, and never hesitate to ask a security or police officer to walk you to your car or back to your hotel.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
There was one water violation in 2021 that was related to a filter issue. The problem has been resolved, and there was no risk to the public. All other categories were in full compliance, and there's a low risk. The water quality in the river and lakes is a different story, and we'll go through that shortly.
Safest Places to Visit in Detroit
The Ford Family Estate, grounds, education center, and restaurants showcase the family’s beloved spirit, style, and charm.
The lovely gardens and elegant home are open for tours, with an educational wing to learn about automotive history and the Ford family influence.
You can also have a meal on the banks of Lake St. Clair.
For more history, visit the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant and Model T Automotive Heritage Complex to see the birthplace of Ford vehicles.
The first 12,000 Model T’s were made at this very location.
Detroit Princess cruises offer seasonal rides for lunch or sunset dinners that run for several hours and include entertainment and history lessons as you glide on the water in an elegant steam cruiser.
You’ll get to see both the American and Canadian sides of the river.
There are a variety of walking or trolley tours.
You can sample the breweries in the city or learn about history and preservation.
You can also book tickets through the links on VisitDetroit.com so you can be sure you’re getting them from a verified source.
The Motown Museum is one of the best ways to explore the musical history of Motor City.
The museum is expanding in Hitsville, USA, with more buildings and exhibits being offered.
It’s like a musical and architectural park of the music that changed the world.
Several museums celebrate different cultures in Detroit.
There’s the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Polish Art Center, the Holocaust Memorial Zekelman Family Campus, and the Arab American National Museum, just to name a few.
Belle Isle Park is on an island in the Detroit River but still on the United States side of the border.
The nearly 1,000-acre island has a conservatory, zoo, aquarium, Great Lakes Museum, three lakes, and a beach.
You can also see the oldest marble lighthouse in America.
There is a bridge you can drive over to get to Belle Isle.
Corktown is the oldest neighborhood in Detroit and is filled with historical architecture, intimate coffee cafes, Irish bars, and plenty of shopping and dining on top of that.
You can also dance the night away or listen to live music until 2:00 am.
Ford Motor Company is investing a lot of money and energy in this neighborhood, so look for new places to open as the neighborhood expands.
Places to Avoid in Detroit
Detroit is a city better explained by the places that are safe to visit than those that aren’t safe.
If you say in tourist areas, you should have a certain degree of safety – but every neighborhood has some degree of crime.
That’s no different than any other major city.
Downtown, Midtown, Corktown, and Belle Isle are among the safest communities to visit.
Whatever you do, don’t go around looking for the “bad parts” of Detroit to make poverty and crime a tourist attraction.
This is unacceptable behavior, and no matter how tough you think you are, the streets of Detroit will prove tougher.
Even Eminem’s childhood home is no longer there, so don’t go try to find it.
There are neighborhoods that might look like empty, dilapidated homes, but crime could be happening inside, so don’t get out of the car to go take a look.
While this sounds like common sense, you’d be surprised how many people ask about the “bad parts of town” so they can get a glimpse.
If the safety threat isn’t enough for you, it’s also illegal to go into an abandoned building.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Detroit
- Anytime you have information about a crime that is non-urgent, you can report it anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP (1-800-773-2587).
- There are 11 precincts for the Detroit Police Department. You can review the crime statistics for each precinct on the Community Safety section of the department’s website. There is also information about what is being done to cut down on violent crime.
- Detroit Alerts 365 is an app where you can sign up for emergency notifications. This will cover any kind of severe weather event, flooding, or power outages happening.
- Speaking of power outages, Detroit is prone to them because of an old electrical grid and aging equipment. You should keep your devices charged as much as possible and avoid opening the refrigerator as much as possible when the power goes out. When storms come through this area, trees on private property that aren’t properly trimmed can lead to chaos for power crews. In late August of 2022, more than a quarter of a million people were left in the dark because of downed trees during strong winds.
- The roads and stormwater infrastructure is aging too, and this can lead to flooding being more common than it should be. Never drive along a flooded roadway. There are many places, along the river and even inland, prone to flooding during heavy rain. Even some of the Detroit Mover public transportation vehicles have been prone to flooding. t
- Before you head to Belle Isle Park or any of the attractions there, sign up for text alerts through the website. This will let you know about any events, delays, or weather concerns that might limit what is open on a particular day.
- Detroit is one of several U.S. cities that uses a technology called “ShotSpotter.” This device lets police know as soon as a gunshot is heard in certain neighborhoods. This gets first responders to the scene faster. Even with this technology in place, you should still call 911 to give any information you have.
- Look for Project Green Light signs and lights at local businesses. This is a partnership between the city and the community to install cameras that send video feeds back to the Real Time Crime Center and are monitored around the clock. Not only does this deter criminals, but you can also see the video of crimes as they happen.
- No matter how cold it is, don’t ever leave your car unattended to warm up. Never, even for a few minutes to run into a gas station, leave your car unlocked. Car theft is way too common here, and the thieves know how to take a vehicle in just a few seconds. Never leave anything in your vehicle, and if it’s a rental car, don’t leave the paperwork in the glove box. Take that into the hotel room with you. If your car does get stolen in Detroit, you must go to the police department to make a report. You cannot report it online.
- Winter visitors need to know the signs of frostbite. With the bitter cold temperatures here and the wind mixed together, you get a “wind chill” that can make the air feel a lot colder than it is. Any body part that is exposed can get frostbite within 15 – 30 minutes, depending on how cold the wind chill is. If you do think you have frostbite, don’t soak your affected area in hot water. Since you’ll be numb, you could end up burning your skin and cause more damage.
So... How Safe Is Detroit Really?
Detroit’s violent crime rate is six times higher than the national average, and that’s with a 4% decrease in homicides in 2021.
There are a lot of crime problems to be solved in the city, and leaders are making strides.
The best way you can help is to avoid dangerous neighborhoods.
You’ll know which ones they are because they won’t be on any tourism bureau map.
You won’t have to walk between abandoned and blighted homes to visit the popular museum.
Detroit becomes more dangerous when you try to “experience the real Detroit” and don’t look for 8 Mile Road, made famous by the Eminem movie.
While it sounds like common sense, I can’t believe the number of tourist websites I’ve reviewed that offer this same piece of advice – that means it’s a real problem of people trying to get a look inside the “Gritty” side of Detroit.
The city is more than its crime rate.
It has a history that keeps the automotive and musical world moving forward.
It has museums celebrating many cultures.
It brings an international experience with Canada across the way.
There’s too much to see to wrap yourself up in a true crime story or Hollywood experience you want to relive.
Use common sense.
Don’t walk around alone at night.
Don’t buy drugs.
Don’t carry valuables around with you.
Keep away from neighborhoods that don’t look like places inviting to tourists, and you’ll be able to enjoy Detroit and all it has to offer.
How Does Detroit Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Detroit | 56 |
| Atlanta | 58 |
| St. Louis | 58 |
| Los Angeles | 56 |
| Oakland | 57 |
| New Orleans | 57 |
| Baltimore | 56 |
| Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
| Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
Useful Information
Visas
You'll need a U.S. Travel or Work Visa or a Visa Waiver to enter the United States. There are several different processes to go through, so please research this information thoroughly on the State Department website.
Currency
You can only use the U.S. Dollar (USD) here. Please don't carry cash around Detroit. Try to pay for as much in advance as you can to avoid having to pull out your wallet. If you want to exchange currency, do so before you arrive to get the best value.
Weather
Michigan has some of the mildest and most beautiful summers in the country, but winters can be tough. Plan to wear full winter outwear from November through April. You'll want snow boots, hiking boots, or other comfortable closed-toed shoes. Dress in layers for those unpredictable spring and fall days and nights. Rain gear should be helpful throughout the year.
Airports
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is on the southwest side of the metro area, and it's going to take you at least 30 minutes to get there. Plan ahead for traffic and give yourself an hour. Windsor International Airport is about 30 minutes away, but you'll be crossing the Canadian border if you choose that airport, so definitely plan extra time to go through Border Patrol.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a great way to avoid fees for any cancelations or delays, and you'll want to have health insurance if you are coming from outside the country. Any health care necessary here will cost you a lot of money out-of-pocket otherwise.
Detroit Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | -2 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 23 | 16 | 9 | 2 |
| Low °C | -8 | -8 | -2 | 3 | 10 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 2 | -4 |
| High °F | 28 | 34 | 43 | 55 | 70 | 77 | 82 | 81 | 73 | 61 | 48 | 36 |
| Low °F | 18 | 18 | 28 | 37 | 50 | 59 | 64 | 63 | 55 | 45 | 36 | 25 |
Michigan - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | 63 |
| Battle Creek | 45 |
| Dearborn | 77 |
| Detroit | 56 |
| Farmington Hills | 72 |
| Flat Rock | 81 |
| Flint | 47 |
| Frankenmuth | 84 |
| Glen Arbor | 76 |
| Grand Rapids | 73 |
| Houghton | 82 |
| Ironwood | 83 |
| Kalamazoo | 44 |
| Lansing | 41 |
| Livonia | 76 |
| Mackinac Island | 83 |
| Mackinaw City | 78 |
| Macomb | 84 |
| Marquette | 78 |
| Muskegon | 72 |
| Pontiac | 45 |
| Port Huron | 73 |
| Saginaw | 42 |
| Sault Ste. Marie | 82 |
| Sterling Heights | 78 |
| Taylor | 68 |
| Traverse City | 77 |
| Troy | 78 |
| Warren | 58 |
At your own risk
Detroit .. is not safe . Certain areas but you still the young neighborhood crews just making the Riverwalk very unpleasant. Downtown can be nice during events but it’s no adequate parking end your likely to get a ticket . I lived here for 10 years and people aren’t that friendly . The roads themselves are a reason not come . If you value your car don’t drive it . The worst
Please
get bent Carol
Detroit is not safe police response time poor
JT…I think Carols reply is pretty accurate. I noticed that you didn’t elaborate whatsoever “just a derogatory response with no substance” Why wouldn’t you list why you don’t have the same opinion enlighten us being something positive if you feel different?
With that said let me just give you my experience I work and own a manufacturing company in Detroit. My vehicle was broken into $5k damage, another vehicle of mine was stolen and recovered $13k of damage, semi trailer stolen, employee shot at drive by 3 rounds, security shot at two different occupancies, semi truck broken into, building breaking three times. Police response over two hours. Hired additional security that cost $100k per year! These all all facts not opinions!
Detroit no save right
I live in Detroit
You must not be a friendly person yourself. People in Detroit wave and speak to everyone.
Detroit is very dangerous the crime rate is 100
Detroit is the most dangerous city in the U.S. surpassing Albuquerque
Great city to live in or visit. Don't come looking for drugs. You will get hurt in that hood.
Consider the source of this comment. 100% means we are all dead.
Detroit Is Safe
Detroit is safe to visit. There can be a little crime in Detroit so watch out!
Never go here unless you need to
As of 2019 Detroit was the 46th most dangerous city on the entire planet. There are places in South Africa, Mexico, and Brazil safer than this city. It’s probably even more dangerous now as crime has been way up in 2020 and 2021. This doesn’t mean you can’t be safe, but this rating makes it seem a lot safer than it is. For one I would never advise a solo female to travel to Detroit. In fact I’d never advise a solo anybody to travel to Detroit. At a minimum you should have 2 men or 3 women in a group, preferably more.
If you stay in well trafficked areas during the day in the safer parts of the city you should be alright as long as you don’t look like an easy target. Even at that I’ve seen people casing out cars to steal and selling hard drugs in the “safe” areas, so be aware of that.
Public transit exists, but isn’t particularly safe. Driving is the way to go, but it’s very easy to make a wrong turn or drive too far and end up in a pretty sketchy area. Roads are poorly maintained on side streets so it’s easy to get a flat tire in a place you really don’t want to be in.
Terrorism and natural disasters are thankfully not a risk, so there’s that.
If you do travel here for some reason stick to areas around Wayne State, downtown, Belle Isle and major landmarks like stadiums and museums . Honestly there’s not enough going on in this city to justify traveling to it for fun. If you have to come here for work just make sure you don’t look like an easy target.
Tourist attractions of Detroit- just as safe as any big city
I really don’t agree with this assessment. I lived in a “safe” area of Detroit for almost 4 years and never once had an issue more than simple annoyance. I’m a woman and I would occasionally walk around midtown by myself at night. I’ve never witnessed any evidence of crime or drugs (other than rarely smelling weed) in heavily trafficked areas of downtown or midtown. There are some panhandlers in these areas, but people asking for money doesn’t feel like a danger to me. Walking with just one other person at night (in about 50% of the city limits, which includes all the places tourists go to anyway) would make me feel just as safe as I feel walking by myself in the more quiet suburban neighborhood I now occupy.
Ignore the headlines
Allen, you sound like someone who hasn’t actually been to Detroit and is just parroting the headlines. Most of your assessment is just..wrong. Case in point: I ride public transit at night all the time here, and it’s fine. Just don’t go looking for trouble and trouble generally doesn’t find you.
I’m from Detroit and it’s largely safe, but stay away from the bad neighborhoods and you’ll be fine. Metropolitan is very very safe as well – I think the greatest risk you have in the city is car damage, the roads are terrible.
Almost a 4 star but there are many unsafe places in Detroit
Detroit has a lot of things to do from the Institute of Arts to the 125 acres Detroit Zoo. The city has a lot of neighborhoods with fantastic architecture. There’s an interesting mix of old and new found here.
If you’re curious where the famous Model T car was born then visit the The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant. The plant still has its original worn floorboards from back in the day. There’s also the Experimental room where most ideas were born. It’s a real experience and a trip to the past.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History is another great place to visit. There are always new lectures, events and films presented here.
The zoo is amazing. It’s huge and separated by habitat type so you will find a lot of animals. It feels like you are visiting the entire world in a single day. Take a day or two to properly visit this place as it’s well worth it.
Other places you should consider visiting would be the historic Fort Wayne, Belle Isle, The Henry Ford Museum, Comerica Park, GM Renaissance Center, the Detroit Public Library or the Masonic Temple of Detroit.
The city is very big, so there are areas that are not that friendly and should be avoided. I would not go traveling solo in this city. It doesn’t matter if you’re a woman or a man. Just go with some friends or family. Don’t go alone and avoid the bad areas of the town and you’ll be fine.
There are plenty of pickpockets in more populated areas and you’ll be sure to find them where there are crowds. Keep your valuables close by and your eyes open. In dangerous areas, crime is a daily occurrence and can happen during the day so it’s best to just inform yourself about these areas and avoid them altogether.
Detroit can be a beautiful experience if you take out these bad and very bad neighborhoods and the pickpockets.
Detroit great place to visit
Been working and partying in Detroit since 1976
Cass corridor old Miami bar
Old temple bar
Down under in hart plaza
Intermissions bar
Greek town when there wasn’t a roof in the alley
Heidelberg
Casinos
Dally In the alley
Seen a lot of stuff
Never really had a problem
Lots of great places to visit
Lots of cool bars great music
If you want a problem you will definitely find it downtown
Lived it
I was born and raised the east side of Detroit. If your just visiting, go to your destination. When you wander off that’s when you find trouble and problems. People are very friendly in general compare to California. Dollar wise is half the price as Cali. Food has much better flavor of everything. Wish I. Could move back home, miss it dearly.
Typical Major City
I’ve lived in the city my entire life both east, west and Downtown. Take it from a real Detroiter it’s is like any other major city. Touristy areas are generally safe because tourist = money so police presence is visible. There are tons of safe neighborhoods outside of Riverwalk, Downtown and Midtown like Avenue of Fashion, neighborhoods like Boston Edison, Indian and West village, Corktown, Rosedale Park, Palmer Park etc…but of course “sketchy” neighborhoods exist outside of tourist areas, no different than Chicago, NY, Miami, LA etc… There are tons of nice, new restaurants downtown and other parts of the city, lots of new shops from locals along Woodward(main street from downtown to suburbs), people are kind and will speak, tons of concerts, the stadiums are all within walking distance of each other, if you gamble 3 Casino’s. The SloRo for bike riders, Music festivals all summer, Belle Isle is better during the day when it’s not super crowded. Weather can be goofy during seasons changing and the roads really are the worst but I love my city. There’s no place like Detroit.
I was born and raised in Detroit, There’s Great Restaurants,I still haven’t seen everything in Michigan, I like going to Canada, a Country just across the Water, there So many different cultures, Great Entertainment, Fashion, I’m a Fashion Designer, People Love to Dress Here, and there is always something to do here, Casino’s are here, it’s what You make of it, life is good ,cause You have to be cautious every where You go, I believe God is Good, Just Pray before You leave Your Home ,and Thank God, and You’ll be Ok..
Please excersize precation when visting
A lot of these posts about detroit are very inacurate…
1. When entering and leaving Detroit, **Please use an interstate or highway.** This is due to all of the sketchy neighborhoods sorrounding the downtown detroit area. Still, when using detroits highway systems, please bare in mind that Detroit drivers are very reckless. Especially when it comes to night, people like to race each other. Would not recommend at all.
2. When in the downtown detroit area, or anywhere in detroit, please bare in mind that that you keep aware of your sorroundings, just like in any metropolitan area. Do not walk the streets at night, unless it is only not that far. Don’t walk alone. Especially at night.
3. Please only stick to familiar roads, as one wrong turn might lead you into a sketchy area. A lot of people own guns in detroit due to its unsafe nature. Detroit literally has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world.
4. Other than that, Detroit is a wonderful city, wonderful food, wonderful roots, etc. The historic element of detroit is fascinating.
Just make sure to stay safe!
Detroit is still unsafe,
Detroit is in better shape compared with thirty years ago, particularly downtown and up the Woodward corridor. Still, Detroit is a dangerous city where crime can strike any time at any place. Don’t fuel your vehicle anywhere within city limits, as it’s not safe to do so. Avoid walking anywhere after nightfall, unless in a very large group.
It's not unsafe
To me Detroit feels safer than Chicago, San Francisco or Seattle.
There’s indeed a lot of violent crime here, but it’s very much area specific. Very roughly speaking, the city revival started from the heart of downtown at the river, and is pushing outwards toward the suburbs.
The revived part of downtown – roughly a semi-circle drawin from the Riverfront to I-94 – is safe and hip. That’s a very sizable area full of beautiful Art Deco architecture and vibrant life.
Then you have a not-so-safe belt between that and the city border at 8 mile. It’s not universally unsafe, on the contrary I’d say that it’s mostly fairly safe but there are some really sketchy areas, and the gang violence (primarily responsible for Detroit’s high murder rate) is pretty high.
After 8 mile you get to the suburbs which are safe and boring (unless you really like lakes and parks).
The biggest difference – from my personal standpoint – when compared to my latest trip to e.g. Seattle is that in downtown Detroit, I always knew whether the area I was in was safe or not. Whereas in downtown Seattle, there were some crazy and fairly violent homeless people everywhere, including a guy who threw a bottle at me in the middle of the street for no apparent reason.
Not quite as bad
The Detroit downtown core is not as bad as it used to be, which means it’s gone from very bad to just bad. If I am forced to visit the Detroit area again for work, I’ll continue to stay in the northern suburbs (Birmingham/Bloomfield, Troy areas, for example), and make any trips into downtown of Detroit in and out.
Having grown up near Detroit, I can attest to the city’s evolving safety landscape. While it’s true that there are areas with higher crime rates, many parts of Detroit have seen significant improvements in recent years.