You're planning a trip to Arizona and wondering where the dangerous neighborhoods and best areas to stay in Phoenix are. Indeed, in recent years, major American cities have seen a sharp increase in violence. But what about the city of Phoenix in 2024?
For clear and precise information, here is a guide to the neighborhoods of Phoenix. This lists the neighborhoods to avoid in Phoenix but also the best places to choose your accommodation. It is accompanied by a Google Maps map that allows you to locate the main neighborhoods of Phoenix.
The sources of this article come from press articles, economic sites, forums, statistics and web rankings. It is in fact a summary of the various data of the Internet which does not involve any judgment or discrimination.
Phoenix dangerous city in 2024?
In 2024, Phoenix is not ranked at the top of the most dangerous cities in the United States. Contrary to Memphis, Baltimore, Sound ou New Orleans, the city of Phoenix is much less criminal. This can be seen on the website of the FBI, statistics, worldpopulationreview ou wikipedia. To analyze for yourself the crime levels of Phoenix, I recommend that you go to the official website of the phoenix font. Indeed, you will find there the updated publications of the statistics and the maps of the crimes according to their typology.
In 2024, on the ranking Numbeo Of the most criminal cities in the United States, Phoenix ranks in the low average with a crime index of 51.9. See below the map of the Numbeo.com site:
If we study the last Numbeo world ranking, so there, Phoenix is ranked as the 149th most criminal city out of the 456 cities ranked. On this site, in 2023 Phoenix would be less criminal than cities like Athens, Naples, London ou Paris.
Is Phoenix safe for tourists?
YES but on condition that tourists be careful and avoid dangerous areas of Phoenix (see below).
Indeed, Phoenix is not a city known for its crimes affecting tourists. Admittedly, there are neighborhoods where violence, drug trafficking and the settling of scores between rival gangs reign. But the majority of crime is located in isolated areas or in neighborhoods that tourists do not frequent (see list below).
In general, the tourist areas of Phoenix are not dangerous for visitors. But, like everywhere else, tourists can be scammed or robbed.
Phoenix neighborhoods map
Phoenix consists of 15 official neighborhoods (Ahwatukee Foothills, Alhambra, Camelback East, Central City, Deer Valley, Desert View, Encanto, Estrella, Laveen, Maryvale, North Gateway, North Mountain, Paradise Valley, Rio Vista, South Mountain).
But to better locate in this urban area of almost 5 million inhabitants, the Americans have defined 7 main areas (see on the map below):
- Downtown (In the center)
- Midtown West Phoenix
- Phoenix North (area north of the city center)
- south phoenix (area south of the Salt River)
- Biltmore (small area south of Phoenix Mountains Preserve)
- Arcadia (well-known neighborhood near Downtown)
- Sunnyslope (area north of downtown around Sunnyslope Mountain)
To help you spot the worst and best neighborhoods in Phoenix, here's the map you can enlarge: Google Maps
Most Dangerous Areas in Phoenix
After researching many websites, I have synthesized information on the areas known to be the most dangerous in Phoenix. Here are the 3 major areas where there is the most insecurity in Phoenix: The South and West areas and the central area.
For more precision, see below the different neighborhoods to avoid in Phoenix:
Most dangerous neighborhoods in Phoenix
Still with the same principle of summarizing the latest published statistical data, here is the non-exhaustive list of Phoenix neighborhoods deemed dangerous:
- Central city (except the area around central Avenue)
- alahambra
- Encanto
- South Mountain
- North Mountain
- Glendale
- maryvale
Bad neighborhood to avoid in Phoenix
As in all big cities, you should also avoid red-light districts when choosing your accommodation or hotel. However, in Phoenix, the red light district to be avoided as a priority is located east of the Van Buren Street. This area is very poorly frequented, especially at night.
Downtown Phoenix dangerous?
Downtown Phoenix (Downtown) is a small neighborhood that sits within the greater Central City District (listed in Phoenix Dangerous Neighborhoods).
More Downtown Phoenix doesn't have a reputation for being a dangerous neighborhood for tourists. Especially since there are numerous police patrols day and night watching over the security of the district.
Downtown is the business district of Phoenix but also the shopping and entertainment district.
Best neighborhoods to stay in Phoenix
According to professionals and local real estate agencies, the best areas to live in Phoenix are mainly located in the North of the city and would be:
- Paradise Valley
- Deer valley
- desert view
- North Gateway
- Arcadia (well-known neighborhood near Downtown)
- North Scottsdale
- Tempe
Where do tourists stay in Phoenix?
The favorite area for tourists in Phoenix is Downtown. It is indeed in this district that tourists go for its entertainment, its parks and gardens, its beautiful shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
But tourists also choose to stay in Downtown Phoenix to enjoy its rich cultural heritage:
- Art Galleries and First Friday Art Walk in Roosevelt Row which is the center of the city's artistic culture,
- Arizona State Capitol Museum which is the old City Hall,
- capitol museum,
- Heard museum
- Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza,
- Children's Museum of Phoenix,
- Phoenix Art Museum,
- Arizona Science Center, etc.
Where to stay to visit Phoenix?
To visit Phoenix, as we have just mentioned, the Downtown business district is the best choice.
Here is a very good hotel whose location in Downtown is ideal for tourists: Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel
This hotel is less than half a mile from the Phoenix Convention Center and a 800-minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. It is close to:
- Phoenix Symphony Hall
- Orpheum Theater Phoenix
- Talking Stick Resort Arena
- Phoenix Municipal Court
- Phoenix History Museum
- Chase field
- Historic Heritage Square
- Arizona Science Center
- Copper Square
- The Ice House
What to visit in Phoenix?
To visit all the must-see sites in Arizona's largest city, here are my 2 recommendations: