Yakima County, situated in the state of Washington, has a population of approximately 256,728 people. The county exhibits a crime rate of 44.24 per 1,000 residents, surpassing both the national average of 23.46 and the state average of 30.26.
It’s important to note that safety levels vary across different areas within Yakima County. This article aims to pinpoint the five neighborhoods posing the highest risk in terms of crime rates, considering the types and severity of offenses.
In our analysis, we relied on crime data and statistics sourced from NeighborhoodScout and CrimeGrade to identify the most perilous neighborhoods in Yakima County.
| Neighborhood | Crime Rate per 1,000 | Crime Index |
| Yakima City Center | 84.77 | 97 |
| Terrace Heights | 66.67 | 96 |
| Union Gap | 64.29 | 95 |
| Wapato | 58.82 | 94 |
| Toppenish | 56.25 | 93 |
Yakima City Center
Yakima City Center, located in downtown Yakima, serves as the focal point of the county, being the county seat and the largest city in Yakima County. With a population of around 7,059 residents, it spans an area of 1.6 square miles.
Notably, Yakima City Center exhibits the highest crime rate and crime index compared to all other neighborhoods in Yakima County. The crime rate stands at 84.77 incidents per 1,000 residents, surpassing the national average by 262% and the state average by 180%.
The neighborhood’s crime index is 97, signifying that it is more perilous than 97% of neighborhoods across the United States.
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Terrace Heights
Terrace Heights, situated east of the Yakima River, is a suburban area in Yakima. With a population of approximately 6,000 people spread across 3.6 square miles, it stands out for having the second highest crime rate and crime index in all of Yakima County.
The neighborhood’s crime rate stands at 66.67 per 1,000 residents, a staggering 184% above the national average and 120% higher than the state average. Its crime index of 96 indicates that Terrace Heights is more perilous than 96% of neighborhoods across the United States.
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Union Gap
Union Gap, situated to the south of Yakima in Yakima County, has a population of approximately 6,047 residents and spans an area of 5.2 square miles.
In terms of crime statistics, Union Gap ranks third in both crime rate and crime index among all neighborhoods in Yakima County. The city’s crime rate stands at 64.29 incidents per 1,000 residents, marking a 174% increase from the national average and a 112% increase from the state average.
With a crime index of 95, Union Gap is considered more perilous than 95% of neighborhoods across the United States.
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Wapato
Wapato, situated southwest of Yakima in Yakima County, is home to approximately 5,102 residents and spans an area of 1.1 square miles. It ranks fourth highest in both crime rate and crime index among all neighborhoods in Yakima County.
With a crime rate of 58.82 per 1,000 residents, Wapato exceeds the national average by 151% and the state average by 94%. Its crime index of 94 indicates that it is more perilous than 94% of neighborhoods across the United States.
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Toppenish
Toppenish, situated southeast of Yakima in Yakima County, boasts a population of approximately 8,000 residents and spans 2.1 square miles. Notably, it holds the fifth-highest crime rate and the fifth-highest crime index within Yakima County.
With a crime rate of 56.25 per 1,000 residents, Toppenish surpasses national and state averages by 140% and 86%, respectively. The city’s crime index stands at 93, signifying that it is more perilous than 93% of neighborhoods across the United States.
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Conclusion
Here, we pinpointed the top five riskiest neighborhoods in Yakima County, Washington, utilizing crime data and statistics sourced from NeighborhoodScout and CrimeGrade. Our assessment involved ranking the neighborhoods based on their overall crime grade, crime rate per 1,000 residents, and crime index.
The five neighborhoods posing the highest risk in Yakima County are Yakima City Center, Terrace Heights, Union Gap, Wapato, and Toppenish.
These areas exhibit elevated levels of criminal activity, particularly in theft, burglary, and assault. Individuals residing or visiting these neighborhoods are advised to exercise caution and remain vigilant in their surroundings.
