United States Cities Ranked by the Frequency of Registered Sex Offenders

The idea that a sex offender could be living in your neighborhood is bone-chilling, especially for parents. But with roughly 800,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, that’s a harsh reality we must face.1 If we do the math, that’s roughly 235 sex offenders for every 100,000 people.

Using data from City-Data,2 this article looks at the United States cities with the highest frequencies of sex offenders per 100,000 residents. Out of all the states, Oregon continues to have the largest percentage of sex offenders with 790 for every 100,000 people. New Jersey, on the other hand, has the lowest percentage, with only 50 for every 100,000 people. Let’s dive into what you need to know about sex offender registries and how to protect your family.

Sex Offender Risk Levels

Sex offenders aren’t all categorized the same way. In some states, they are classified into three different levels depending on how likely they are to repeat an offense, which is determined either at their sentencing or when they are released from custody.

• Level One: Low risk of a repeat offense.
• Level Two: Moderate risk of a repeat offense.
• Level Three: High risk of repeat offense or a threat to public safety. Generally, Level Three offenders have previous convictions, predatory characteristics that involve seeking victims unknown to the offender, and a tendency toward violence.

As you probably know, sex offenders must notify the community when they move into a neighborhood. They must register with their local law enforcement and provide information like their place of residence, employment, or school. However, registration requirements vary. Level Three offenders must provide their entire address, for example, while Level One and Level Two offenders only need to supply their zip code.

United States Cities Ranked By the Frequency of Registered Sex Offenders

This infographic analyzes 125 major U.S. cities to provide a ratio of sex offenders to non-offenders, showing where the highest concentrations of sex offenders are. The top ten cities found to have the highest ratios are as follows:

1. Wilmington, Delaware — One sex offender for every 107 residents
2. Orlando, Florida — One sex offender for every 143 residents
3. Sioux Falls, South Dakota — One sex offender for every 153 residents
4. Helena, Montana — One sex offender for every 160 residents
5. Las Vegas, Nevada — One sex offender for every 163 residents
6. Richmond, Virginia — One sex offender for every 163 residents
7. Bismarck, North Dakota — One sex offender for every 168 residents
8. Louisville, Kentucky — One sex offender for every 173 residents
9. Hartford, Connecticut — One sex offender for every 182 residents
10. Cheyenne, Wyoming — One sex offender for every 186 residents

Those are the top ten, but if you want to see how your city ranks, click on the above infographic to expand.

Sex Offender Resources

Whether you’re seeking protection for your family, need support as a survivor, or are looking for reformation resources, these organizations can help:

• NSOPW (National Sex Offender Public Website):3 Run by the Department of Justice, this official database allows you to search for sex offenders nationwide and access state registry websites.
• Family Watchdog:4 This free service maps registered sex offenders in your neighborhood and sends alerts when offenders move near your home or your children’s schools.
• National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline:5 Operated by RAINN, this hotline helps people affected by sexual violence find their nearest service provider for sexual assault so that they can get the help they need in person.
• Stop It Now!:6 Provides resources for preventing child sexual abuse, including a helpline (1-888-773-8368) for adults concerned about their own or someone else’s sexual interest in children.

Recap

Aside from staying informed about the number of sex offenders in your city, there are a few other ways to keep yourself safe. If you have kids, we recommend getting a home security system or security camera of your own along with keeping track of the sex offenders in your area.