Final answer:
The northeastern states of the U.S. have the lowest homicide rates, with the Deep South having the highest. There is significant variation in crime rates within states, often with higher rates in urban areas.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to data from the FBI and patterns observed in the United States, the areas with the lowest homicide rates tend to be the northeastern states. In contrast, the states in the Deep South have the highest murder rates. This variation in crime rates is also observed within states themselves where, for instance, high rates of homicide in Louisiana are predominantly concentrated in urban areas. Remarkably, the murder rate in Louisiana is nearly five times higher than in states like Vermont and Iowa, which are part of the old "Yankee" region known for its safety. The spatial patterns of crime show that while some neighborhoods suffer from higher rates of violent crime, others see much less, indicating that crime rates can greatly vary even within a smaller scale such as cities or neighborhoods.