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D+

Is Tempe, Arizona Safe?

Population 190,571 · Safer than 22% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Tempe, Arizona sits below average for US cities. The D+ grade comes from a 249.2 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,521 per 100K.

Tempe Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricTempeArizona AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate323.5326.7363.8
Property Crime Rate2168.02049.51,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate219.0--268.2
Theft Rate1521.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate300.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD+

249.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

324/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2168/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Tempe

Violent crime in Tempe is close to the national average. The rate of 323.5 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2168.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,521 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Tempe Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault219
082% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery72
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary332
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,521
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft300
094% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Tempe Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Tempe
323.5
State
326.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Tempe
2168.0
State
2049.5
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tempe Safety

Is Tempe safe?
Not especially. Tempe earns a D+ with a crime rate of 249.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Tempe?
249.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 323.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2168.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Tempe safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Tempe's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,521 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Tempe?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Tempe generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Tempe police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Tempe?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Tempe's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D+ grade overall.
How does Tempe compare to other cities in Arizona?
Below average for the state. Tempe ranks behind about 75% of Arizona cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Tempe to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Tempe?
Bad. A D+ grade and 249.2 per-thousand rate put Tempe below 78% of US cities. Violent crime at 324 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Tempe?
323.5 per 100,000, which is 11% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (219), robbery (72), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

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View all Arizona city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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