CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
D+

Is Fort Lauderdale, Florida Safe?

Population 188,677 · Safer than 21% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Fort Lauderdale, Florida sits below average for US cities. The D+ grade comes from a 253 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,718 per 100K.

Fort Lauderdale Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricFort LauderdaleFlorida AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate271.6326.8363.8
Property Crime Rate2258.02070.61,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate201.0--268.2
Theft Rate1718.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate297.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

253 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

272/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2258/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Fort Lauderdale

Violent crime in Fort Lauderdale is below the national average. The rate of 271.6 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2258.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,718 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Fort Lauderdale Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault201
075% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery38
060% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary315
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,718
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft297
093% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Fort Lauderdale Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Fort Lauderdale
271.6
State
326.8
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Fort Lauderdale
2258.0
State
2070.6
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Lauderdale Safety

Is Fort Lauderdale safe?
Not especially. Fort Lauderdale earns a D+ with a crime rate of 253 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Fort Lauderdale?
253 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 271.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2258.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Fort Lauderdale safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Fort Lauderdale's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,718 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Fort Lauderdale generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Fort Lauderdale police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Fort Lauderdale?
Crime rates have held steady in Fort Lauderdale, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D+ grade.
How does Fort Lauderdale compare to other cities in Florida?
Below average for the state. Fort Lauderdale ranks behind about 82% of Florida cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Fort Lauderdale to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Fort Lauderdale?
Bad. A D+ grade and 253 per-thousand rate put Fort Lauderdale below 79% of US cities. Violent crime at 272 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Fort Lauderdale?
271.6 per 100,000, which is 25% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (201), robbery (38), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Florida

Similar-sized communities in Florida. Compare crime rates across the state.

D
See crime rates in Pembroke Pines176,714 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Tallahassee204,902 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Hollywood157,019 pop · Grade D
D+
See crime rates in Gainesville148,671 pop · Grade D+
D+
See crime rates in Palm Bay148,092 pop · Grade D+
D-
See crime rates in Hialeah230,968 pop · Grade D-
View all Florida city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Fort Lauderdale

Get weekly safety updates for Fort Lauderdale

Weekly crime trend updates and safety grade changes delivered to your inbox.

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.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities