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D+

Is Gainesville, Florida Safe?

Population 148,671 · Safer than 22% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Gainesville, Florida sits below average for US cities. The D+ grade comes from a 249.4 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime above the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,571 per 100K.

Gainesville Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricGainesvilleFlorida AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate428.8326.8363.8
Property Crime Rate2065.62070.61,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate352.0--268.2
Theft Rate1571.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate317.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

249.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD

429/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2066/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Gainesville

Violent crime in Gainesville is above the national average. The rate of 428.8 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2065.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,571 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 352 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Gainesville Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault352
01.3x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery103
01.6x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary377
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,571
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft317
0100% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Gainesville Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Gainesville
428.8
State
326.8
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Gainesville
2065.6
State
2070.6
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Gainesville Safety

Is Gainesville safe?
Not especially. Gainesville earns a D+ with a crime rate of 249.4 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Gainesville?
249.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 428.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2065.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Gainesville safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Gainesville's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,571 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Gainesville?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Gainesville generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Gainesville police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Gainesville?
No. Crime in Gainesville has been trending down, which is good news for the D+-rated city.
How does Gainesville compare to other cities in Florida?
Below average for the state. Gainesville ranks behind about 83% of Florida cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Gainesville to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Gainesville?
Bad. A D+ grade and 249.4 per-thousand rate put Gainesville below 78% of US cities. Violent crime at 429 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Gainesville?
428.8 per 100,000, which is 18% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (352), robbery (103), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

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View all Florida 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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