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C+

Is Lake City, Florida Safe?

Population 12,788 · Safer than 45% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Lake City is a smaller community of 12,788 people with a C+ safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 191 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,168 per 100K.

Lake City Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricLake CityFlorida AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate267.7326.8363.8
Property Crime Rate1642.32070.61,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate184.0--268.2
Theft Rate1168.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate163.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC+

191 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

268/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC+

1642/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Lake City

Violent crime in Lake City is below the national average. The rate of 267.7 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1642.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,168 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Lake City Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault184
069% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery46
073% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary308
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,168
083% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft163
051% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Lake City Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lake City
267.7
State
326.8
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lake City
1642.3
State
2070.6
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Lake City Safety

Is Lake City safe?
It depends on where in Lake City you are. The city gets a C+ overall, with violent crime below the national average and property crime close to the national average. Some areas are safer than others.
What is the crime rate in Lake City?
191 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 267.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1642.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Lake City safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Lake City has a C+ grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Lake City?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Lake City generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Lake City police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Lake City?
Crime rates have held steady in Lake City, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C+ grade.
How does Lake City compare to other cities in Florida?
Middle of the pack for Florida. Lake City isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 43th percentile among Florida cities.
How safe is Lake City 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 Lake City?
Mixed. Violent crime is below the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 45th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Lake City?
267.7 per 100,000, which is 26% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (184), robbery (46), 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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