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C

Is Waycross, Georgia Safe?

Population 13,936 · Safer than 39% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Waycross is a smaller community of 13,936 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 205.8 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,386 per 100K.

Waycross Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWaycrossGeorgia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate334.2320.3363.8
Property Crime Rate1723.82019.41,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate204.0--268.2
Theft Rate1386.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate417.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

205.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

334/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1724/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Waycross

Violent crime in Waycross is close to the national average. The rate of 334.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1723.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,386 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Waycross Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault204
076% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery68
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary231
086% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,386
099% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft417
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Waycross Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Waycross
334.2
State
320.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Waycross
1723.8
State
2019.4
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Waycross Safety

Is Waycross safe?
Not especially. Waycross earns a C with a crime rate of 205.8 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 Waycross?
205.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 334.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1723.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Waycross safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Waycross 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 Waycross?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Waycross generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Waycross police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Waycross?
No. Crime in Waycross has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Waycross compare to other cities in Georgia?
Below average for the state. Waycross ranks behind about 66% of Georgia cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 0.9x the national rate.
How safe is Waycross to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Waycross?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to 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 39th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Waycross?
334.2 per 100,000, which is 8% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (204), robbery (68), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

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View all Georgia 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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