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D-

Is Baltimore, Maryland Safe?

Population 569,997 · Safer than 11% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Crime in Baltimore runs high. The city's D- grade puts it below 89% of US cities, with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,674 per 100K.

Baltimore Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBaltimoreMaryland AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate307.9323.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2577.22024.71,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate241.0--268.2
Theft Rate1674.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate407.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

288.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

308/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeF

2577/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Baltimore

Violent crime in Baltimore is below the national average. The rate of 307.9 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is well above the national average at 2577.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,674 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Baltimore Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault241
090% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery36
057% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary294
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,674
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft407
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Baltimore Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Baltimore
307.9
State
323.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Baltimore
2577.2
State
2024.7
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Baltimore Safety

Is Baltimore safe?
Not especially. Baltimore earns a D- with a crime rate of 288.5 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Baltimore?
288.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 307.9 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2577.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Baltimore safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Baltimore's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,674 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Baltimore?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Baltimore generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Baltimore police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Baltimore?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Baltimore's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D- grade overall.
How does Baltimore compare to other cities in Maryland?
Below average for the state. Baltimore ranks behind about 90% of Maryland cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.4x the national rate.
How safe is Baltimore to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Baltimore?
Bad. A D- grade and 288.5 per-thousand rate put Baltimore below 89% of US cities. Violent crime at 308 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Baltimore?
307.9 per 100,000, which is 15% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (241), robbery (36), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Maryland

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

D+
See crime rates in Frederick92,059 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in Gaithersburg71,113 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Rockville67,563 pop · Grade D
D+
See crime rates in Bowie58,383 pop · Grade D+
C-
See crime rates in Hagerstown44,228 pop · Grade C-
C
See crime rates in Annapolis40,634 pop · Grade C
View all Maryland 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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