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C

Is La Plata, Maryland Safe?

Population 12,137 · Safer than 38% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

La Plata is a smaller community of 12,137 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 207.4 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,544 per 100K.

La Plata Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricLa PlataMaryland AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate351.5323.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1722.72024.71,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate204.0--268.2
Theft Rate1544.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate394.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

207.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

352/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1723/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for La Plata

Violent crime in La Plata is close to the national average. The rate of 351.5 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1722.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,544 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

La Plata Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault204
076% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery41
065% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary282
01.0x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,544
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft394
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How La Plata Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

La Plata
351.5
State
323.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

La Plata
1722.7
State
2024.7
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About La Plata Safety

Is La Plata safe?
Not especially. La Plata earns a C with a crime rate of 207.4 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 La Plata?
207.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 351.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1722.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is La Plata safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. La Plata 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 La Plata?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in La Plata generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the La Plata police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in La Plata?
Yes, there's been an uptick. La Plata's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C grade overall.
How does La Plata compare to other cities in Maryland?
Below average for the state. La Plata ranks behind about 62% of Maryland cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 0.9x the national rate.
How safe is La Plata to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in La Plata?
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 38th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in La Plata?
351.5 per 100,000, which is 3% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (204), robbery (41), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

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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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