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D-

Is Royal Oak, Michigan Safe?

Population 57,583 · Safer than 13% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Royal Oak has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D- safety grade reflects a violent crime rate above the national average and an overall rate of 281.8 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,974 per 100K.

Royal Oak Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricRoyal OakMichigan AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate431.0330.0363.8
Property Crime Rate2387.42014.41,832.3
Murder Rate8.0--5.7
Assault Rate242.0--268.2
Theft Rate1974.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate254.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

281.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD

431/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2387/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Royal Oak

Violent crime in Royal Oak is above the national average. The rate of 431.0 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2387.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,974 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Royal Oak Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder8
01.4x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault242
090% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery74
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary271
01.0x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,974
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft254
080% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Royal Oak Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Royal Oak
431.0
State
330.0
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Royal Oak
2387.4
State
2014.4
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Royal Oak Safety

Is Royal Oak safe?
Not especially. Royal Oak earns a D- with a crime rate of 281.8 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Royal Oak?
281.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 431.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2387.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Royal Oak safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Royal Oak's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,974 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Royal Oak?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Royal Oak generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Royal Oak police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Royal Oak?
Crime rates have held steady in Royal Oak, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D- grade.
How does Royal Oak compare to other cities in Michigan?
Below average for the state. Royal Oak ranks behind about 85% of Michigan cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Royal Oak to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Royal Oak?
Bad. A D- grade and 281.8 per-thousand rate put Royal Oak below 87% of US cities. Violent crime at 431 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Royal Oak?
431.0 per 100,000, which is 18% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (242), robbery (74), and murder (8.0) per 100,000.

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View all Michigan 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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