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C

Is Meridian, Mississippi Safe?

Population 33,370 · Safer than 35% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Meridian is a smaller community of 33,370 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 214.7 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,509 per 100K.

Meridian Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMeridianMississippi AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate407.6309.8363.8
Property Crime Rate1738.91996.61,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate326.0--268.2
Theft Rate1509.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate259.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

214.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

408/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1739/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Meridian

Violent crime in Meridian is close to the national average. The rate of 407.6 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1738.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,509 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 326 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Meridian Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault326
01.2x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery62
098% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary268
099% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,509
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft259
081% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Meridian Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Meridian
407.6
State
309.8
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Meridian
1738.9
State
1996.6
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Meridian Safety

Is Meridian safe?
Not especially. Meridian earns a C with a crime rate of 214.7 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 Meridian?
214.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 407.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1738.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Meridian safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Meridian 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 Meridian?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Meridian generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Meridian police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Meridian?
No. Crime in Meridian has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Meridian compare to other cities in Mississippi?
Below average for the state. Meridian ranks behind about 68% of Mississippi cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 0.9x the national rate.
How safe is Meridian to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Meridian?
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 35th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Meridian?
407.6 per 100,000, which is 12% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (326), robbery (62), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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View all Mississippi 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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