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C-

Is Petal, Mississippi Safe?

Population 11,694 · Safer than 27% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Petal is a smaller community of 11,694 people with a C- safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 234.4 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,580 per 100K.

Petal Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPetalMississippi AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate239.7309.8363.8
Property Crime Rate2104.61996.61,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate163.0--268.2
Theft Rate1580.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate517.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

234.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

240/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2105/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Petal

Violent crime in Petal is below the national average. The rate of 239.7 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2104.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,580 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Petal Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault163
061% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery53
084% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary257
095% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,580
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft517
01.6x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Petal Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Petal
239.7
State
309.8
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Petal
2104.6
State
1996.6
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Petal Safety

Is Petal safe?
Not especially. Petal earns a C- with a crime rate of 234.4 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Petal?
234.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 239.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2104.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Petal safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Petal's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,580 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Petal?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Petal generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Petal police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Petal?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Petal's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C- grade overall.
How does Petal compare to other cities in Mississippi?
Below average for the state. Petal ranks behind about 73% of Mississippi cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Petal 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 Petal?
Bad. A C- grade and 234.4 per-thousand rate put Petal below 73% of US cities. Violent crime at 240 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Petal?
239.7 per 100,000, which is 34% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (163), robbery (53), and murder (3.0) 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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