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D

Is Memphis, Tennessee Safe?

Population 609,647 · Safer than 19% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Memphis has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate below the national average and an overall rate of 259.8 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 2,040 per 100K.

Memphis Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMemphisTennessee AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate285.1334.5363.8
Property Crime Rate2313.42062.11,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate200.0--268.2
Theft Rate2040.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate569.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

259.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

285/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2313/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Memphis

Violent crime in Memphis is below the national average. The rate of 285.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2313.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 2,040 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Memphis Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault200
075% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery48
076% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary317
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft2,040
01.5x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft569
01.8x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Memphis Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Memphis
285.1
State
334.5
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Memphis
2313.4
State
2062.1
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Memphis Safety

Is Memphis safe?
Not especially. Memphis earns a D with a crime rate of 259.8 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Memphis?
259.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 285.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2313.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Memphis safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Memphis's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (2,040 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Memphis?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Memphis generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Memphis police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Memphis?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Memphis's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D grade overall.
How does Memphis compare to other cities in Tennessee?
Below average for the state. Memphis ranks behind about 85% of Tennessee cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Memphis 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 Memphis?
Bad. A D grade and 259.8 per-thousand rate put Memphis below 81% of US cities. Violent crime at 285 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Memphis?
285.1 per 100,000, which is 22% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (200), robbery (48), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Tennessee

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

D
See crime rates in Knoxville202,021 pop · Grade D
D+
See crime rates in Chattanooga194,144 pop · Grade D+
D-
See crime rates in Clarksville188,829 pop · Grade D-
D+
See crime rates in Murfreesboro171,178 pop · Grade D+
D-
See crime rates in Franklin90,226 pop · Grade D-
D-
See crime rates in Johnson City74,943 pop · Grade D-
View all Tennessee city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Memphis

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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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