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D+

Is El Paso, Texas Safe?

Population 683,012 · Safer than 21% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

El Paso's D+ safety grade puts it behind most US cities. For a metro area of 683,012 people, that means 252.2 crimes per 1,000 residents, with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,540 per 100K.

El Paso Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricEl PasoTexas AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate399.5315.6363.8
Property Crime Rate2123.02077.31,832.3
Murder Rate8.0--5.7
Assault Rate238.0--268.2
Theft Rate1540.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate192.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

252.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

400/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2123/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for El Paso

Violent crime in El Paso is close to the national average. The rate of 399.5 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2123.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,540 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

El Paso Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder8
01.4x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault238
089% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery58
092% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary344
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,540
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft192
060% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How El Paso Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

El Paso
399.5
State
315.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

El Paso
2123.0
State
2077.3
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About El Paso Safety

Is El Paso safe?
Not especially. El Paso earns a D+ with a crime rate of 252.2 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 El Paso?
252.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 399.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2123.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is El Paso safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. El Paso's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,540 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in El Paso?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in El Paso generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the El Paso police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in El Paso?
No. Crime in El Paso has been trending down, which is good news for the D+-rated city.
How does El Paso compare to other cities in Texas?
Below average for the state. El Paso ranks behind about 82% of Texas cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is El Paso 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 El Paso?
Bad. A D+ grade and 252.2 per-thousand rate put El Paso below 79% of US cities. Violent crime at 400 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in El Paso?
399.5 per 100,000, which is 10% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (238), robbery (58), and murder (8.0) per 100,000.

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View all Texas 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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