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F

Is Houston, Texas Safe?

Population 2,397,315 · Safer than 8% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Houston has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The F safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 305.1 per 1,000 residents. Theft is the most common offense at 2,145 per 100K, which is well above the national average.

Houston Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricHoustonTexas AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate348.1315.6363.8
Property Crime Rate2703.12077.31,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate223.0--268.2
Theft Rate2145.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate459.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyF

305.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

348/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeF

2703/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Houston

Violent crime in Houston is close to the national average. The rate of 348.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is well above the national average at 2703.1 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 2,145 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Houston Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault223
083% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery48
076% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary503
01.9x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft2,145
01.5x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft459
01.4x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Houston Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Houston
348.1
State
315.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Houston
2703.1
State
2077.3
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Houston Safety

Is Houston safe?
Not especially. Houston earns a F with a crime rate of 305.1 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 Houston?
305.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 348.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2703.1 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Houston safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Houston's F grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (2,145 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Houston?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Houston generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Houston police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Houston?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Houston's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a F grade overall.
How does Houston compare to other cities in Texas?
Below average for the state. Houston ranks behind about 98% of Texas cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.5x the national rate.
How safe is Houston to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Houston?
Bad. A F grade and 305.1 per-thousand rate put Houston below 92% of US cities. Violent crime at 348 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Houston?
348.1 per 100,000, which is 4% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (223), robbery (48), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Texas

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

D
See crime rates in San Antonio1,548,422 pop · Grade D
F
See crime rates in Dallas1,329,491 pop · Grade F
D
See crime rates in Fort Worth1,028,117 pop · Grade D
D+
See crime rates in Austin1,002,632 pop · Grade D+
D+
See crime rates in El Paso683,012 pop · Grade D+
C
See crime rates in Arlington402,134 pop · Grade C
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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