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D

Is Odessa, Texas Safe?

Population 122,707 · Safer than 18% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Odessa has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 260.8 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,687 per 100K.

Odessa Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricOdessaTexas AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate321.9315.6363.8
Property Crime Rate2286.22077.31,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate229.0--268.2
Theft Rate1687.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate482.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

260.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

322/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2286/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Odessa

Violent crime in Odessa is close to the national average. The rate of 321.9 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2286.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,687 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Odessa Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault229
085% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery80
01.3x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary442
01.6x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,687
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft482
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Odessa Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Odessa
321.9
State
315.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Odessa
2286.2
State
2077.3
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Odessa Safety

Is Odessa safe?
Not especially. Odessa earns a D with a crime rate of 260.8 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 Odessa?
260.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 321.9 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2286.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Odessa safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Odessa's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,687 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Odessa?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Odessa generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Odessa police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Odessa?
No. Crime in Odessa has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Odessa compare to other cities in Texas?
Below average for the state. Odessa ranks behind about 73% of Texas cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Odessa to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Odessa?
Bad. A D grade and 260.8 per-thousand rate put Odessa below 82% of US cities. Violent crime at 322 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Odessa?
321.9 per 100,000, which is 12% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (229), robbery (80), and murder (5.0) 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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