CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
D

Is Centralia, Washington Safe?

Population 19,375 · Safer than 18% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Centralia 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 260.7 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,431 per 100K.

Centralia Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCentraliaWashington AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate386.2318.6363.8
Property Crime Rate2220.72054.41,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate275.0--268.2
Theft Rate1431.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate289.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

260.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

386/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2221/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Centralia

Violent crime in Centralia is close to the national average. The rate of 386.2 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2220.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,431 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Centralia Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault275
01.0x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery46
073% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary291
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,431
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft289
091% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Centralia Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Centralia
386.2
State
318.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Centralia
2220.7
State
2054.4
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Centralia Safety

Is Centralia safe?
Not especially. Centralia earns a D with a crime rate of 260.7 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 Centralia?
260.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 386.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2220.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Centralia safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Centralia's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,431 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Centralia?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Centralia generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Centralia police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Centralia?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Centralia's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D grade overall.
How does Centralia compare to other cities in Washington?
Below average for the state. Centralia ranks behind about 90% of Washington cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Centralia to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Centralia?
Bad. A D grade and 260.7 per-thousand rate put Centralia below 82% of US cities. Violent crime at 386 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Centralia?
386.2 per 100,000, which is 6% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (275), robbery (46), and murder (7.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Washington

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

Get weekly safety updates for Centralia

Weekly crime trend updates and safety grade changes delivered to your inbox.

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.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities