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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Tempe, AZ has a Safety Score of 15/100 — higher crime than 85% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,364.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,526 of 2,957 US cities and #38 of 41 in Arizona.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Tempe, AZ?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Tempe, Arizona Safe?
Tempe, Arizona, home to Arizona State University's largest campus, sits in the Valley of the Sun. This vibrant city, named for the Vale of Tempe in Greece, boasts a young, educated population drawn to its urban core and outdoor recreation along Tempe Town Lake. Tempe is known for Arizona State University Campus Immersion, a leading institution in the region.
Tempe has a safety score of 15/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,364.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Tempe ranks #38 out of 41 cities in Arizona and #2526 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 15th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 85% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Tempe is rape, at 71.6 per 100K — 1.6x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Tempe's total crime rate decreased by 17.5%, with violent crime declining 7.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Tempe Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 900 | 470.3 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 5 | 2.6 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 137 | 71.6 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 127 | 66.4 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 631 | 329.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 5,538 | 2,893.8 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 640 | 334.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 4,321 | 2,257.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 577 | 301.5 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Tempe vs Arizona Average
How does Tempe's crime rate compare to the Arizona state average?
| Metric | Tempe | Arizona Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 470.3 | 468.3 | +0.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,893.8 | 1,952.3 | +48.2% |
| Murder Rate | 2.6 | 4.9 | -46.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,364.1 | 2,420.6 | +39.0% |
Tempe Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Tempe, Arizona.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 191,376 | 3,364.1 | 470.3 | 2,893.8 |
| 2023 | 188,144 | 4,076.1 | 506.5 | 3,569.6 |
| 2022 | 187,473 | 4,947.9 | 588.4 | 4,359.6 |
| 2020 | 199,935 | 4,113.3 | 550.2 | 3,563.2 |
| 2019 | 196,499 | 4,229.5 | 453.4 | 3,776.1 |
Tempe Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Tempe and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Arizona crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tempe, Arizona safe?
Tempe has a safety score of 15/100, meaning it has less crime than about 15% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,364.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Tempe is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Tempe, Arizona?
According to FBI data for 2024, Tempe has a violent crime rate of 470.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,893.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Tempe compare to the national average?
Tempe's total crime rate of 3,364.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 191,376 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Tempe?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Tempe are larceny-theft (4,321 reported incidents) and burglary (640 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 6.2x in the city.
Is Tempe safe to visit?
Like any city, Tempe has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 15/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.