Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Forrest City, AR has a Safety Score of 8/100 — higher crime than 92% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,030.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,727 of 2,971 US cities and #27 of 38 in Arkansas.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Forrest City, Arkansas Safe?
Forrest City, "The Jewel of the Delta," sits in eastern Arkansas along Crowley's Ridge. This St. Francis County seat developed with the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad, and its diverse population reflects the region's agricultural heritage.
Forrest City has a safety score of 8/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,030.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Forrest City ranks #27 out of 38 cities in Arkansas and #2727 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 8th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 92% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Forrest City is murder, at 40.5 per 100K — 6.5x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Forrest City's total crime rate decreased by 24.2%, with violent crime declining 37%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Forrest City Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 145 | 1,175.8 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 5 | 40.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 7 | 56.8 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 3 | 24.3 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 130 | 1,054.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 352 | 2,854.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 53 | 429.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 250 | 2,027.3 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 49 | 397.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Forrest City vs Arkansas Average
How does Forrest City's crime rate compare to the Arkansas state average?
| Metric | Forrest City | Arkansas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,175.8 | 777.0 | +51.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,854.4 | 2,849.3 | +0.2% |
| Murder Rate | 40.5 | 10.0 | +305.4% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,030.2 | 3,626.3 | +11.1% |
Forrest City Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Forrest City, Arkansas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12,332 | 4,030.2 | 1,175.8 | 2,854.4 |
| 2023 | 12,530 | 5,315.2 | 1,867.5 | 3,447.7 |
| 2022 | 12,807 | 6,316.9 | 2,209.7 | 4,107.1 |
| 2021 | 13,496 | 6,683.5 | 1,852.4 | 4,831.1 |
| 2020 | 13,656 | 6,129.2 | 1,633.0 | 4,496.2 |
| 2019 | 13,887 | 5,739.2 | 928.9 | 4,810.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forrest City, Arkansas safe?
Forrest City has a safety score of 8/100, meaning it has less crime than about 8% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,030.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Forrest City is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Forrest City, Arkansas?
According to FBI data for 2024, Forrest City has a violent crime rate of 1,175.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,854.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Forrest City compare to the national average?
Forrest City's total crime rate of 4,030.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 12,332 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Forrest City?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Forrest City include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Forrest City safe to visit?
Like any city, Forrest City has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 8/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.