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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Washington, DC has a Safety Score of 6/100 — higher crime than 94% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,513.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,791 of 2,957 US cities and #1 of 1 in District of Columbia.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Washington, DC?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Washington, District of Columbia Safe?
The Washington Metropolitan Area, encompassing the District of Columbia and parts of surrounding states, is the political heart of the United States. Home to federal institutions and national monuments like the Lincoln Memorial, it has a diverse population exceeding 6 million, with a significant proportion of government employees.
Washington has a safety score of 6/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,513.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Washington ranks #1 out of 1 cities in District of Columbia and #2791 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 6th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 94% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Washington is robbery, at 438.6 per 100K — 4.7x the national average. Conversely, rape is relatively low at just 0.8x the national rate.
Year over year, Washington's total crime rate decreased by 13.3%, with violent crime declining 11.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Washington Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 6,502 | 925.9 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 179 | 25.5 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 239 | 34.0 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 3,080 | 438.6 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3,004 | 427.8 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 25,197 | 3,588.0 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 1,671 | 238.0 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 18,220 | 2,594.5 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5,306 | 755.6 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Washington vs District of Columbia Average
How does Washington's crime rate compare to the District of Columbia state average?
| Metric | Washington | District of Columbia Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 925.9 | 925.9 | +0.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,588.0 | 3,588.0 | +0.0% |
| Murder Rate | 25.5 | 25.5 | +0.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,513.9 | 4,513.9 | +0.0% |
Washington Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Washington, District of Columbia.
Between 2019 and 2024, Washington's total crime rate is down 14% (5,223 → 4,514 per 100,000). Violent crime is down 5% and property crime down 15% over the same period.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 702,250 | 4,513.9 | 925.9 | 3,588.0 |
| 2023 | 678,972 | 5,205.1 | 1,047.5 | 4,157.6 |
| 2022 | 671,803 | 4,246.8 | 748.0 | 3,498.8 |
| 2021 | 670,050 | 2,074.5 | 371.5 | 1,703.0 |
| 2020 | 712,816 | 4,389.2 | 957.9 | 3,431.3 |
| 2019 | 705,749 | 5,223.0 | 977.1 | 4,245.8 |
Washington Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Washington and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: District of Columbia crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Washington, District of Columbia safe?
Washington has a safety score of 6/100, meaning it has less crime than about 6% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,513.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Washington is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Washington, District of Columbia?
According to FBI data for 2024, Washington has a violent crime rate of 925.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,588.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Washington compare to the national average?
Washington's total crime rate of 4,513.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 702,250 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Washington?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Washington are larceny-theft (18,220 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (5,306 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.9x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Washington in 2024?
179 murders were reported to the FBI for Washington in 2024 — a homicide rate of 25.5 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Washington going up or down?
Washington's total crime rate is falling: 14% lower in 2024 than in 2019 (4,514 vs 5,223 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Washington safe to visit?
Like any city, Washington has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 6/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.