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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Fort Lauderdale, FL has a Safety Score of 8/100 — higher crime than 92% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,785.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,745 of 2,969 US cities and #122 of 132 in Florida.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Fort Lauderdale, Florida Safe?
Fort Lauderdale has a safety score of 8/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,785.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,950.0 per 100,000.
Fort Lauderdale ranks #122 out of 132 cities in Florida and #2745 out of 2969 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 Fort Lauderdale is murder, at 20.1 per 100K — 2.4x the national average.
Year over year, Fort Lauderdale's total crime rate decreased by 13.2%, with violent crime rising 5.8%.
Fort Lauderdale Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,159 | 628.7 | 513.2 |
| Murder | 37 | 20.1 | 8.5 |
| Rape | 91 | 49.4 | 45.9 |
| Robbery | 321 | 174.1 | 109.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 709 | 384.6 | 349.3 |
| Property Crime | 7,662 | 4,156.3 | 2,436.8 |
| Burglary | 1,074 | 582.6 | 365.5 |
| Larceny-Theft | 5,681 | 3,081.7 | 1,750.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 907 | 492.0 | 321.3 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Fort Lauderdale vs Florida Average
How does Fort Lauderdale's crime rate compare to the Florida state average?
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale | Florida Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 628.7 | 471.3 | +33.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,156.3 | 2,300.5 | +80.7% |
| Murder Rate | 20.1 | 7.7 | +162.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,785.0 | 2,771.8 | +72.6% |
Fort Lauderdale Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 184,347 | 4,785.0 | 628.7 | 4,156.3 |
| 2019 | 184,765 | 5,509.7 | 594.3 | 4,915.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Lauderdale, Florida safe?
Fort Lauderdale 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 4,785.0 per 100,000 residents in 2020, Fort Lauderdale is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
According to FBI data for 2020, Fort Lauderdale has a violent crime rate of 628.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,156.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Fort Lauderdale compare to the national average?
Fort Lauderdale's total crime rate of 4,785.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 184,347 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Fort Lauderdale?
Based on FBI 2020 data, the most reported crimes in Fort Lauderdale are larceny-theft (5,681 reported incidents) and burglary (1,074 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 6.6x in the city.
Is Fort Lauderdale safe to visit?
Like any city, Fort Lauderdale 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.