Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Fort Walton Beach, FL has a Safety Score of 43/100 — higher crime than 57% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,087.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,665 of 2,928 US cities and #37 of 74 in Florida.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Fort Walton Beach, Florida Safe?
Fort Walton Beach has a safety score of 43/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,087.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 3,038.0 per 100,000.
Fort Walton Beach ranks #37 out of 74 cities in Florida and #1665 out of 2928 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 43rd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 57% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Fort Walton Beach is rape, at 71.3 per 100K — 1.6x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Fort Walton Beach's total crime rate decreased by 6.5%, with violent crime rising 20.9%.
Fort Walton Beach Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 95 | 451.7 | 501.9 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 7.6 |
| Rape | 15 | 71.3 | 44.5 |
| Robbery | 14 | 66.6 | 103.6 |
| Aggravated Assault | 66 | 313.8 | 345.7 |
| Property Crime | 344 | 1,635.7 | 2,536.2 |
| Burglary | 45 | 214.0 | 315.9 |
| Larceny-Theft | 299 | 1,421.7 | 1,758.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 0 | 0.0 | 461.3 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Fort Walton Beach vs Florida Average
How does Fort Walton Beach's crime rate compare to the Florida state average?
| Metric | Fort Walton Beach | Florida Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 451.7 | 355.3 | +27.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,635.7 | 1,910.3 | -14.4% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 5.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,087.4 | 2,265.6 | -7.9% |
Fort Walton Beach Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 21,031 | 2,087.4 | 451.7 | 1,635.7 |
| 2022 | 20,876 | 2,232.2 | 373.6 | 1,858.6 |
| 2021 | 22,713 | 739.7 | 162.9 | 576.8 |
| 2020 | 22,871 | 2,343.6 | 323.6 | 2,020.0 |
| 2019 | 22,645 | 2,397.9 | 300.3 | 2,097.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Walton Beach, Florida safe?
Fort Walton Beach has a safety score of 43/100, meaning it has less crime than about 43% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,087.4 per 100,000 residents in 2023, Fort Walton Beach is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Fort Walton Beach, Florida?
According to FBI data for 2023, Fort Walton Beach has a violent crime rate of 451.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,635.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Fort Walton Beach compare to the national average?
Fort Walton Beach's total crime rate of 2,087.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 21,031 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Fort Walton Beach?
Based on FBI 2023 data, the most reported crimes in Fort Walton Beach are larceny-theft (299 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (66 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.6x in the city.
Is Fort Walton Beach safe to visit?
Like any city, Fort Walton Beach has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 43/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.