Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Key West, FL has a Safety Score of 26/100 — higher crime than 74% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,611.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,194 of 2,971 US cities and #51 of 71 in Florida.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Key West, Florida Safe?
Key West, a remote island city, is the southernmost point in the continental U.S. and home to Ernest Hemingway's former residence. Its transient population often includes a mix of tourists and long-term residents.
Key West has a safety score of 26/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,611.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Key West ranks #51 out of 71 cities in Florida and #2194 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 26th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 74% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Key West is larceny-theft, at 1,988.1 per 100K — 1.2x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Key West's total crime rate increased by 5%, with violent crime declining 2.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Key West Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 87 | 352.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 13 | 52.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 8 | 32.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 66 | 267.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 558 | 2,259.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 53 | 214.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 491 | 1,988.1 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 14 | 56.7 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Key West vs Florida Average
How does Key West's crime rate compare to the Florida state average?
| Metric | Key West | Florida Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 352.3 | 359.6 | -2.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,259.4 | 1,794.4 | +25.9% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 5.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,611.7 | 2,154.0 | +21.2% |
Key West Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Key West, Florida.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24,697 | 2,611.7 | 352.3 | 2,259.4 |
| 2023 | 25,220 | 2,486.1 | 360.8 | 2,125.3 |
| 2022 | 26,169 | 2,774.3 | 477.7 | 2,296.6 |
| 2020 | 24,060 | 2,310.9 | 440.6 | 1,870.3 |
| 2019 | 24,554 | 3,380.3 | 391.0 | 2,989.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Key West, Florida safe?
Key West has a safety score of 26/100, meaning it has less crime than about 26% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,611.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Key West is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Key West, Florida?
According to FBI data for 2024, Key West has a violent crime rate of 352.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,259.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Key West compare to the national average?
Key West's total crime rate of 2,611.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 24,697 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Key West?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Key West include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Key West safe to visit?
Like any city, Key West has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 26/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.