Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Lake City, FL has a Safety Score of 1/100 — higher crime than 99% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 6,949.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,926 of 2,969 US cities and #129 of 132 in Florida.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Lake City, Florida Safe?
Lake City, Florida, a North Florida town, was once known as "Bandana" for its Confederate sympathies. Situated at the intersection of I-75 and I-10, it's the county seat of Columbia County, home to over 60,000 residents.
Lake City has a safety score of 1/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 6,949.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,950.0 per 100,000.
Lake City ranks #129 out of 132 cities in Florida and #2926 out of 2969 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 1st percentile for safety — with higher crime than 99% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Lake City is aggravated assault, at 1,265.8 per 100K — 3.6x the national average.
Year over year, Lake City's total crime rate decreased by 10.4%, with violent crime rising 17.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Lake City Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 193 | 1,556.1 | 513.2 |
| Murder | 2 | 16.1 | 8.5 |
| Rape | 8 | 64.5 | 45.9 |
| Robbery | 26 | 209.6 | 109.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 157 | 1,265.8 | 349.3 |
| Property Crime | 669 | 5,393.9 | 2,436.8 |
| Burglary | 102 | 822.4 | 365.5 |
| Larceny-Theft | 528 | 4,257.0 | 1,750.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 39 | 314.4 | 321.3 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lake City vs Florida Average
How does Lake City's crime rate compare to the Florida state average?
| Metric | Lake City | Florida Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,556.1 | 471.3 | +230.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,393.9 | 2,300.5 | +134.5% |
| Murder Rate | 16.1 | 7.7 | +110.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 6,949.9 | 2,771.8 | +150.7% |
Lake City Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Lake City, Florida.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 12,403 | 6,949.9 | 1,556.1 | 5,393.9 |
| 2019 | 12,141 | 7,758.8 | 1,326.1 | 6,432.8 |
Lake City Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Lake City and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Florida crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake City, Florida safe?
Lake City has a safety score of 1/100, meaning it has less crime than about 1% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 6,949.9 per 100,000 residents in 2020, Lake City is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Lake City, Florida?
According to FBI data for 2020, Lake City has a violent crime rate of 1,556.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 5,393.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Lake City compare to the national average?
Lake City's total crime rate of 6,949.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 12,403 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Lake City?
Based on FBI 2020 data, the most reported crimes in Lake City are larceny-theft (528 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (157 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.5x in the city.
Is Lake City safe to visit?
Like any city, Lake City has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 1/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.