Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Lake Wales, FL has a Safety Score of 47/100 — higher crime than 53% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,772.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,569 of 2,971 US cities and #31 of 71 in Florida.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Lake Wales, Florida Safe?
Lake Wales, home to Bok Tower Gardens, sits in Polk County, Florida. This city in the geographic center of the state has a population of around 17,000.
Lake Wales has a safety score of 47/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,772.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Lake Wales ranks #31 out of 71 cities in Florida and #1569 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 47th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 53% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Lake Wales are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Lake Wales's total crime rate decreased by 35.8%, with violent crime declining 39.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Lake Wales Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 41 | 243.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 4 | 23.8 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 3 | 17.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 34 | 202.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 257 | 1,528.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 32 | 190.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 200 | 1,189.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 25 | 148.7 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lake Wales vs Florida Average
How does Lake Wales's crime rate compare to the Florida state average?
| Metric | Lake Wales | Florida Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 243.9 | 359.6 | -32.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,528.6 | 1,794.4 | -14.8% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 5.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,772.4 | 2,154.0 | -17.7% |
Lake Wales Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Lake Wales, Florida.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16,813 | 1,772.4 | 243.9 | 1,528.6 |
| 2023 | 16,878 | 2,761.0 | 402.9 | 2,358.1 |
| 2022 | 16,793 | 3,179.9 | 601.4 | 2,578.5 |
| 2020 | 17,075 | 1,721.8 | 251.8 | 1,470.0 |
| 2019 | 16,901 | 2,443.6 | 325.4 | 2,118.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Wales, Florida safe?
Lake Wales has a safety score of 47/100, meaning it has less crime than about 47% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,772.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Lake Wales is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Lake Wales, Florida?
According to FBI data for 2024, Lake Wales has a violent crime rate of 243.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,528.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Lake Wales compare to the national average?
Lake Wales's total crime rate of 1,772.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 16,813 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Lake Wales?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Lake Wales include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Lake Wales safe to visit?
Like any city, Lake Wales has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 47/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.