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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Ocala, FL has a Safety Score of 12/100 — higher crime than 88% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,560.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,615 of 2,971 US cities and #65 of 71 in Florida.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Ocala, Florida Safe?
Ocala, nestled in Marion County, is famed for its thoroughbred horse farms. This Central Florida city, with a significant retiree population, is also home to the historic Fort King National Historic Landmark.
Ocala has a safety score of 12/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,560.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Ocala ranks #65 out of 71 cities in Florida and #2615 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 12th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 88% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Ocala is larceny-theft, at 2,742.5 per 100K — 1.7x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.1x the national rate.
Year over year, Ocala's total crime rate increased by 1.4%, with violent crime declining 6.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Ocala Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 358 | 511.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 5 | 7.1 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 34 | 48.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 41 | 58.5 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 270 | 385.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 2,136 | 3,049.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 192 | 274.1 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,921 | 2,742.5 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 23 | 32.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Ocala vs Florida Average
How does Ocala's crime rate compare to the Florida state average?
| Metric | Ocala | Florida Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 511.1 | 359.6 | +42.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,049.4 | 1,794.4 | +69.9% |
| Murder Rate | 7.1 | 5.0 | +42.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,560.5 | 2,154.0 | +65.3% |
Ocala Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Ocala, Florida.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 70,046 | 3,560.5 | 511.1 | 3,049.4 |
| 2023 | 66,338 | 3,512.3 | 547.2 | 2,965.1 |
| 2022 | 64,596 | 3,531.2 | 527.9 | 3,003.3 |
| 2021 | 62,206 | 3,883.9 | 728.2 | 3,155.6 |
| 2020 | 61,275 | 3,833.5 | 674.0 | 3,159.5 |
| 2019 | 60,932 | 4,990.8 | 809.1 | 4,181.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ocala, Florida safe?
Ocala has a safety score of 12/100, meaning it has less crime than about 12% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,560.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Ocala is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Ocala, Florida?
According to FBI data for 2024, Ocala has a violent crime rate of 511.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,049.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Ocala compare to the national average?
Ocala's total crime rate of 3,560.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 70,046 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Ocala?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Ocala include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Ocala safe to visit?
Like any city, Ocala has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 12/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.