Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Palatka, FL has a Safety Score of 8/100 — higher crime than 92% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,003.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,721 of 2,971 US cities and #67 of 71 in Florida.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Palatka, Florida Safe?
Palatka, a city on the St. Johns River, was once a major steamboat stop. It's the county seat of Putnam County, with a diverse, working-class population.
Palatka has a safety score of 8/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,003.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Palatka ranks #67 out of 71 cities in Florida and #2721 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 8th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 92% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Palatka is larceny-theft, at 3,430.1 per 100K — 2.1x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Palatka's total crime rate increased by 10.3%, with violent crime rising 5.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Palatka Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 29 | 268.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 1 | 9.3 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 3 | 27.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 25 | 231.1 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 404 | 3,735.2 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 22 | 203.4 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 371 | 3,430.1 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 11 | 101.7 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Palatka vs Florida Average
How does Palatka's crime rate compare to the Florida state average?
| Metric | Palatka | Florida Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 268.1 | 359.6 | -25.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,735.2 | 1,794.4 | +108.2% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 5.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,003.3 | 2,154.0 | +85.9% |
Palatka Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Palatka, Florida.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 10,436 | 5,826.0 | 536.6 | 5,289.4 |
| 2019 | 10,450 | 5,282.3 | 507.2 | 4,775.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palatka, Florida safe?
Palatka has a safety score of 8/100, meaning it has less crime than about 8% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,003.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Palatka is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Palatka, Florida?
According to FBI data for 2024, Palatka has a violent crime rate of 268.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,735.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Palatka compare to the national average?
Palatka's total crime rate of 4,003.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 10,816 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Palatka?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Palatka include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Palatka safe to visit?
Like any city, Palatka has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 8/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.