Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Palm Bay, FL has a Safety Score of 61/100 — safer than 61% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,365.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,164 of 2,971 US cities and #24 of 71 in Florida.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Palm Bay, Florida Safe?
Palm Bay, a sprawling city on Florida's Space Coast, began as Tillman and grew significantly after being marketed by General Development Corporation. Its diverse population, largely residential, stretches across a low-lying, wooded landscape along the Indian River Lagoon.
Palm Bay has a safety score of 61/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,365.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Palm Bay ranks #24 out of 71 cities in Florida and #1164 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 61st percentile for safety — safer than 61% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Palm Bay is murder, at 7.8 per 100K — 1.3x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Palm Bay's total crime rate increased by 1.6%, with violent crime rising 9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Palm Bay Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 491 | 347.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 11 | 7.8 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 67 | 47.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 73 | 51.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 339 | 240.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,436 | 1,017.5 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 324 | 229.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,023 | 724.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 89 | 63.1 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Palm Bay vs Florida Average
How does Palm Bay's crime rate compare to the Florida state average?
| Metric | Palm Bay | Florida Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 347.9 | 359.6 | -3.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,017.5 | 1,794.4 | -43.3% |
| Murder Rate | 7.8 | 5.0 | +55.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,365.3 | 2,154.0 | -36.6% |
Palm Bay Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Palm Bay, Florida.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 141,137 | 1,365.3 | 347.9 | 1,017.5 |
| 2023 | 134,040 | 1,343.6 | 319.3 | 1,024.3 |
| 2022 | 125,766 | 1,283.3 | 298.2 | 985.2 |
| 2021 | 118,296 | 1,294.2 | 310.2 | 984.0 |
| 2020 | 116,897 | 1,795.6 | 281.4 | 1,514.2 |
| 2019 | 115,520 | 2,057.7 | 342.8 | 1,714.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palm Bay, Florida safe?
Palm Bay has a safety score of 61/100, meaning it has less crime than about 61% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,365.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Palm Bay is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Palm Bay, Florida?
According to FBI data for 2024, Palm Bay has a violent crime rate of 347.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,017.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Palm Bay compare to the national average?
Palm Bay's total crime rate of 1,365.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 141,137 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Palm Bay?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Palm Bay include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Palm Bay safe to visit?
Like any city, Palm Bay has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 61/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.