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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, West Palm Beach, FL has a Safety Score of 24/100 — higher crime than 76% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,713.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,260 of 2,971 US cities and #54 of 71 in Florida.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is West Palm Beach, Florida Safe?
West Palm Beach, separated from Palm Beach by the Intracoastal Waterway, was founded by Henry Flagler to house railroad workers. This city in Palm Beach County is a diverse urban center with a significant Hispanic population.
West Palm Beach has a safety score of 24/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,713.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
West Palm Beach ranks #54 out of 71 cities in Florida and #2260 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 24th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 76% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in West Palm Beach is robbery, at 159.0 per 100K — 1.7x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.1x the national rate.
Year over year, West Palm Beach's total crime rate decreased by 10.2%, with violent crime declining 17.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
West Palm Beach Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 728 | 575.8 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 10 | 7.9 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 75 | 59.3 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 201 | 159.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 442 | 349.6 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 2,703 | 2,138.0 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 389 | 307.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,278 | 1,801.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 36 | 28.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
West Palm Beach vs Florida Average
How does West Palm Beach's crime rate compare to the Florida state average?
| Metric | West Palm Beach | Florida Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 575.8 | 359.6 | +60.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,138.0 | 1,794.4 | +19.1% |
| Murder Rate | 7.9 | 5.0 | +57.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,713.8 | 2,154.0 | +26.0% |
West Palm Beach Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for West Palm Beach, Florida.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 126,427 | 2,713.8 | 575.8 | 2,138.0 |
| 2023 | 122,697 | 3,022.1 | 699.3 | 2,322.8 |
| 2022 | 117,393 | 3,397.1 | 786.3 | 2,610.9 |
| 2021 | 114,055 | 2,865.3 | 781.2 | 2,084.1 |
| 2020 | 113,268 | 4,172.4 | 762.8 | 3,409.6 |
| 2019 | 112,798 | 4,513.4 | 762.4 | 3,751.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Palm Beach, Florida safe?
West Palm Beach has a safety score of 24/100, meaning it has less crime than about 24% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,713.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, West Palm Beach is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in West Palm Beach, Florida?
According to FBI data for 2024, West Palm Beach has a violent crime rate of 575.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,138.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does West Palm Beach compare to the national average?
West Palm Beach's total crime rate of 2,713.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 126,427 residents.
What types of crime are most common in West Palm Beach?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in West Palm Beach include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is West Palm Beach safe to visit?
Like any city, West Palm Beach has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 24/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.