Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, La Plata, MD has a Safety Score of 42/100 — higher crime than 58% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,970.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,730 of 2,957 US cities and #6 of 22 in Maryland.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than La Plata, MD?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is La Plata, Maryland Safe?
La Plata, the county seat of Charles County, is a small town in Southern Maryland. It's home to the College of Southern Maryland and boasts a historic downtown district.
La Plata has a safety score of 42/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,970.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
La Plata ranks #6 out of 22 cities in Maryland and #1730 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 42nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 58% of US cities.
Year over year, La Plata's total crime rate decreased by 7.2%, with violent crime rising 7.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
La Plata Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 24 | 215.9 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 0 | 0.0 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 2 | 18.0 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 22 | 198.0 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 195 | 1,754.5 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 26 | 233.9 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 149 | 1,340.7 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 20 | 180.0 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
La Plata vs Maryland Average
How does La Plata's crime rate compare to the Maryland state average?
| Metric | La Plata | Maryland Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 215.9 | 985.4 | -78.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,754.5 | 3,177.6 | -44.8% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 18.2 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,970.5 | 4,163.0 | -52.7% |
La Plata Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for La Plata, Maryland.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11,114 | 1,970.5 | 215.9 | 1,754.5 |
| 2023 | 10,924 | 2,123.8 | 201.4 | 1,922.4 |
| 2022 | 10,672 | 1,742.9 | 243.6 | 1,499.3 |
La Plata Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for La Plata and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Maryland crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Plata, Maryland safe?
La Plata has a safety score of 42/100, meaning it has less crime than about 42% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,970.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, La Plata is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in La Plata, Maryland?
According to FBI data for 2024, La Plata has a violent crime rate of 215.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,754.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does La Plata compare to the national average?
La Plata's total crime rate of 1,970.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 11,114 residents.
What types of crime are most common in La Plata?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in La Plata are larceny-theft (149 reported incidents) and burglary (26 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 8.1x in the city.
Is La Plata safe to visit?
Like any city, La Plata has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 42/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.