Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Detroit, MI has a Safety Score of 2/100 — higher crime than 98% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 6,086.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,908 of 2,957 US cities and #101 of 102 in Michigan.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Detroit, MI?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Detroit, Michigan Safe?
Detroit, once the "Motor City" and heart of the American auto industry, sits on the Detroit River, bordering Canada. This major Midwest city has a diverse population, with a significant African American heritage shaping its vibrant culture.
Detroit has a safety score of 2/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 6,086.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Detroit ranks #101 out of 102 cities in Michigan and #2908 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 2nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 98% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Detroit is murder, at 31.2 per 100K — 4.9x the national average.
Year over year, Detroit's total crime rate decreased by 10.3%, with violent crime declining 13.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Detroit Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 11,601 | 1,781.6 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 203 | 31.2 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 605 | 92.9 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 1,195 | 183.5 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 9,596 | 1,473.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 28,035 | 4,305.3 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 4,578 | 703.0 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 15,263 | 2,343.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 8,194 | 1,258.4 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Detroit vs Michigan Average
How does Detroit's crime rate compare to the Michigan state average?
| Metric | Detroit | Michigan Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,781.6 | 637.8 | +179.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,305.3 | 1,951.4 | +120.6% |
| Murder Rate | 31.2 | 7.5 | +315.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 6,086.9 | 2,589.2 | +135.1% |
Detroit Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Detroit, Michigan.
Between 2019 and 2024, Detroit's total crime rate is roughly flat (6,268 → 6,087 per 100,000). Violent crime is down 9% and property crime roughly flat over the same period; the worst year in this window was 2023 at 6,786 per 100,000.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 651,171 | 6,086.9 | 1,781.6 | 4,305.3 |
| 2023 | 615,501 | 6,785.9 | 2,052.3 | 4,733.5 |
| 2022 | 626,757 | 6,513.4 | 2,025.8 | 4,487.5 |
| 2021 | 673,708 | 5,514.3 | 2,152.9 | 3,361.4 |
| 2020 | 659,616 | 5,448.9 | 2,198.3 | 3,250.7 |
| 2019 | 663,502 | 6,268.4 | 1,965.5 | 4,302.9 |
Detroit Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Detroit and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Michigan crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Detroit, Michigan safe?
Detroit has a safety score of 2/100, meaning it has less crime than about 2% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 6,086.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Detroit is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Detroit, Michigan?
According to FBI data for 2024, Detroit has a violent crime rate of 1,781.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,305.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Detroit compare to the national average?
Detroit's total crime rate of 6,086.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 651,171 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Detroit?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Detroit are larceny-theft (15,263 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (9,596 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 2.4x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Detroit in 2024?
203 murders were reported to the FBI for Detroit in 2024 — a homicide rate of 31.2 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Detroit going up or down?
Detroit's total crime rate is roughly flat: 3% lower in 2024 than in 2019 (6,087 vs 6,268 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Detroit safe to visit?
Like any city, Detroit has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 2/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.