Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Petal, MS has a Safety Score of 92/100 — safer than 92% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 521.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #252 of 2,971 US cities and #3 of 23 in Mississippi.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Petal, Mississippi Safe?
Petal, Mississippi, a city in Forrest County, was incorporated in 1960. Situated along the Leaf River, it is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and a population of over 11,000 residents.
Petal has a safety score of 92/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 521.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Petal ranks #3 out of 23 cities in Mississippi and #252 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 92nd percentile for safety — safer than 92% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Petal is murder, at 8.7 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Petal's total crime rate increased by 20.7%, with violent crime rising 146.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Petal Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 15 | 130.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 8.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 6 | 52.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 8 | 69.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 45 | 391.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 17 | 147.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 24 | 208.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 34.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Petal vs Mississippi Average
How does Petal's crime rate compare to the Mississippi state average?
| Metric | Petal | Mississippi Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 130.4 | 242.6 | -46.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 391.1 | 2,093.9 | -81.3% |
| Murder Rate | 8.7 | 7.9 | +10.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 521.5 | 2,336.5 | -77.7% |
Petal Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Petal, Mississippi.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11,505 | 521.5 | 130.4 | 391.1 |
| 2023 | 11,338 | 432.2 | 52.9 | 379.3 |
| 2022 | 11,580 | 535.4 | 69.1 | 466.3 |
| 2021 | 10,717 | 653.2 | 140.0 | 513.2 |
| 2020 | 10,652 | 441.2 | 56.3 | 384.9 |
| 2019 | 10,702 | 598.0 | 28.0 | 570.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Petal, Mississippi safe?
Petal has a safety score of 92/100, meaning it has less crime than about 92% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 521.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Petal is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Petal, Mississippi?
According to FBI data for 2024, Petal has a violent crime rate of 130.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 391.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Petal compare to the national average?
Petal's total crime rate of 521.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 11,505 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Petal?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Petal include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Petal safe to visit?
Like any city, Petal has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 92/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.