Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Picayune, MS has a Safety Score of 21/100 — higher crime than 79% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,883.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,340 of 2,971 US cities and #16 of 23 in Mississippi.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Picayune, Mississippi Safe?
Picayune, Mississippi, known for its annual "Blues in the Night" festival, sits near the Pearl River in southern Mississippi. This city, primarily serving as a bedroom community for New Orleans, is home to a diverse population.
Picayune has a safety score of 21/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,883.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Picayune ranks #16 out of 23 cities in Mississippi and #2340 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 21st percentile for safety — with higher crime than 79% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Picayune is murder, at 16.9 per 100K — 2.7x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.1x the national rate.
Year over year, Picayune's total crime rate decreased by 12.3%, with violent crime declining 51.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Picayune Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 22 | 185.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 16.9 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 4 | 33.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 8.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 15 | 126.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 320 | 2,698.2 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 33 | 278.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 254 | 2,141.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 33 | 278.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Picayune vs Mississippi Average
How does Picayune's crime rate compare to the Mississippi state average?
| Metric | Picayune | Mississippi Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 185.5 | 242.6 | -23.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,698.2 | 2,093.9 | +28.9% |
| Murder Rate | 16.9 | 7.9 | +114.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,883.6 | 2,336.5 | +23.4% |
Picayune Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Picayune, Mississippi.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11,860 | 2,883.6 | 185.5 | 2,698.2 |
| 2023 | 11,806 | 3,286.5 | 381.2 | 2,905.3 |
| 2022 | 11,710 | 3,646.5 | 657.6 | 2,988.9 |
| 2021 | 10,814 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Picayune, Mississippi safe?
Picayune has a safety score of 21/100, meaning it has less crime than about 21% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,883.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Picayune is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Picayune, Mississippi?
According to FBI data for 2024, Picayune has a violent crime rate of 185.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,698.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Picayune compare to the national average?
Picayune's total crime rate of 2,883.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 11,860 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Picayune?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Picayune include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Picayune safe to visit?
Like any city, Picayune has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 21/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.