Violent
Property
Total
St. Joseph, MO Crime Rate & Safety
FBI-verified crime statistics for 2024 | Population: 70,139
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is St. Joseph, Missouri Safe?
St. Joseph has a safety score of 16/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,579.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
St. Joseph ranks #62 out of 70 cities in Missouri and #2819 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 5th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 95% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in St. Joseph is rape, at 178.2 per 100K — 4.1x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, St. Joseph's total crime rate increased by 1.3%, with violent crime declining 3.5%.
St. Joseph Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 511 | 728.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 3 | 4.3 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 125 | 178.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 38 | 54.2 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 345 | 491.9 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 2,701 | 3,850.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 376 | 536.1 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,946 | 2,774.5 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 379 | 540.4 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
St. Joseph vs Missouri Average
How does St. Joseph's crime rate compare to the Missouri state average?
| Metric | St. Joseph | Missouri Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 728.6 | 679.8 | +7.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,850.9 | 2,941.8 | +30.9% |
| Murder Rate | 4.3 | 12.9 | -66.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,579.5 | 3,621.5 | +26.5% |
St. Joseph Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for St. Joseph, Missouri.
| Year | Population | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 70,139 | 4,579.5 | 728.6 | 3,850.9 |
| 2023 | 69,925 | 4,519.1 | 755.1 | 3,764.0 |
| 2022 | 70,918 | 5,125.6 | 760.0 | 4,365.6 |
| 2021 | 73,821 | 4,892.9 | 654.3 | 4,238.6 |
| 2020 | 74,680 | 5,761.9 | 570.4 | 5,191.5 |
| 2019 | 75,872 | 6,308.0 | 568.1 | 5,739.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. Joseph, Missouri safe?
St. Joseph has a safety score of 16/100. With a total crime rate of 4,579.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, St. Joseph is higher than average in crime compared to the national average.
What is the crime rate in St. Joseph, Missouri?
According to FBI data for 2024, St. Joseph has a violent crime rate of 728.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,850.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does St. Joseph compare to the national average?
St. Joseph's total crime rate of 4,579.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The city has a population of 70,139.
What types of crime are most common in St. Joseph?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in St. Joseph include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is St. Joseph safe to visit?
Like any city, St. Joseph has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 16/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.