Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Portsmouth, RI has a Safety Score of 97/100 — safer than 97% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 358.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #89 of 2,957 US cities and #4 of 27 in Rhode Island.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Portsmouth, RI?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Portsmouth, Rhode Island Safe?
Portsmouth, RI, a coastal town on Aquidneck Island, was settled in 1638 by religious dissidents. Its scenic waters are home to numerous sailing events and a significant portion of its residents commute to nearby cities.
Portsmouth has a safety score of 97/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 358.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Portsmouth ranks #4 out of 27 cities in Rhode Island and #89 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 97th percentile for safety — safer than 97% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Portsmouth are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Portsmouth's total crime rate increased by 0.3%, with violent crime declining 86.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Portsmouth Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 2 | 11.4 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 1 | 5.7 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1 | 5.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 61 | 347.0 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 7 | 39.8 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 50 | 284.4 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 22.8 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Portsmouth vs Rhode Island Average
How does Portsmouth's crime rate compare to the Rhode Island state average?
| Metric | Portsmouth | Rhode Island Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 11.4 | 158.2 | -92.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 347.0 | 1,075.7 | -67.7% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.1 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 358.4 | 1,234.0 | -71.0% |
Portsmouth Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17,579 | 358.4 | 11.4 | 347.0 |
| 2023 | 17,625 | 357.5 | 85.1 | 272.3 |
| 2022 | 17,716 | 361.3 | 11.3 | 350.0 |
| 2021 | 17,696 | 395.6 | 62.2 | 333.4 |
| 2020 | 17,162 | 372.9 | 40.8 | 332.1 |
| 2019 | 17,330 | 502.0 | 63.5 | 438.6 |
Portsmouth Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Portsmouth and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Rhode Island crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portsmouth, Rhode Island safe?
Portsmouth has a safety score of 97/100, meaning it has less crime than about 97% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 358.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Portsmouth is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Portsmouth, Rhode Island?
According to FBI data for 2024, Portsmouth has a violent crime rate of 11.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 347.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Portsmouth compare to the national average?
Portsmouth's total crime rate of 358.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 17,579 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Portsmouth?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Portsmouth are larceny-theft (50 reported incidents) and burglary (7 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 30.5x in the city.
Is Portsmouth safe to visit?
Like any city, Portsmouth has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 97/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.