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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Providence, RI has a Safety Score of 43/100 — higher crime than 57% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,934.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,696 of 2,957 US cities and #27 of 27 in Rhode Island.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Providence, RI?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Providence, Rhode Island Safe?
Providence, the capital of Rhode Island, is a historic New England city situated at the head of Narragansett Bay. Home to Brown University, it boasts a diverse population and a rich architectural heritage.
Providence has a safety score of 43/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,934.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Providence ranks #27 out of 27 cities in Rhode Island and #1696 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 43rd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 57% of US cities.
Year over year, Providence's total crime rate decreased by 12.7%, with violent crime declining 10.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Providence Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 536 | 276.8 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 12 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 40 | 20.7 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 108 | 55.8 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 376 | 194.1 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 3,211 | 1,657.9 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 227 | 117.2 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,576 | 1,330.0 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 408 | 210.7 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Providence vs Rhode Island Average
How does Providence's crime rate compare to the Rhode Island state average?
| Metric | Providence | Rhode Island Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 276.8 | 158.2 | +74.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,657.9 | 1,075.7 | +54.1% |
| Murder Rate | 6.2 | 2.1 | +195.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,934.6 | 1,234.0 | +56.8% |
Providence Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Providence, Rhode Island.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 193,679 | 1,934.6 | 276.8 | 1,657.9 |
| 2023 | 189,590 | 2,215.3 | 309.6 | 1,905.7 |
| 2022 | 189,064 | 2,878.4 | 342.2 | 2,536.2 |
| 2021 | 185,868 | 2,932.2 | 398.7 | 2,533.5 |
| 2020 | 179,603 | 2,910.9 | 484.4 | 2,426.5 |
| 2019 | 179,762 | 3,507.4 | 496.2 | 3,011.2 |
Providence Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Providence 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 Providence, Rhode Island safe?
Providence has a safety score of 43/100, meaning it has less crime than about 43% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,934.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Providence is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Providence, Rhode Island?
According to FBI data for 2024, Providence has a violent crime rate of 276.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,657.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Providence compare to the national average?
Providence's total crime rate of 1,934.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 193,679 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Providence?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Providence are larceny-theft (2,576 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (408 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 6.0x in the city.
Is Providence safe to visit?
Like any city, Providence has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 43/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.