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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Knoxville, TN has a Safety Score of 13/100 — higher crime than 87% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,461.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,559 of 2,957 US cities and #51 of 59 in Tennessee.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Knoxville, TN?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Knoxville, Tennessee Safe?
Knoxville, nestled in the Appalachian foothills, is a city of just under 200,000 residents. It boasts a rich musical heritage, notably as the birthplace of the Everly Brothers. The Tennessee River flows along its downtown, a reminder of its historical role in trade and industry.
Knoxville has a safety score of 13/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,461.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Knoxville ranks #51 out of 59 cities in Tennessee and #2559 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 13th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 87% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Knoxville is aggravated assault, at 582.7 per 100K — 1.7x the national average.
Year over year, Knoxville's total crime rate decreased by 12.3%, with violent crime declining 9.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Knoxville Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,484 | 740.3 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 22 | 11.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 130 | 64.9 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 164 | 81.8 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,168 | 582.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 5,455 | 2,721.3 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 659 | 328.8 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 4,037 | 2,013.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 759 | 378.6 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Knoxville vs Tennessee Average
How does Knoxville's crime rate compare to the Tennessee state average?
| Metric | Knoxville | Tennessee Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 740.3 | 916.8 | -19.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,721.3 | 3,281.7 | -17.1% |
| Murder Rate | 11.0 | 13.0 | -15.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,461.6 | 4,198.5 | -17.6% |
Knoxville Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Knoxville, Tennessee.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 200,457 | 3,461.6 | 740.3 | 2,721.3 |
| 2023 | 198,132 | 3,944.8 | 817.1 | 3,127.7 |
| 2022 | 194,724 | 4,758.5 | 844.8 | 3,913.7 |
| 2021 | 191,463 | 4,863.6 | 836.2 | 4,027.4 |
| 2020 | 188,672 | 5,060.6 | 815.7 | 4,244.9 |
| 2019 | 188,666 | 5,017.3 | 667.3 | 4,350.0 |
Knoxville Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Knoxville and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Tennessee crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Knoxville, Tennessee safe?
Knoxville has a safety score of 13/100, meaning it has less crime than about 13% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,461.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Knoxville is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Knoxville, Tennessee?
According to FBI data for 2024, Knoxville has a violent crime rate of 740.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,721.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Knoxville compare to the national average?
Knoxville's total crime rate of 3,461.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 200,457 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Knoxville?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Knoxville are larceny-theft (4,037 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (1,168 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.7x in the city.
Is Knoxville safe to visit?
Like any city, Knoxville has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 13/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.