Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Memphis, TN has a Safety Score of 1/100 — higher crime than 100% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 9,406.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,950 of 2,957 US cities and #59 of 59 in Tennessee.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Memphis, Tennessee Safe?
Memphis, a city on the Mississippi River, is the birthplace of the blues and a major hub for the music industry. Its population is predominantly African American, reflecting a rich cultural heritage and diverse community.
Memphis has a safety score of 1/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 9,406.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Memphis ranks #59 out of 59 cities in Tennessee and #2950 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 0th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 100% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Memphis is murder, at 40.6 per 100K — 6.4x the national average.
Year over year, Memphis's total crime rate decreased by 16.2%, with violent crime declining 4.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Memphis Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 15,379 | 2,508.0 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 249 | 40.6 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 429 | 70.0 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 2,138 | 348.7 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 12,522 | 2,042.1 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 42,305 | 6,899.0 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 5,616 | 915.8 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 26,978 | 4,399.5 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 9,711 | 1,583.6 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Memphis vs Tennessee Average
How does Memphis's crime rate compare to the Tennessee state average?
| Metric | Memphis | Tennessee Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 2,508.0 | 916.8 | +173.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 6,899.0 | 3,281.7 | +110.2% |
| Murder Rate | 40.6 | 13.0 | +211.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 9,406.9 | 4,198.5 | +124.1% |
Memphis Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Memphis, Tennessee.
Between 2019 and 2024, Memphis's total crime rate is up 17% (8,031 → 9,407 per 100,000). Violent crime is up 32% and property crime up 13% over the same period; the worst year in this window was 2023 at 11,222 per 100,000.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 613,207 | 9,406.9 | 2,508.0 | 6,899.0 |
| 2023 | 616,061 | 11,222.1 | 2,619.2 | 8,602.9 |
| 2022 | 624,944 | 9,611.6 | 2,417.0 | 7,194.6 |
| 2021 | 649,444 | 7,723.1 | 2,441.3 | 5,281.8 |
| 2020 | 650,937 | 7,971.0 | 2,371.4 | 5,599.6 |
| 2019 | 650,410 | 8,031.2 | 1,902.8 | 6,128.4 |
Memphis Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Memphis 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 Memphis, Tennessee safe?
Memphis has a safety score of 1/100, meaning it has less crime than about 1% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 9,406.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Memphis is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Memphis, Tennessee?
According to FBI data for 2024, Memphis has a violent crime rate of 2,508.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 6,899.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Memphis compare to the national average?
Memphis's total crime rate of 9,406.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 613,207 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Memphis?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Memphis are larceny-theft (26,978 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (12,522 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 2.8x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Memphis in 2024?
249 murders were reported to the FBI for Memphis in 2024 — a homicide rate of 40.6 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Memphis going up or down?
Memphis's total crime rate is rising: 17% higher in 2024 than in 2019 (9,407 vs 8,031 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Memphis safe to visit?
Like any city, Memphis has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 1/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.