Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Harlingen, TX has a Safety Score of 20/100 — higher crime than 80% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,976.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,383 of 2,971 US cities and #203 of 240 in Texas.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Harlingen, Texas Safe?
Harlingen, a Rio Grande Valley city, is known for its proximity to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, attracting birdwatchers. Historically, it served as a major railway hub.
Harlingen has a safety score of 20/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,976.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Harlingen ranks #203 out of 240 cities in Texas and #2383 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 20th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 80% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Harlingen is larceny-theft, at 2,066.2 per 100K — 1.3x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Harlingen's total crime rate decreased by 3.4%, with violent crime declining 17.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Harlingen Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 184 | 257.8 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 1.4 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 11 | 15.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 29 | 40.6 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 143 | 200.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,941 | 2,718.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 246 | 344.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,475 | 2,066.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 220 | 308.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Harlingen vs Texas Average
How does Harlingen's crime rate compare to the Texas state average?
| Metric | Harlingen | Texas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 257.8 | 467.4 | -44.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,718.9 | 2,498.3 | +8.8% |
| Murder Rate | 1.4 | 6.3 | -77.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,976.7 | 2,965.7 | +0.4% |
Harlingen Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Harlingen, Texas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 71,388 | 2,976.7 | 257.8 | 2,718.9 |
| 2023 | 71,581 | 3,080.4 | 311.5 | 2,768.9 |
| 2022 | 72,047 | 3,159.1 | 324.8 | 2,834.3 |
| 2021 | 65,186 | 3,798.4 | 414.2 | 3,384.2 |
| 2020 | 65,014 | 4,191.4 | 424.5 | 3,766.9 |
| 2019 | 65,481 | 5,230.5 | 416.9 | 4,813.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harlingen, Texas safe?
Harlingen has a safety score of 20/100, meaning it has less crime than about 20% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,976.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Harlingen is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Harlingen, Texas?
According to FBI data for 2024, Harlingen has a violent crime rate of 257.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,718.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Harlingen compare to the national average?
Harlingen's total crime rate of 2,976.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 71,388 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Harlingen?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Harlingen include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Harlingen safe to visit?
Like any city, Harlingen has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 20/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.