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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Houston, TX has a Safety Score of 3/100 — higher crime than 97% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,888 of 2,971 US cities and #235 of 240 in Texas.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Houston, Texas Safe?
Houston, the "Space City," is a sprawling metropolis in Southeast Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Its diverse population makes it one of the most multicultural cities in the U.S., with significant Hispanic and Asian communities.
Houston has a safety score of 3/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Houston ranks #235 out of 240 cities in Texas and #2888 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 3rd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 97% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Houston is robbery, at 274.0 per 100K — 2.9x the national average.
Year over year, Houston's total crime rate decreased by 2.8%, with violent crime rising 5.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Houston Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 26,630 | 1,148.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 320 | 13.8 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 1,693 | 73.0 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 6,355 | 274.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 18,260 | 787.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 99,572 | 4,293.5 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 14,953 | 644.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 68,315 | 2,945.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 16,304 | 703.0 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Houston vs Texas Average
How does Houston's crime rate compare to the Texas state average?
| Metric | Houston | Texas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,148.3 | 467.4 | +145.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,293.5 | 2,498.3 | +71.9% |
| Murder Rate | 13.8 | 6.3 | +120.1% |
| Total Crime Rate | 5,441.7 | 2,965.7 | +83.5% |
Houston Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Houston, Texas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,319,160 | 5,441.7 | 1,148.3 | 4,293.5 |
| 2023 | 2,304,406 | 5,599.4 | 1,091.8 | 4,507.6 |
| 2022 | 2,276,533 | 5,762.9 | 1,151.7 | 4,611.3 |
| 2021 | 2,339,252 | 5,348.5 | 1,221.6 | 4,126.9 |
| 2020 | 2,346,155 | 5,475.0 | 1,267.9 | 4,207.1 |
| 2019 | 2,355,606 | 5,392.1 | 1,072.6 | 4,319.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston, Texas safe?
Houston has a safety score of 3/100, meaning it has less crime than about 3% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Houston is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Houston, Texas?
According to FBI data for 2024, Houston has a violent crime rate of 1,148.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,293.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Houston compare to the national average?
Houston's total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 2,319,160 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Houston?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Houston include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Houston safe to visit?
Like any city, Houston has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 3/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.