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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Mesquite, TX has a Safety Score of 13/100 — higher crime than 87% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,479.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,589 of 2,971 US cities and #217 of 240 in Texas.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Mesquite, Texas Safe?
Mesquite, a Dallas suburb, was once known as the "Rodeo Capital of Texas." Situated east of Dallas, its population is over 150,000, with a diverse demographic makeup.
Mesquite has a safety score of 13/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,479.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Mesquite ranks #217 out of 240 cities in Texas and #2589 out of 2971 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 Mesquite is motor vehicle theft, at 619.6 per 100K — 1.8x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, Mesquite's total crime rate decreased by 16.7%, with violent crime declining 1.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Mesquite Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 749 | 503.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 6 | 4.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 60 | 40.3 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 120 | 80.6 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 560 | 376.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 4,429 | 2,976.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 583 | 391.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,924 | 1,965.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 922 | 619.6 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Mesquite vs Texas Average
How does Mesquite's crime rate compare to the Texas state average?
| Metric | Mesquite | Texas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 503.4 | 467.4 | +7.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,976.4 | 2,498.3 | +19.1% |
| Murder Rate | 4.0 | 6.3 | -35.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,479.8 | 2,965.7 | +17.3% |
Mesquite Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Mesquite, Texas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 148,803 | 3,479.8 | 503.4 | 2,976.4 |
| 2023 | 147,926 | 4,178.4 | 512.4 | 3,666.0 |
| 2022 | 147,226 | 4,117.5 | 469.4 | 3,648.1 |
| 2021 | 137,796 | 3,996.5 | 531.2 | 3,465.3 |
| 2020 | 141,325 | 3,985.1 | 447.2 | 3,537.9 |
| 2019 | 143,078 | 4,111.0 | 478.8 | 3,632.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mesquite, Texas safe?
Mesquite 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 3,479.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Mesquite is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Mesquite, Texas?
According to FBI data for 2024, Mesquite has a violent crime rate of 503.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,976.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Mesquite compare to the national average?
Mesquite's total crime rate of 3,479.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 148,803 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Mesquite?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Mesquite include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Mesquite safe to visit?
Like any city, Mesquite 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.