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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, San Marcos, TX has a Safety Score of 26/100 — higher crime than 74% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,616.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,199 of 2,971 US cities and #188 of 240 in Texas.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is San Marcos, Texas Safe?
San Marcos, a city in Hays County, is known for the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Spring Lake, home to several endangered species. Its population is primarily students attending Texas State University. Texas State University has a significant presence in San Marcos.
San Marcos has a safety score of 26/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,616.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
San Marcos ranks #188 out of 240 cities in Texas and #2199 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 26th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 74% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in San Marcos is rape, at 96.3 per 100K — 2.2x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, San Marcos's total crime rate decreased by 4.2%, with violent crime declining 19.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
San Marcos Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 261 | 358.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 70 | 96.3 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 27 | 37.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 164 | 225.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,642 | 2,257.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 194 | 266.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,164 | 1,600.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 284 | 390.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
San Marcos vs Texas Average
How does San Marcos's crime rate compare to the Texas state average?
| Metric | San Marcos | Texas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 358.9 | 467.4 | -23.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,257.9 | 2,498.3 | -9.6% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 6.3 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,616.8 | 2,965.7 | -11.8% |
San Marcos Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for San Marcos, Texas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 72,723 | 2,616.8 | 358.9 | 2,257.9 |
| 2023 | 71,413 | 2,732.0 | 448.1 | 2,283.9 |
| 2022 | 69,470 | 3,266.2 | 652.1 | 2,614.1 |
| 2021 | 68,961 | 2,952.4 | 548.1 | 2,404.3 |
| 2020 | 67,432 | 2,578.9 | 440.4 | 2,138.5 |
| 2019 | 66,279 | 2,675.1 | 366.6 | 2,308.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Marcos, Texas safe?
San Marcos has a safety score of 26/100, meaning it has less crime than about 26% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,616.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, San Marcos is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in San Marcos, Texas?
According to FBI data for 2024, San Marcos has a violent crime rate of 358.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,257.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does San Marcos compare to the national average?
San Marcos's total crime rate of 2,616.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 72,723 residents.
What types of crime are most common in San Marcos?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in San Marcos include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is San Marcos safe to visit?
Like any city, San Marcos has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 26/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.