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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Waco, TX has a Safety Score of 28/100 — higher crime than 72% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,552.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,142 of 2,957 US cities and #181 of 240 in Texas.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Waco, TX?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Waco, Texas Safe?
Waco, Texas, bisected by the Brazos River, is a Central Texas city with a diverse population of around 140,000. Home to Baylor University, it blends academic life with a rich history, including its past as a major cotton producer.
Waco has a safety score of 28/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,552.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Waco ranks #181 out of 240 cities in Texas and #2142 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 28th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 72% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Waco is rape, at 90.9 per 100K — 2.1x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, Waco's total crime rate decreased by 19.2%, with violent crime declining 16.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Waco Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 623 | 425.9 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 8 | 5.5 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 133 | 90.9 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 84 | 57.4 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 398 | 272.1 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 3,110 | 2,126.2 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 431 | 294.7 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,379 | 1,626.4 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 300 | 205.1 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Waco vs Texas Average
How does Waco's crime rate compare to the Texas state average?
| Metric | Waco | Texas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 425.9 | 467.4 | -8.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,126.2 | 2,498.3 | -14.9% |
| Murder Rate | 5.5 | 6.3 | -12.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,552.1 | 2,965.7 | -13.9% |
Waco Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Waco, Texas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 146,270 | 2,552.1 | 425.9 | 2,126.2 |
| 2023 | 145,741 | 3,159.7 | 509.8 | 2,649.9 |
| 2022 | 140,911 | 3,881.9 | 644.4 | 3,237.5 |
| 2021 | 143,089 | 4,063.9 | 723.3 | 3,340.6 |
| 2020 | 140,870 | 4,097.4 | 645.3 | 3,452.1 |
| 2019 | 139,870 | 3,859.3 | 571.2 | 3,288.1 |
Waco Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Waco and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Texas crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waco, Texas safe?
Waco has a safety score of 28/100, meaning it has less crime than about 28% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,552.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Waco is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Waco, Texas?
According to FBI data for 2024, Waco has a violent crime rate of 425.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,126.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Waco compare to the national average?
Waco's total crime rate of 2,552.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 146,270 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Waco?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Waco are larceny-theft (2,379 reported incidents) and burglary (431 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 5.0x in the city.
Is Waco safe to visit?
Like any city, Waco has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 28/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.