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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Waco, TX has a Safety Score of 27/100 — higher crime than 73% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,552.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,158 of 2,971 US cities and #181 of 240 in Texas.
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 27/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,552.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Waco ranks #181 out of 240 cities in Texas and #2158 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 27th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 73% 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 (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 623 | 425.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 8 | 5.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 133 | 90.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 84 | 57.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 398 | 272.1 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 3,110 | 2,126.2 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 431 | 294.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,379 | 1,626.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 300 | 205.1 | 352.4 |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waco, Texas safe?
Waco has a safety score of 27/100, meaning it has less crime than about 27% 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 include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Waco safe to visit?
Like any city, Waco has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 27/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.