Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Lakewood, WA has a Safety Score of 7/100 — higher crime than 93% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,270.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,769 of 2,971 US cities and #76 of 87 in Washington.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Lakewood, Washington Safe?
Lakewood, WA, a city incorporated in 1996, sits between Tacoma and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Its diverse population, with a significant military presence, resides among lakes and historic estates like Thornewood Castle.
Lakewood has a safety score of 7/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,270.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Lakewood ranks #76 out of 87 cities in Washington and #2769 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 7th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 93% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Lakewood is motor vehicle theft, at 627.1 per 100K — 1.8x the national average.
Year over year, Lakewood's total crime rate decreased by 25%, with violent crime declining 14.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Lakewood Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 401 | 648.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 4 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 38 | 61.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 81 | 130.9 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 278 | 449.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 2,241 | 3,621.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 316 | 510.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,537 | 2,484.1 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 388 | 627.1 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lakewood vs Washington Average
How does Lakewood's crime rate compare to the Washington state average?
| Metric | Lakewood | Washington Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 648.1 | 439.5 | +47.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,621.9 | 3,428.6 | +5.6% |
| Murder Rate | 6.5 | 4.7 | +36.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,270.0 | 3,868.1 | +10.4% |
Lakewood Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Lakewood, Washington.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 61,873 | 4,270.0 | 648.1 | 3,621.9 |
| 2023 | 62,059 | 5,689.8 | 757.3 | 4,932.4 |
| 2022 | 63,044 | 6,048.2 | 834.3 | 5,213.8 |
| 2021 | 61,325 | 5,617.6 | 755.0 | 4,862.6 |
| 2020 | 61,432 | 4,953.4 | 625.1 | 4,328.4 |
| 2019 | 60,916 | 4,527.6 | 758.4 | 3,769.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lakewood, Washington safe?
Lakewood has a safety score of 7/100, meaning it has less crime than about 7% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,270.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Lakewood is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Lakewood, Washington?
According to FBI data for 2024, Lakewood has a violent crime rate of 648.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,621.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Lakewood compare to the national average?
Lakewood's total crime rate of 4,270.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 61,873 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Lakewood?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Lakewood include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Lakewood safe to visit?
Like any city, Lakewood has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 7/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.