Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Moses Lake, WA has a Safety Score of 5/100 — higher crime than 95% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,631.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,825 of 2,971 US cities and #79 of 87 in Washington.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Moses Lake, Washington Safe?
Moses Lake, a city in Grant County, Washington, is named for a lake formed by the Columbia Basin Project. The area is known for its agricultural roots and draws a diverse population, including a significant Hispanic community.
Moses Lake has a safety score of 5/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,631.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Moses Lake ranks #79 out of 87 cities in Washington and #2825 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 5th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 95% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Moses Lake is murder, at 22.5 per 100K — 3.6x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.5x the national rate.
Year over year, Moses Lake's total crime rate decreased by 1.5%, with violent crime declining 14.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Moses Lake Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 105 | 394.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 6 | 22.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 6 | 22.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 21 | 78.9 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 72 | 270.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,128 | 4,236.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 163 | 612.2 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 917 | 3,444.3 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 48 | 180.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Moses Lake vs Washington Average
How does Moses Lake's crime rate compare to the Washington state average?
| Metric | Moses Lake | Washington Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 394.4 | 439.5 | -10.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,236.8 | 3,428.6 | +23.6% |
| Murder Rate | 22.5 | 4.7 | +377.5% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,631.2 | 3,868.1 | +19.7% |
Moses Lake Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Moses Lake, Washington.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26,624 | 4,631.2 | 394.4 | 4,236.8 |
| 2023 | 26,169 | 4,704.0 | 462.4 | 4,241.7 |
| 2022 | 25,709 | 6,005.7 | 529.0 | 5,476.7 |
| 2021 | 24,694 | 5,519.6 | 437.4 | 5,082.2 |
| 2020 | 24,524 | 4,065.4 | 379.2 | 3,686.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moses Lake, Washington safe?
Moses Lake has a safety score of 5/100, meaning it has less crime than about 5% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,631.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Moses Lake is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Moses Lake, Washington?
According to FBI data for 2024, Moses Lake has a violent crime rate of 394.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,236.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Moses Lake compare to the national average?
Moses Lake's total crime rate of 4,631.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 26,624 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Moses Lake?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Moses Lake include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Moses Lake safe to visit?
Like any city, Moses Lake has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 5/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.