Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Seattle, WA has a Safety Score of 2/100 — higher crime than 98% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 5,783.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,903 of 2,971 US cities and #82 of 87 in Washington.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Seattle, Washington Safe?
Seattle, a major port city in the Pacific Northwest, is known for its vibrant music scene, particularly grunge, which emerged here. Situated on an isthmus between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, it’s home to a diverse population with a strong tech industry presence.
Seattle has a safety score of 2/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 5,783.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Seattle ranks #82 out of 87 cities in Washington and #2903 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 2nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 98% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Seattle is burglary, at 1,152.0 per 100K — 4.0x the national average.
Year over year, Seattle's total crime rate decreased by 0.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Seattle Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 5,894 | 775.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 52 | 6.8 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 352 | 46.3 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1,677 | 220.6 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3,810 | 501.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 38,061 | 5,007.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 8,756 | 1,152.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 21,905 | 2,882.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 7,400 | 973.6 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Seattle vs Washington Average
How does Seattle's crime rate compare to the Washington state average?
| Metric | Seattle | Washington Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 775.5 | 439.5 | +76.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,007.6 | 3,428.6 | +46.1% |
| Murder Rate | 6.8 | 4.7 | +44.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 5,783.1 | 3,868.1 | +49.5% |
Seattle Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Seattle, Washington.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 760,058 | 5,783.1 | 775.5 | 5,007.6 |
| 2023 | 753,786 | 5,790.0 | 777.8 | 5,012.2 |
| 2022 | 729,691 | 6,574.7 | 840.9 | 5,733.8 |
| 2021 | 787,749 | 5,883.9 | 752.7 | 5,131.2 |
| 2020 | 771,517 | 5,532.6 | 634.5 | 4,898.1 |
| 2019 | 763,706 | 5,081.0 | 585.4 | 4,495.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seattle, Washington safe?
Seattle has a safety score of 2/100, meaning it has less crime than about 2% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 5,783.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Seattle is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Seattle, Washington?
According to FBI data for 2024, Seattle has a violent crime rate of 775.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 5,007.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Seattle compare to the national average?
Seattle's total crime rate of 5,783.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 760,058 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Seattle?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Seattle include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Seattle safe to visit?
Like any city, Seattle has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 2/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.