Is Abilene or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Abilene is safer than Houston (Safety Score 35/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 2,188 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 60% lower. Abilene has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Abilene has a 83% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 17.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Abilene — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Abilene, TX
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Abilene | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,187.7 | 5,441.7 | -3,254.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 424.5 | 1,148.3 | -723.8 |
| Murder Rate | 4.6 | 13.8 | -9.2 |
| Rape Rate | 70.6 | 73.0 | -2.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 46.1 | 274.0 | -228.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 303.2 | 787.4 | -484.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,763.2 | 4,293.5 | -2,530.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 320.1 | 644.8 | -324.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,304.9 | 2,945.7 | -1,640.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 138.2 | 703.0 | -564.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abilene or Houston safer?
Abilene is safer with a total crime rate of 2,188 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 60% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Abilene has a violent crime rate of 424.5 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Abilene has lower violent crime.
About Abilene, TX
Abilene, a West Texas city historically known as a railroad town and home to Dyess Air Force Base, sits at the intersection of I-20 and US-83/84. Its population is approximately 125,000. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 130,275, Abilene has a total crime rate of 2,187.7 per 100,000 residents.
About Houston, TX
Houston, the "Space City," is a sprawling metropolis in Southeast Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Its diverse population makes it one of the most multicultural cities in the U.S., with significant Hispanic and Asian communities. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 2,319,160, Houston has a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents.