Is Auburn or Spokane Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Auburn is safer than Spokane (Safety Score 6/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 4,512 per 100,000 versus 5,518 for Spokane — 18% lower. Auburn has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Spokane has a 42% lower rate.
Note: Spokane is 2.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Auburn, WA?
Auburn — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Spokane — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Auburn, WA
Spokane, WA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Auburn | Spokane | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,512.4 | 5,518.3 | -1,005.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 544.4 | 677.5 | -133.0 |
| Murder Rate | 12.1 | 7.0 | +5.1 |
| Rape Rate | 88.1 | 76.7 | +11.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 137.6 | 145.1 | -7.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 305.4 | 446.1 | -140.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,968.0 | 4,840.8 | -872.8 |
| Burglary Rate | 530.0 | 646.5 | -116.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,180.2 | 3,668.8 | -1,488.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 1,257.9 | 525.4 | +732.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Auburn or Spokane safer?
Auburn is safer with a total crime rate of 4,512 per 100K vs 5,518 for Spokane — a 18% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Auburn has a violent crime rate of 544.4 per 100K while Spokane has 677.5. Auburn has lower violent crime.
About Auburn, WA
Auburn, a city in King County, was once known as Slaughter, a nod to its agricultural past. Situated at the confluence of the Green and White rivers, it's a diverse community with a significant percentage of residents identifying as Asian. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 82,838, Auburn has a total crime rate of 4,512.4 per 100,000 residents.
About Spokane, WA
Spokane, the "Lilac City," sits on the Spokane River in Eastern Washington, near the Idaho border. Home to Fairchild Air Force Base, its population is around 229,000. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 229,529, Spokane has a total crime rate of 5,518.3 per 100,000 residents.