Is Austin or Fairfax City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Fairfax City is safer than Austin (Safety Score 14/100 vs 11/100), with a total crime rate of 3,432 per 100,000 versus 3,709 for Austin — 7% lower. Austin has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Fairfax City has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Austin is 38.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Austin — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Fairfax City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Austin, TX
Fairfax City, VA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Austin | Fairfax City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,709.4 | 3,431.8 | +277.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 467.5 | 128.5 | +339.0 |
| Murder Rate | 6.6 | 0.0 | +6.6 |
| Rape Rate | 67.6 | 11.7 | +56.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 85.4 | 46.7 | +38.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 307.2 | 70.1 | +237.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,241.9 | 3,303.2 | -61.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 445.2 | 62.3 | +382.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,198.1 | 3,104.6 | -906.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 598.6 | 136.3 | +462.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Austin or Fairfax City safer?
Fairfax City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,432 per 100K vs 3,709 for Austin — a 7% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Austin has a violent crime rate of 467.5 per 100K while Fairfax City has 128.5. Fairfax City has lower violent crime.
About Austin, TX
Austin, the "Live Music Capital of the World," is a rapidly growing city in Central Texas. Situated on the Colorado River, it's the state capital and home to a diverse population, including many young professionals drawn to its tech industry. With a safety score of 11/100 and a population coverage of 984,613, Austin has a total crime rate of 3,709.4 per 100,000 residents.
About Fairfax City, VA
Fairfax City, a Northern Virginia independent city, boasts a rich colonial history as the site of the first court to repudiate the Stamp Act. It is home to George Mason University, a major public research institution, drawing a diverse population. With a safety score of 14/100 and a population coverage of 25,672, Fairfax City has a total crime rate of 3,431.8 per 100,000 residents.