Is Austin or Santa Fe Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Santa Fe is safer than Austin (Safety Score 81/100 vs 11/100), with a total crime rate of 820 per 100,000 versus 3,709 for Austin — 78% lower. Austin has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Santa Fe has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Austin is 75.4x 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
Santa Fe — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Austin, TX
Santa Fe, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Austin | Santa Fe | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,709.4 | 819.6 | +2,889.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 467.5 | 84.3 | +383.2 |
| Murder Rate | 6.6 | 0.0 | +6.6 |
| Rape Rate | 67.6 | 7.7 | +60.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 85.4 | 0.0 | +85.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 307.2 | 76.6 | +230.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,241.9 | 735.4 | +2,506.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 445.2 | 237.5 | +207.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,198.1 | 406.0 | +1,792.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 598.6 | 91.9 | +506.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Austin or Santa Fe safer?
Santa Fe is safer with a total crime rate of 820 per 100K vs 3,709 for Austin — a 78% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Austin has a violent crime rate of 467.5 per 100K while Santa Fe has 84.3. Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe, TX
Santa Fe, Texas, a community just south of Houston, was named for its railroad connection to Galveston. This small city, with a population around 13,000, is part of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area. With a safety score of 81/100 and a population coverage of 13,055, Santa Fe has a total crime rate of 819.6 per 100,000 residents.