Is Austin or St. Petersburg Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, St. Petersburg is safer than Austin (Safety Score 18/100 vs 11/100), with a total crime rate of 3,081 per 100,000 versus 3,709 for Austin — 17% lower. Austin has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Austin has a 25% lower rate.
Note: Austin is 3.7x 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
St. Petersburg — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Austin, TX
St. Petersburg, FL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Austin | St. Petersburg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,709.4 | 3,080.8 | +628.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 467.5 | 621.9 | -154.4 |
| Murder Rate | 6.6 | 6.8 | -0.2 |
| Rape Rate | 67.6 | 43.4 | +24.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 85.4 | 81.5 | +3.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 307.2 | 487.9 | -180.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,241.9 | 2,458.9 | +783.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 445.2 | 209.4 | +235.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,198.1 | 2,029.8 | +168.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 598.6 | 219.6 | +379.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Austin or St. Petersburg safer?
St. Petersburg is safer with a total crime rate of 3,081 per 100K vs 3,709 for Austin — a 17% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Austin has a violent crime rate of 467.5 per 100K while St. Petersburg has 621.9. Austin 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 St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg, Florida, known as the "Sunshine City," boasts a vibrant arts scene and beautiful waterfront parks along Tampa Bay. It is part of the Tampa Bay Area, a major metropolitan region on Florida's Gulf Coast. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 264,999, St. Petersburg has a total crime rate of 3,080.8 per 100,000 residents.