Is Barstow or Phoenix Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Phoenix is safer than Barstow (Safety Score 17/100 vs 11/100), with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100,000 versus 3,751 for Barstow — 17% lower. Barstow has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Barstow has a 52% lower rate.
Note: Phoenix is 67.0x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Barstow — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Phoenix — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Barstow, CA
Phoenix, AZ
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Barstow | Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,751.5 | 3,125.4 | +626.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,112.1 | 800.0 | +312.1 |
| Murder Rate | 4.0 | 8.4 | -4.3 |
| Rape Rate | 88.7 | 64.3 | +24.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 266.0 | 181.6 | +84.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 749.5 | 545.3 | +204.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,639.3 | 2,325.3 | +314.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 656.8 | 317.2 | +339.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,386.2 | 1,582.1 | -196.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 596.4 | 426.0 | +170.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barstow or Phoenix safer?
Phoenix is safer with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100K vs 3,751 for Barstow — a 17% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Barstow has a violent crime rate of 1,112.1 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. Phoenix has lower violent crime.
About Barstow, CA
Barstow, a Mojave Desert city, is a historic railroad town and home to Casa del Desierto, a Harvey House hotel. Situated at the junction of I-15 and I-40, it serves as a crucial transportation hub. With a safety score of 11/100 and a population coverage of 24,817, Barstow has a total crime rate of 3,751.5 per 100,000 residents.
About Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, Arizona, the "Valley of the Sun," is a sprawling desert metropolis with a rich Native American heritage, including the Hohokam people. It's the fifth-largest city in the United States by population, experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 1,662,809, Phoenix has a total crime rate of 3,125.4 per 100,000 residents.