Is Bay City or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Bay City is safer than Houston (Safety Score 14/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 3,424 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 37% lower. Bay City has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Bay City has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 133.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Bay City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bay City, TX
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bay City | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,424.3 | 5,441.7 | -2,017.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 580.3 | 1,148.3 | -568.0 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 13.8 | -13.8 |
| Rape Rate | 57.5 | 73.0 | -15.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 51.7 | 274.0 | -222.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 471.1 | 787.4 | -316.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,844.0 | 4,293.5 | -1,449.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 327.5 | 644.8 | -317.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,384.4 | 2,945.7 | -561.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 132.2 | 703.0 | -570.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bay City or Houston safer?
Bay City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,424 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 37% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bay City has a violent crime rate of 580.3 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Bay City has lower violent crime.
About Bay City, TX
Bay City, a Matagorda County seat, sits on the coastal prairie near the Colorado River. Established by the same company that founded the Texas Company (Texaco), its economy has historical ties to agriculture and oil. With a safety score of 14/100 and a population coverage of 17,405, Bay City has a total crime rate of 3,424.3 per 100,000 residents.
About Houston, TX
Houston, the "Space City," is a sprawling metropolis in Southeast Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Its diverse population makes it one of the most multicultural cities in the U.S., with significant Hispanic and Asian communities. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 2,319,160, Houston has a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents.