Is Berkeley or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Houston is safer than Berkeley (Safety Score 3/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 5,442 per 100,000 versus 5,869 for Berkeley — 7% lower. Berkeley has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Berkeley has a 57% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 19.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Berkeley — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Berkeley, CA
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Berkeley | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,868.8 | 5,441.7 | +427.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 639.7 | 1,148.3 | -508.6 |
| Murder Rate | 6.0 | 13.8 | -7.8 |
| Rape Rate | 46.0 | 73.0 | -27.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 186.5 | 274.0 | -87.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 400.3 | 787.4 | -387.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,229.1 | 4,293.5 | +935.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 661.0 | 644.8 | +16.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,655.9 | 2,945.7 | +710.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 912.3 | 703.0 | +209.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berkeley or Houston safer?
Houston is safer with a total crime rate of 5,442 per 100K vs 5,869 for Berkeley — a 7% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Berkeley has a violent crime rate of 639.7 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Berkeley has lower violent crime.
About Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, California, home to a world-renowned university and the Free Speech Movement, sits on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. This diverse city's population is highly educated, with a significant proportion holding graduate degrees. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 117,400, Berkeley has a total crime rate of 5,868.8 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.