Is Boone or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Boone is safer than Houston (Safety Score 74/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 999 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 82% lower. Boone has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Boone has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 115.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Boone — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Boone, NC
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Boone | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 998.8 | 5,441.7 | -4,442.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 89.9 | 1,148.3 | -1,058.4 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 13.8 | -13.8 |
| Rape Rate | 40.0 | 73.0 | -33.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 5.0 | 274.0 | -269.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 45.0 | 787.4 | -742.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 908.9 | 4,293.5 | -3,384.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 124.9 | 644.8 | -519.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 744.1 | 2,945.7 | -2,201.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 40.0 | 703.0 | -663.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boone or Houston safer?
Boone is safer with a total crime rate of 999 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 82% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Boone has a violent crime rate of 89.9 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Boone has lower violent crime.
About Boone, NC
Boone, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is home to Appalachian State University. This college town, named for Daniel Boone, has a population of around 20,000. With a safety score of 74/100 and a population coverage of 20,024, Boone has a total crime rate of 998.8 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.