Is Bowie or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Bowie is safer than Houston (Safety Score 29/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 2,473 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 55% lower. Bowie has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Bowie has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 40.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Bowie — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bowie, MD
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bowie | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,473.3 | 5,441.7 | -2,968.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 193.2 | 1,148.3 | -955.0 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 13.8 | -13.8 |
| Rape Rate | 35.1 | 73.0 | -37.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 58.0 | 274.0 | -216.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 100.1 | 787.4 | -687.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,280.0 | 4,293.5 | -2,013.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 138.8 | 644.8 | -506.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,761.8 | 2,945.7 | -1,183.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 379.4 | 703.0 | -323.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bowie or Houston safer?
Bowie is safer with a total crime rate of 2,473 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 55% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bowie has a violent crime rate of 193.2 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Bowie has lower violent crime.
About Bowie, MD
Bowie, Maryland, a Prince George's County suburb, was originally a railroad stop called Huntington. It's home to Bowie State University, one of the nation's oldest Historically Black colleges. With a safety score of 29/100 and a population coverage of 56,929, Bowie has a total crime rate of 2,473.3 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.