Cape Girardeau vs Lake Charles Crime Comparison
Is Cape Girardeau or Lake Charles Safer?
Cape Girardeau is the safer city, with a total crime rate 0% lower than Lake Charles based on 2024 FBI data. Cape Girardeau has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Cape Girardeau has a 56% lower rate.
Cape Girardeau, MO
Safety Score
44/100
Population
40,753
Total Crime Rate
3,079.5
Category Wins
4/7
Lake Charles, LA
Safety Score
43/100
Population
77,982
Total Crime Rate
3,082.8
Category Wins
3/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Cape Girardeau | Lake Charles | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,079.5 | 3,082.8 | -3.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 623.3 | 613.0 | +10.3 |
| Murder Rate | 7.4 | 16.7 | -9.3 |
| Rape Rate | 51.5 | 52.6 | -1.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 31.9 | 64.1 | -32.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 532.5 | 479.6 | +52.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,456.3 | 2,469.8 | -13.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 296.9 | 613.0 | -316.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,931.2 | 1,651.7 | +279.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 228.2 | 205.2 | +23.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cape Girardeau or Lake Charles safer?
Cape Girardeau is safer with a total crime rate of 3,080 per 100K vs 3,083 for Lake Charles — a 0% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Cape Girardeau has a violent crime rate of 623.3 per 100K while Lake Charles has 613.0. Lake Charles has lower violent crime.