Is Desert Hot Springs or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Desert Hot Springs is safer than Houston (Safety Score 50/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 1,692 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 69% lower. Desert Hot Springs has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in property crime, where Desert Hot Springs has a 72% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 68.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Desert Hot Springs — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Desert Hot Springs, CA
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Desert Hot Springs | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,691.9 | 5,441.7 | -3,749.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 491.9 | 1,148.3 | -656.4 |
| Murder Rate | 8.9 | 13.8 | -4.9 |
| Rape Rate | 29.6 | 73.0 | -43.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 118.5 | 274.0 | -155.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 334.8 | 787.4 | -452.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,200.0 | 4,293.5 | -3,093.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 272.6 | 644.8 | -372.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 551.1 | 2,945.7 | -2,394.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 376.3 | 703.0 | -326.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Desert Hot Springs or Houston safer?
Desert Hot Springs is safer with a total crime rate of 1,692 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 69% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Desert Hot Springs has a violent crime rate of 491.9 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Desert Hot Springs has lower violent crime.
About Desert Hot Springs, CA
Desert Hot Springs, California, a city known for its natural hot springs, lies in the Coachella Valley. Founded by Cabot Yerxa, it is a small city with a population of around 32,000, primarily composed of working-class families. With a safety score of 50/100 and a population coverage of 33,749, Desert Hot Springs has a total crime rate of 1,691.9 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.