Detroit vs Memphis Crime Comparison
Is Detroit or Memphis Safer?
Detroit is the safer city, with a total crime rate 35% lower than Memphis based on 2024 FBI data. Detroit has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Detroit has a 47% lower rate.
Detroit, MI
Safety Score
1/100
Population
651,171
Total Crime Rate
6,086.9
Category Wins
7/7
Memphis, TN
Safety Score
1/100
Population
613,207
Total Crime Rate
9,406.9
Category Wins
0/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Detroit | Memphis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 6,086.9 | 9,406.9 | -3,320.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,781.6 | 2,508.0 | -726.4 |
| Murder Rate | 31.2 | 40.6 | -9.4 |
| Rape Rate | 92.9 | 70.0 | +23.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 183.5 | 348.7 | -165.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 1,473.7 | 2,042.1 | -568.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,305.3 | 6,899.0 | -2,593.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 703.0 | 915.8 | -212.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,343.9 | 4,399.5 | -2,055.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 1,258.4 | 1,583.6 | -325.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Detroit or Memphis safer?
Detroit is safer with a total crime rate of 6,087 per 100K vs 9,407 for Memphis — a 35% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Detroit has a violent crime rate of 1,781.6 per 100K while Memphis has 2,508.0. Detroit has lower violent crime.