Is Dover or Phoenix Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Phoenix is safer than Dover (Safety Score 17/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100,000 versus 7,082 for Dover — 56% lower. Dover has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in property crime, where Phoenix has a 62% lower rate.
Note: Phoenix is 41.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Dover — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Phoenix — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Dover, DE
Phoenix, AZ
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Dover | Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 7,082.1 | 3,125.4 | +3,956.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,012.8 | 800.0 | +212.8 |
| Murder Rate | 17.5 | 8.4 | +9.1 |
| Rape Rate | 39.9 | 64.3 | -24.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 114.8 | 181.6 | -66.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 840.7 | 545.3 | +295.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 6,069.3 | 2,325.3 | +3,744.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 139.7 | 317.2 | -177.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 5,572.9 | 1,582.1 | +3,990.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 356.7 | 426.0 | -69.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dover or Phoenix safer?
Phoenix is safer with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100K vs 7,082 for Dover — a 56% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Dover has a violent crime rate of 1,012.8 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. Phoenix has lower violent crime.
About Dover, DE
Dover, Delaware, the state capital, is a small city on the St. Jones River. Home to Dover International Speedway, it's the second-largest city in Delaware with a population just under 40,000. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 40,087, Dover has a total crime rate of 7,082.1 per 100,000 residents.
About Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, Arizona, the "Valley of the Sun," is a sprawling desert metropolis with a rich Native American heritage, including the Hohokam people. It's the fifth-largest city in the United States by population, experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 1,662,809, Phoenix has a total crime rate of 3,125.4 per 100,000 residents.