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Ellensburg vs Tacoma Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Ellensburg crime rate · Tacoma crime rate

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Is Ellensburg or Tacoma Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Ellensburg is safer than Tacoma (Safety Score 30/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 2,409 per 100,000 versus 6,667 for Tacoma — 64% lower. Ellensburg has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Ellensburg has a 88% lower rate.

Note: Tacoma is 12.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Ellensburg, WA?

Ellensburg — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Tacoma — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Ellensburg, WA

Ellensburg, WA
Safety Score 30/100
Coverage 18,472
Total Crime Rate 2,409.1
Category Wins 7/7

Tacoma, WA

Tacoma, WA
Safety Score 1/100
Coverage 223,980
Total Crime Rate 6,666.7
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Ellensburg Tacoma Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,409.1 6,666.7 -4,257.6
Violent Crime Rate 227.4 1,063.0 -835.7
Murder Rate 5.4 9.8 -4.4
Rape Rate 92.0 67.9 +24.2
Robbery Rate 21.7 184.4 -162.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 108.3 801.0 -692.7
Property Crime Rate 2,181.7 5,603.6 -3,422.0
Burglary Rate 243.6 669.7 -426.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,856.9 3,521.3 -1,664.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 81.2 1,412.6 -1,331.4

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Ellensburg, WA to Tacoma, WA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ellensburg or Tacoma safer?

Ellensburg is safer with a total crime rate of 2,409 per 100K vs 6,667 for Tacoma — a 64% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Ellensburg has a violent crime rate of 227.4 per 100K while Tacoma has 1,063.0. Ellensburg has lower violent crime.

About Ellensburg, WA

Ellensburg, a Kittitas Valley city, is home to Central Washington University and a rich rodeo tradition. Its location east of the Cascade Mountains contributes to its drier climate and agricultural roots, with a population around 20,000. With a safety score of 30/100 and a population coverage of 18,472, Ellensburg has a total crime rate of 2,409.1 per 100,000 residents.

About Tacoma, WA

Tacoma, nestled on Commencement Bay, boasts a rich industrial past, once a major port for timber and rail. Today, this diverse city, home to over 200,000 residents, features a vibrant arts scene and stunning views of Mount Rainier. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 223,980, Tacoma has a total crime rate of 6,666.7 per 100,000 residents.

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