Is Federal Way or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Federal Way is safer than Houston (Safety Score 4/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 4,918 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 10% lower. Federal Way has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Federal Way has a 63% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 24.0x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Federal Way — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Federal Way, WA
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Federal Way | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,917.7 | 5,441.7 | -524.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 545.4 | 1,148.3 | -602.9 |
| Murder Rate | 5.2 | 13.8 | -8.6 |
| Rape Rate | 51.7 | 73.0 | -21.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 150.1 | 274.0 | -124.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 338.4 | 787.4 | -449.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,372.3 | 4,293.5 | +78.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 573.3 | 644.8 | -71.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,655.5 | 2,945.7 | -290.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 1,143.5 | 703.0 | +440.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Federal Way or Houston safer?
Federal Way is safer with a total crime rate of 4,918 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 10% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Federal Way has a violent crime rate of 545.4 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Federal Way has lower violent crime.
About Federal Way, WA
Federal Way, a Puget Sound city, was once home to extensive timber operations. This diverse community, part of King County, is now a bustling suburban hub with a significant Asian population. With a safety score of 4/100 and a population coverage of 96,631, Federal Way has a total crime rate of 4,917.7 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.