Is Flint or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Flint is safer than Houston (Safety Score 27/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 2,570 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 53% lower. Flint has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Flint has a 78% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 29.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Flint — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Flint, MI
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Flint | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,570.0 | 5,441.7 | -2,871.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,257.9 | 1,148.3 | +109.6 |
| Murder Rate | 25.3 | 13.8 | +11.5 |
| Rape Rate | 59.4 | 73.0 | -13.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 60.6 | 274.0 | -213.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 1,112.6 | 787.4 | +325.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,312.2 | 4,293.5 | -2,981.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 277.8 | 644.8 | -366.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 732.5 | 2,945.7 | -2,213.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 301.8 | 703.0 | -401.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flint or Houston safer?
Flint is safer with a total crime rate of 2,570 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 53% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Flint has a violent crime rate of 1,257.9 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Houston has lower violent crime.
About Flint, MI
Flint, Michigan, once a General Motors boomtown, sits on the Flint River in Genesee County. Its population is predominantly African American, a legacy of the Great Migration. With a safety score of 27/100 and a population coverage of 79,183, Flint has a total crime rate of 2,570.0 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.