Is Fort Worth or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Fort Worth is safer than Houston (Safety Score 17/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 3,158 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 42% lower. Fort Worth has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Fort Worth has a 74% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 2.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Fort Worth — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Fort Worth, TX
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Fort Worth | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,158.5 | 5,441.7 | -2,283.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 458.7 | 1,148.3 | -689.6 |
| Murder Rate | 7.4 | 13.8 | -6.4 |
| Rape Rate | 55.2 | 73.0 | -17.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 72.6 | 274.0 | -201.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 323.1 | 787.4 | -464.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,699.8 | 4,293.5 | -1,593.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 344.6 | 644.8 | -300.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,841.9 | 2,945.7 | -1,103.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 513.4 | 703.0 | -189.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Worth or Houston safer?
Fort Worth is safer with a total crime rate of 3,158 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 42% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Fort Worth has a violent crime rate of 458.7 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Fort Worth has lower violent crime.
About Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth, a city where the West begins, boasts a rich cattle drive history evident in the Stockyards National Historic District. Located in North Central Texas, it's a populous city within the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 997,476, Fort Worth has a total crime rate of 3,158.5 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.