Is Fort Worth or Lake Charles Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Lake Charles is safer than Fort Worth (Safety Score 18/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 3,083 per 100,000 versus 3,158 for Fort Worth — 2% lower. Fort Worth has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Fort Worth has a 55% lower rate.
Note: Fort Worth is 12.8x 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
Lake Charles — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Fort Worth, TX
Lake Charles, LA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Fort Worth | Lake Charles | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,158.5 | 3,082.8 | +75.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 458.7 | 613.0 | -154.3 |
| Murder Rate | 7.4 | 16.7 | -9.3 |
| Rape Rate | 55.2 | 52.6 | +2.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 72.6 | 64.1 | +8.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 323.1 | 479.6 | -156.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,699.8 | 2,469.8 | +230.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 344.6 | 613.0 | -268.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,841.9 | 1,651.7 | +190.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 513.4 | 205.2 | +308.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Worth or Lake Charles safer?
Lake Charles is safer with a total crime rate of 3,083 per 100K vs 3,158 for Fort Worth — a 2% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Fort Worth has a violent crime rate of 458.7 per 100K while Lake Charles has 613.0. 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 Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles, a port city in southwest Louisiana, is known for its Cajun and Creole culture. It sits on Lake Charles and the Calcasieu River, a hub for the petrochemical industry. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 77,982, Lake Charles has a total crime rate of 3,082.8 per 100,000 residents.