Is Fort Worth or Palo Alto Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Fort Worth is safer than Palo Alto (Safety Score 17/100 vs 16/100), with a total crime rate of 3,158 per 100,000 versus 3,245 for Palo Alto — 3% lower. Fort Worth has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Palo Alto has a 79% lower rate.
Note: Fort Worth is 15.3x 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
Palo Alto — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Fort Worth, TX
Palo Alto, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Fort Worth | Palo Alto | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,158.5 | 3,245.3 | -86.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 458.7 | 212.1 | +246.6 |
| Murder Rate | 7.4 | 1.5 | +5.9 |
| Rape Rate | 55.2 | 38.4 | +16.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 72.6 | 53.8 | +18.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 323.1 | 118.3 | +204.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,699.8 | 3,033.2 | -333.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 344.6 | 225.9 | +118.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,841.9 | 2,623.0 | -781.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 513.4 | 184.4 | +329.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Worth or Palo Alto safer?
Fort Worth is safer with a total crime rate of 3,158 per 100K vs 3,245 for Palo Alto — a 3% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Fort Worth has a violent crime rate of 458.7 per 100K while Palo Alto has 212.1. Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, is a wealthy Silicon Valley hub home to Stanford University. Its residents are highly educated, with a significant portion holding advanced degrees. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 65,079, Palo Alto has a total crime rate of 3,245.3 per 100,000 residents.