Is Gaffney or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Gaffney is safer than Houston (Safety Score 6/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 4,404 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 19% lower. Gaffney has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Gaffney has a 94% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 187.0x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Gaffney — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Gaffney, SC
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Gaffney | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,403.6 | 5,441.7 | -1,038.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 225.8 | 1,148.3 | -922.4 |
| Murder Rate | 16.1 | 13.8 | +2.3 |
| Rape Rate | 56.5 | 73.0 | -16.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 16.1 | 274.0 | -257.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 137.1 | 787.4 | -650.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,177.8 | 4,293.5 | -115.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 645.2 | 644.8 | +0.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,137.4 | 2,945.7 | +191.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.2 | 703.0 | -307.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gaffney or Houston safer?
Gaffney is safer with a total crime rate of 4,404 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 19% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Gaffney has a violent crime rate of 225.8 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Gaffney has lower violent crime.
About Gaffney, SC
Gaffney, SC, home to the iconic Peachoid water tower, sits in Cherokee County. This small Southern town, with a population around 13,000, is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson combined statistical area. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 12,399, Gaffney has a total crime rate of 4,403.6 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.