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Gainesville, FL vs Phoenix, AZ Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Gainesville crime rate · Phoenix crime rate

Moving from Gainesville, FL to Phoenix, AZ?

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Is Gainesville, FL or Phoenix, AZ Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Phoenix, AZ is safer than Gainesville, FL (Safety Score 17/100 vs 14/100), with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100,000 versus 3,448 for Gainesville, FL — 9% lower. Gainesville has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Gainesville has a 43% lower rate.

Note: Phoenix is 11.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Gainesville, FL?

Gainesville — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Phoenix — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Gainesville, FL

Gainesville, FL
Safety Score 14/100
Coverage 147,022
Total Crime Rate 3,447.8
Category Wins 5/7

Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ
Safety Score 17/100
Coverage 1,662,809
Total Crime Rate 3,125.4
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Gainesville Phoenix Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,447.8 3,125.4 +322.4
Violent Crime Rate 744.1 800.0 -55.9
Murder Rate 4.8 8.4 -3.6
Rape Rate 85.7 64.3 +21.4
Robbery Rate 133.3 181.6 -48.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 514.2 545.3 -31.1
Property Crime Rate 2,703.7 2,325.3 +378.3
Burglary Rate 307.4 317.2 -9.7
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,292.9 1,582.1 +710.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 103.4 426.0 -322.6

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Gainesville, FL to Phoenix, AZ?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gainesville or Phoenix safer?

Phoenix, AZ is safer with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100K vs 3,448 for Gainesville, FL — a 9% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Gainesville has a violent crime rate of 744.1 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. Gainesville has lower violent crime.

About Gainesville, FL

Gainesville, home to the University of Florida, is a central North Florida city. Its humid subtropical climate supports a diverse population of over 140,000 residents. With a safety score of 14/100 and a population coverage of 147,022, Gainesville has a total crime rate of 3,447.8 per 100,000 residents.

About Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, Arizona, the "Valley of the Sun," is a sprawling desert metropolis with a rich Native American heritage, including the Hohokam people. It's the fifth-largest city in the United States by population, experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 1,662,809, Phoenix has a total crime rate of 3,125.4 per 100,000 residents.

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