Is Gainesville or St. Petersburg Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, St. Petersburg is safer than Gainesville (Safety Score 18/100 vs 14/100), with a total crime rate of 3,081 per 100,000 versus 3,448 for Gainesville — 11% lower. Gainesville has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where St. Petersburg has a 39% lower rate.
Gainesville — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
St. Petersburg — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Gainesville, FL
St. Petersburg, FL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Gainesville | St. Petersburg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,447.8 | 3,080.8 | +367.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 744.1 | 621.9 | +122.2 |
| Murder Rate | 4.8 | 6.8 | -2.0 |
| Rape Rate | 85.7 | 43.4 | +42.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 133.3 | 81.5 | +51.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 514.2 | 487.9 | +26.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,703.7 | 2,458.9 | +244.8 |
| Burglary Rate | 307.4 | 209.4 | +98.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,292.9 | 2,029.8 | +263.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 103.4 | 219.6 | -116.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gainesville or St. Petersburg safer?
St. Petersburg is safer with a total crime rate of 3,081 per 100K vs 3,448 for Gainesville — a 11% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Gainesville has a violent crime rate of 744.1 per 100K while St. Petersburg has 621.9. St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg, Florida, known as the "Sunshine City," boasts a vibrant arts scene and beautiful waterfront parks along Tampa Bay. It is part of the Tampa Bay Area, a major metropolitan region on Florida's Gulf Coast. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 264,999, St. Petersburg has a total crime rate of 3,080.8 per 100,000 residents.