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Gainesville, FL vs Tampa, FL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Gainesville crime rate · Tampa crime rate

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Is Gainesville, FL or Tampa, FL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Tampa, FL is safer than Gainesville, FL (Safety Score 43/100 vs 14/100), with a total crime rate of 1,913 per 100,000 versus 3,448 for Gainesville, FL — 45% lower. Gainesville has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Tampa has a 56% lower rate.

Note: Tampa is 2.8x 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

Tampa — 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 2/7

Tampa, FL

Tampa, FL
Safety Score 43/100
Coverage 408,646
Total Crime Rate 1,912.7
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Gainesville Tampa Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,447.8 1,912.7 +1,535.1
Violent Crime Rate 744.1 447.3 +296.8
Murder Rate 4.8 8.8 -4.1
Rape Rate 85.7 41.9 +43.9
Robbery Rate 133.3 59.0 +74.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 514.2 335.0 +179.2
Property Crime Rate 2,703.7 1,465.3 +1,238.4
Burglary Rate 307.4 167.4 +140.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,292.9 1,154.5 +1,138.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 103.4 143.4 -40.0

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

Moving from Gainesville, FL to Tampa, FL?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gainesville or Tampa safer?

Tampa, FL is safer with a total crime rate of 1,913 per 100K vs 3,448 for Gainesville, FL — a 45% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Gainesville has a violent crime rate of 744.1 per 100K while Tampa has 447.3. Tampa 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 Tampa, FL

Tampa, a Gulf Coast city, boasts a rich Cuban heritage from its cigar industry days. It's a diverse port city situated on Tampa Bay, with a significant Hispanic population. With a safety score of 43/100 and a population coverage of 408,646, Tampa has a total crime rate of 1,912.7 per 100,000 residents.

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