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Gaithersburg vs La Plata Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Gaithersburg crime rate · La Plata crime rate

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Is Gaithersburg or La Plata Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Gaithersburg is safer than La Plata (Safety Score 54/100 vs 42/100), with a total crime rate of 1,565 per 100,000 versus 1,970 for La Plata — 21% lower. Gaithersburg has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where La Plata has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Gaithersburg is 6.3x 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 Gaithersburg, MD?

Gaithersburg — 2-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

La Plata — 2-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Gaithersburg, MD

Gaithersburg, MD
Safety Score 54/100
Coverage 69,590
Total Crime Rate 1,564.9
Category Wins 4/7

La Plata, MD

La Plata, MD
Safety Score 42/100
Coverage 11,114
Total Crime Rate 1,970.5
Category Wins 3/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Gaithersburg La Plata Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,564.9 1,970.5 -405.6
Violent Crime Rate 252.9 215.9 +37.0
Murder Rate 1.4 0.0 +1.4
Rape Rate 28.7 0.0 +28.7
Robbery Rate 64.7 18.0 +46.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 158.1 198.0 -39.9
Property Crime Rate 1,312.0 1,754.5 -442.6
Burglary Rate 150.9 233.9 -83.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,023.1 1,340.7 -317.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 138.0 180.0 -42.0

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

Moving from Gaithersburg, MD to La Plata, MD?

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 Gaithersburg or La Plata safer?

Gaithersburg is safer with a total crime rate of 1,565 per 100K vs 1,970 for La Plata — a 21% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Gaithersburg has a violent crime rate of 252.9 per 100K while La Plata has 215.9. La Plata has lower violent crime.

About Gaithersburg, MD

Gaithersburg, a diverse city in Montgomery County, boasts a rich agricultural past, evidenced by its annual county fair. Situated along the I-270 technology corridor, it's a bustling hub with a significant immigrant population. With a safety score of 54/100 and a population coverage of 69,590, Gaithersburg has a total crime rate of 1,564.9 per 100,000 residents.

About La Plata, MD

La Plata, the county seat of Charles County, is a small town in Southern Maryland. It's home to the College of Southern Maryland and boasts a historic downtown district. With a safety score of 42/100 and a population coverage of 11,114, La Plata has a total crime rate of 1,970.5 per 100,000 residents.

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