Is Haines City or St. Petersburg Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Haines City is safer than St. Petersburg (Safety Score 77/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 926 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for St. Petersburg — 70% lower. Haines City has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Haines City has a 85% lower rate.
Note: St. Petersburg is 6.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Haines City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
St. Petersburg — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Haines City, FL
St. Petersburg, FL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Haines City | St. Petersburg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 926.0 | 3,080.8 | -2,154.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 131.6 | 621.9 | -490.3 |
| Murder Rate | 4.9 | 6.8 | -1.9 |
| Rape Rate | 9.8 | 43.4 | -33.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 12.2 | 81.5 | -69.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 104.8 | 487.9 | -383.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 794.4 | 2,458.9 | -1,664.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 138.9 | 209.4 | -70.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 599.5 | 2,029.8 | -1,430.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 56.1 | 219.6 | -163.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Haines City or St. Petersburg safer?
Haines City is safer with a total crime rate of 926 per 100K vs 3,081 for St. Petersburg — a 70% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Haines City has a violent crime rate of 131.6 per 100K while St. Petersburg has 621.9. Haines City has lower violent crime.
About Haines City, FL
Haines City, once known as "The Heart of Florida" for its central location, lies in Polk County. This city, with a significant Hispanic population, is near several large lakes in Central Florida. With a safety score of 77/100 and a population coverage of 41,035, Haines City has a total crime rate of 926.0 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.