Is Houston or Lexington Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Lexington is safer than Houston (Safety Score 13/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 3,457 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 36% lower. Houston has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Lexington has a 69% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 116.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lexington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston, TX
Lexington, NC
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Houston | Lexington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,441.7 | 3,457.5 | +1,984.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,148.3 | 437.2 | +711.1 |
| Murder Rate | 13.8 | 15.1 | -1.3 |
| Rape Rate | 73.0 | 40.2 | +32.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 274.0 | 85.4 | +188.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 787.4 | 296.5 | +490.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,293.5 | 3,020.3 | +1,273.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 644.8 | 643.3 | +1.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,945.7 | 2,050.4 | +895.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 703.0 | 326.7 | +376.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or Lexington safer?
Lexington is safer with a total crime rate of 3,457 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 36% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Houston has a violent crime rate of 1,148.3 per 100K while Lexington has 437.2. Lexington has lower violent crime.
About Houston, TX
Houston, the "Space City," is a sprawling metropolis in Southeast Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Its diverse population makes it one of the most multicultural cities in the U.S., with significant Hispanic and Asian communities. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 2,319,160, Houston has a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents.
About Lexington, NC
Lexington, a city in Davidson County, is renowned as the "Barbecue Capital of the World." Situated in North Carolina's Piedmont Triad, it's a small city with a population just under 20,000. With a safety score of 13/100 and a population coverage of 19,899, Lexington has a total crime rate of 3,457.5 per 100,000 residents.