Houston vs Los Angeles Crime Comparison
Is Houston or Los Angeles Safer?
Los Angeles is the safer city, with a total crime rate 59% lower than Houston based on 2024 FBI data. Houston has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in property crime, where Los Angeles has a 65% lower rate.
Houston, TX
Safety Score
1/100
Population
2,319,160
Total Crime Rate
5,441.7
Category Wins
0/7
Los Angeles, CA
Safety Score
59/100
Population
3,796,352
Total Crime Rate
2,212.5
Category Wins
7/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Houston | Los Angeles | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,441.7 | 2,212.5 | +3,229.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,148.3 | 728.5 | +419.7 |
| Murder Rate | 13.8 | 7.0 | +6.9 |
| Rape Rate | 73.0 | 40.3 | +32.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 274.0 | 209.9 | +64.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 787.4 | 471.4 | +316.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,293.5 | 1,483.9 | +2,809.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 644.8 | 372.8 | +272.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,945.7 | 851.5 | +2,094.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 703.0 | 259.6 | +443.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or Los Angeles safer?
Los Angeles is safer with a total crime rate of 2,212 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 59% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Houston has a violent crime rate of 1,148.3 per 100K while Los Angeles has 728.5. Los Angeles has lower violent crime.