Houston vs Phoenix Crime Comparison
Is Houston or Phoenix Safer?
Phoenix is the safer city, with a total crime rate 43% 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 Phoenix has a 46% lower rate.
Houston, TX
Safety Score
1/100
Population
2,319,160
Total Crime Rate
5,441.7
Category Wins
0/7
Phoenix, AZ
Safety Score
43/100
Population
1,662,809
Total Crime Rate
3,125.4
Category Wins
7/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Houston | Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,441.7 | 3,125.4 | +2,316.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,148.3 | 800.0 | +348.2 |
| Murder Rate | 13.8 | 8.4 | +5.4 |
| Rape Rate | 73.0 | 64.3 | +8.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 274.0 | 181.6 | +92.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 787.4 | 545.3 | +242.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,293.5 | 2,325.3 | +1,968.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 644.8 | 317.2 | +327.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,945.7 | 1,582.1 | +1,363.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 703.0 | 426.0 | +277.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or Phoenix safer?
Phoenix is safer with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 43% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Houston has a violent crime rate of 1,148.3 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. Phoenix has lower violent crime.