Is Houston or Pierre Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Pierre is safer than Houston (Safety Score 28/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 2,496 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 54% lower. Houston has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Pierre has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 167.8x 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
Pierre — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston, TX
Pierre, SD
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Houston | Pierre | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,441.7 | 2,496.0 | +2,945.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,148.3 | 506.4 | +641.8 |
| Murder Rate | 13.8 | 0.0 | +13.8 |
| Rape Rate | 73.0 | 72.4 | +0.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 274.0 | 7.2 | +266.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 787.4 | 426.9 | +360.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,293.5 | 1,989.6 | +2,303.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 644.8 | 238.8 | +406.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,945.7 | 1,541.0 | +1,404.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 703.0 | 209.8 | +493.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or Pierre safer?
Pierre is safer with a total crime rate of 2,496 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 54% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Houston has a violent crime rate of 1,148.3 per 100K while Pierre has 506.4. Pierre 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 Pierre, SD
Pierre, the capital of South Dakota, sits on the Missouri River. Its economy is largely driven by state government and agriculture. As of the 2020 census, its population was 14,091. With a safety score of 28/100 and a population coverage of 13,822, Pierre has a total crime rate of 2,496.0 per 100,000 residents.