Is Houston or Ponca City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Ponca City is safer than Houston (Safety Score 18/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 3,080 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 43% lower. Houston has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Ponca City has a 85% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 95.5x 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
Ponca City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston, TX
Ponca City, OK
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Houston | Ponca City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,441.7 | 3,080.0 | +2,361.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,148.3 | 576.5 | +571.8 |
| Murder Rate | 13.8 | 8.2 | +5.6 |
| Rape Rate | 73.0 | 86.5 | -13.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 274.0 | 41.2 | +232.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 787.4 | 440.6 | +346.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,293.5 | 2,503.5 | +1,790.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 644.8 | 584.7 | +60.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,945.7 | 1,626.5 | +1,319.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 703.0 | 292.4 | +410.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or Ponca City safer?
Ponca City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,080 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 Ponca City has 576.5. Ponca City 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 Ponca City, OK
Ponca City, a northern Oklahoma community, was founded during the Cherokee Outlet Land Run. It boasts a diverse population of around 24,000, situated along the Arkansas River. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 24,286, Ponca City has a total crime rate of 3,080.0 per 100,000 residents.