Is Houston or Rapid City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Rapid City is safer than Houston (Safety Score 6/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 4,516 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 17% lower. Houston has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Rapid City has a 62% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 28.6x 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
Rapid City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston, TX
Rapid City, SD
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Houston | Rapid City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,441.7 | 4,516.0 | +925.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,148.3 | 723.8 | +424.4 |
| Murder Rate | 13.8 | 6.2 | +7.6 |
| Rape Rate | 73.0 | 135.9 | -62.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 274.0 | 103.8 | +170.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 787.4 | 473.1 | +314.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,293.5 | 3,792.1 | +501.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 644.8 | 427.4 | +217.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,945.7 | 2,986.8 | -41.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 703.0 | 378.0 | +325.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or Rapid City safer?
Rapid City is safer with a total crime rate of 4,516 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 17% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Houston has a violent crime rate of 1,148.3 per 100K while Rapid City has 723.8. Rapid 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 Rapid City, SD
Rapid City, nestled at the foot of the Black Hills, is a gateway to Mount Rushmore. This city in western South Dakota has a population of over 78,000, making it the second largest in the state. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 80,957, Rapid City has a total crime rate of 4,516.0 per 100,000 residents.