Is Houston or Santa Fe Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Santa Fe is safer than Houston (Safety Score 81/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 820 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 85% lower. Houston has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Santa Fe has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 177.6x 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
Santa Fe — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston, TX
Santa Fe, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Houston | Santa Fe | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,441.7 | 819.6 | +4,622.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,148.3 | 84.3 | +1,064.0 |
| Murder Rate | 13.8 | 0.0 | +13.8 |
| Rape Rate | 73.0 | 7.7 | +65.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 274.0 | 0.0 | +274.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 787.4 | 76.6 | +710.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,293.5 | 735.4 | +3,558.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 644.8 | 237.5 | +407.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,945.7 | 406.0 | +2,539.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 703.0 | 91.9 | +611.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or Santa Fe safer?
Santa Fe is safer with a total crime rate of 820 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 85% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Houston has a violent crime rate of 1,148.3 per 100K while Santa Fe has 84.3. Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe, TX
Santa Fe, Texas, a community just south of Houston, was named for its railroad connection to Galveston. This small city, with a population around 13,000, is part of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area. With a safety score of 81/100 and a population coverage of 13,055, Santa Fe has a total crime rate of 819.6 per 100,000 residents.