Is Houston or South St. Paul Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, South St. Paul is safer than Houston (Safety Score 51/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 1,671 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 69% lower. Houston has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where South St. Paul has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 112.3x 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
South St. Paul — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston, TX
South St. Paul, MN
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Houston | South St. Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,441.7 | 1,670.9 | +3,770.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,148.3 | 348.7 | +799.6 |
| Murder Rate | 13.8 | 0.0 | +13.8 |
| Rape Rate | 73.0 | 33.9 | +39.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 274.0 | 14.5 | +259.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 787.4 | 300.3 | +487.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,293.5 | 1,322.2 | +2,971.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 644.8 | 145.3 | +499.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,945.7 | 1,017.1 | +1,928.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 703.0 | 159.8 | +543.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or South St. Paul safer?
South St. Paul is safer with a total crime rate of 1,671 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 69% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Houston has a violent crime rate of 1,148.3 per 100K while South St. Paul has 348.7. South St. Paul 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 South St. Paul, MN
South St. Paul, once the "Cow Capital of the World," sits along the Mississippi River. This working-class city in Dakota County has a population of around 20,000. With a safety score of 51/100 and a population coverage of 20,648, South St. Paul has a total crime rate of 1,670.9 per 100,000 residents.