Is Houston or Spokane Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Houston is safer than Spokane (Safety Score 3/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 5,442 per 100,000 versus 5,518 for Spokane — 1% lower. Houston has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Spokane has a 49% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 10.1x 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
Spokane — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston, TX
Spokane, WA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Houston | Spokane | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,441.7 | 5,518.3 | -76.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,148.3 | 677.5 | +470.8 |
| Murder Rate | 13.8 | 7.0 | +6.8 |
| Rape Rate | 73.0 | 76.7 | -3.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 274.0 | 145.1 | +128.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 787.4 | 446.1 | +341.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,293.5 | 4,840.8 | -547.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 644.8 | 646.5 | -1.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,945.7 | 3,668.8 | -723.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 703.0 | 525.4 | +177.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston or Spokane safer?
Houston is safer with a total crime rate of 5,442 per 100K vs 5,518 for Spokane — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Houston has a violent crime rate of 1,148.3 per 100K while Spokane has 677.5. Spokane 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 Spokane, WA
Spokane, the "Lilac City," sits on the Spokane River in Eastern Washington, near the Idaho border. Home to Fairchild Air Force Base, its population is around 229,000. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 229,529, Spokane has a total crime rate of 5,518.3 per 100,000 residents.