Moving from Kelso, WA to Tacoma, WA?
The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Is Kelso or Tacoma Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Kelso is safer than Tacoma (Safety Score 36/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 2,163 per 100,000 versus 6,667 for Tacoma — 68% lower. Kelso has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Kelso has a 78% lower rate.
Note: Tacoma is 17.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Kelso, WA?
Kelso — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Tacoma — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Kelso, WA
Tacoma, WA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Kelso | Tacoma | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,163.2 | 6,666.7 | -4,503.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 229.8 | 1,063.0 | -833.3 |
| Murder Rate | 7.9 | 9.8 | -1.9 |
| Rape Rate | 47.5 | 67.9 | -20.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 87.2 | 184.4 | -97.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 87.2 | 801.0 | -713.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,933.4 | 5,603.6 | -3,670.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 285.3 | 669.7 | -384.4 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,481.8 | 3,521.3 | -2,039.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 166.4 | 1,412.6 | -1,246.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Kelso, WA to Tacoma, WA?
The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kelso or Tacoma safer?
Kelso is safer with a total crime rate of 2,163 per 100K vs 6,667 for Tacoma — a 68% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Kelso has a violent crime rate of 229.8 per 100K while Tacoma has 1,063.0. Kelso has lower violent crime.
About Kelso, WA
Kelso, Washington, a Cowlitz River city founded by Peter Crawford, is known as the "Smelt Capital of the World." Situated in Cowlitz County, it shares a border with Longview, and its population was 12,969 as of the 2020 census. With a safety score of 36/100 and a population coverage of 12,620, Kelso has a total crime rate of 2,163.2 per 100,000 residents.
About Tacoma, WA
Tacoma, nestled on Commencement Bay, boasts a rich industrial past, once a major port for timber and rail. Today, this diverse city, home to over 200,000 residents, features a vibrant arts scene and stunning views of Mount Rainier. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 223,980, Tacoma has a total crime rate of 6,666.7 per 100,000 residents.