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Knoxville vs Nashville Metro Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Knoxville crime rate · Nashville Metro crime rate

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Is Knoxville or Nashville Metro Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Knoxville is safer than Nashville Metro (Safety Score 13/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 3,462 per 100,000 versus 5,634 for Nashville Metro — 39% lower. Knoxville has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Knoxville has a 47% lower rate.

Note: Nashville Metro is 3.5x 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 Knoxville, TN?

Knoxville — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Nashville Metro — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, TN
Safety Score 13/100
Coverage 200,457
Total Crime Rate 3,461.6
Category Wins 7/7

Nashville Metro, TN

Safety Score 3/100
Coverage 698,987
Total Crime Rate 5,633.6
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Knoxville Nashville Metro Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,461.6 5,633.6 -2,172.0
Violent Crime Rate 740.3 1,124.1 -383.8
Murder Rate 11.0 14.6 -3.6
Rape Rate 64.9 72.0 -7.1
Robbery Rate 81.8 154.9 -73.1
Aggravated Assault Rate 582.7 882.6 -299.9
Property Crime Rate 2,721.3 4,509.5 -1,788.3
Burglary Rate 328.8 442.5 -113.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,013.9 3,344.4 -1,330.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 378.6 722.6 -344.0

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Knoxville, TN to Nashville Metro, TN?

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Knoxville or Nashville Metro safer?

Knoxville is safer with a total crime rate of 3,462 per 100K vs 5,634 for Nashville Metro — a 39% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Knoxville has a violent crime rate of 740.3 per 100K while Nashville Metro has 1,124.1. Knoxville has lower violent crime.

About Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, nestled in the Appalachian foothills, is a city of just under 200,000 residents. It boasts a rich musical heritage, notably as the birthplace of the Everly Brothers. The Tennessee River flows along its downtown, a reminder of its historical role in trade and industry. With a safety score of 13/100 and a population coverage of 200,457, Knoxville has a total crime rate of 3,461.6 per 100,000 residents.

About Nashville Metro, TN

Nashville Metro, the "Music City," is home to the Grand Ole Opry and a growing population of over 700,000 across Davidson County. Situated on the Cumberland River, it serves as a major transportation hub and cultural center in Middle Tennessee. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 698,987, Nashville Metro has a total crime rate of 5,633.6 per 100,000 residents.

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