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Knoxville vs Phoenix Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Knoxville crime rate · Phoenix crime rate

Moving from Knoxville, TN to Phoenix, AZ?

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Is Knoxville or Phoenix Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Phoenix is safer than Knoxville (Safety Score 17/100 vs 13/100), with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100,000 versus 3,462 for Knoxville — 10% lower. Knoxville has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Knoxville has a 55% lower rate.

Note: Phoenix is 8.3x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Knoxville, TN?

Knoxville — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Phoenix — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Knoxville, TN

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

Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ
Safety Score 17/100
Coverage 1,662,809
Total Crime Rate 3,125.4
Category Wins 4/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Knoxville Phoenix Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,461.6 3,125.4 +336.2
Violent Crime Rate 740.3 800.0 -59.7
Murder Rate 11.0 8.4 +2.6
Rape Rate 64.9 64.3 +0.6
Robbery Rate 81.8 181.6 -99.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 582.7 545.3 +37.3
Property Crime Rate 2,721.3 2,325.3 +395.9
Burglary Rate 328.8 317.2 +11.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,013.9 1,582.1 +431.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 378.6 426.0 -47.4

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

Moving from Knoxville, TN to Phoenix, AZ?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Knoxville or Phoenix safer?

Phoenix is safer with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100K vs 3,462 for Knoxville — a 10% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Knoxville has a violent crime rate of 740.3 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. 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 Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, Arizona, the "Valley of the Sun," is a sprawling desert metropolis with a rich Native American heritage, including the Hohokam people. It's the fifth-largest city in the United States by population, experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 1,662,809, Phoenix has a total crime rate of 3,125.4 per 100,000 residents.

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