Is Lafayette or Springfield Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Springfield is safer than Lafayette (Safety Score 3/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 5,364 per 100,000 versus 5,414 for Lafayette — 1% lower. Lafayette has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Springfield has a 60% lower rate.
Lafayette — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Springfield — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lafayette, LA
Springfield, MO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lafayette | Springfield | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,413.6 | 5,364.0 | +49.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,066.1 | 1,179.3 | -113.2 |
| Murder Rate | 14.8 | 5.9 | +9.0 |
| Rape Rate | 33.8 | 104.4 | -70.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 69.2 | 123.7 | -54.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 948.4 | 944.1 | +4.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,347.5 | 4,184.7 | +162.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 661.1 | 726.6 | -65.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,227.9 | 3,001.3 | +226.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 458.6 | 456.8 | +1.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lafayette or Springfield safer?
Springfield is safer with a total crime rate of 5,364 per 100K vs 5,414 for Lafayette — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lafayette has a violent crime rate of 1,066.1 per 100K while Springfield has 1,179.3. Lafayette has lower violent crime.
About Lafayette, LA
Lafayette, at the heart of Acadiana, is a vibrant hub of Cajun and Creole culture, known for its lively music and food scene. Situated along the Vermilion River, it's the most populous city in the Lafayette metropolitan area. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 121,471, Lafayette has a total crime rate of 5,413.6 per 100,000 residents.
About Springfield, MO
Springfield, MO, "Queen City of the Ozarks," is a regional hub in southwest Missouri. Home to Bass Pro Shops' first store, it's a growing metropolitan area with a population of over 169,000. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 170,527, Springfield has a total crime rate of 5,364.0 per 100,000 residents.