Is Lake Charles or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, New York City is safer than Lake Charles (Safety Score 19/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 3,083 for Lake Charles — 1% lower. Lake Charles has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where New York City has a 76% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 106.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Lake Charles — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lake Charles, LA
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lake Charles | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,082.8 | 3,039.7 | +43.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 613.0 | 671.4 | -58.5 |
| Murder Rate | 16.7 | 3.9 | +12.8 |
| Rape Rate | 52.6 | 23.4 | +29.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 64.1 | 187.5 | -123.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 479.6 | 456.2 | +23.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,469.8 | 2,368.3 | +101.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 613.0 | 154.7 | +458.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,651.7 | 2,015.0 | -363.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 205.2 | 198.5 | +6.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Charles or New York City safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 3,083 for Lake Charles — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lake Charles has a violent crime rate of 613.0 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. Lake Charles has lower violent crime.
About Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles, a port city in southwest Louisiana, is known for its Cajun and Creole culture. It sits on Lake Charles and the Calcasieu River, a hub for the petrochemical industry. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 77,982, Lake Charles has a total crime rate of 3,082.8 per 100,000 residents.
About New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.