Is Ocala or St. Petersburg Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, St. Petersburg is safer than Ocala (Safety Score 18/100 vs 12/100), with a total crime rate of 3,081 per 100,000 versus 3,561 for Ocala — 13% lower. Ocala has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Ocala has a 28% lower rate.
Note: St. Petersburg is 3.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Ocala — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
St. Petersburg — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Ocala, FL
St. Petersburg, FL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Ocala | St. Petersburg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,560.5 | 3,080.8 | +479.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 511.1 | 621.9 | -110.8 |
| Murder Rate | 7.1 | 6.8 | +0.4 |
| Rape Rate | 48.5 | 43.4 | +5.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 58.5 | 81.5 | -23.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 385.5 | 487.9 | -102.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,049.4 | 2,458.9 | +590.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 274.1 | 209.4 | +64.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,742.5 | 2,029.8 | +712.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 32.8 | 219.6 | -186.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ocala or St. Petersburg safer?
St. Petersburg is safer with a total crime rate of 3,081 per 100K vs 3,561 for Ocala — a 13% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Ocala has a violent crime rate of 511.1 per 100K while St. Petersburg has 621.9. Ocala has lower violent crime.
About Ocala, FL
Ocala, nestled in Marion County, is famed for its thoroughbred horse farms. This Central Florida city, with a significant retiree population, is also home to the historic Fort King National Historic Landmark. With a safety score of 12/100 and a population coverage of 70,046, Ocala has a total crime rate of 3,560.5 per 100,000 residents.
About St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg, Florida, known as the "Sunshine City," boasts a vibrant arts scene and beautiful waterfront parks along Tampa Bay. It is part of the Tampa Bay Area, a major metropolitan region on Florida's Gulf Coast. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 264,999, St. Petersburg has a total crime rate of 3,080.8 per 100,000 residents.