Is Palatka or St. Petersburg Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, St. Petersburg is safer than Palatka (Safety Score 18/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 3,081 per 100,000 versus 4,003 for Palatka — 23% lower. Palatka has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Palatka has a 100% lower rate.
Note: St. Petersburg is 24.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Palatka — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
St. Petersburg — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Palatka, FL
St. Petersburg, FL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Palatka | St. Petersburg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,003.3 | 3,080.8 | +922.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 268.1 | 621.9 | -353.8 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 6.8 | -6.8 |
| Rape Rate | 9.3 | 43.4 | -34.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 27.7 | 81.5 | -53.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 231.1 | 487.9 | -256.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,735.2 | 2,458.9 | +1,276.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 203.4 | 209.4 | -6.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,430.1 | 2,029.8 | +1,400.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 101.7 | 219.6 | -117.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palatka or St. Petersburg safer?
St. Petersburg is safer with a total crime rate of 3,081 per 100K vs 4,003 for Palatka — a 23% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Palatka has a violent crime rate of 268.1 per 100K while St. Petersburg has 621.9. Palatka has lower violent crime.
About Palatka, FL
Palatka, a city on the St. Johns River, was once a major steamboat stop. It's the county seat of Putnam County, with a diverse, working-class population. With a safety score of 8/100 and a population coverage of 10,816, Palatka has a total crime rate of 4,003.3 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.