Is Palo Alto or Phoenix Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Phoenix is safer than Palo Alto (Safety Score 17/100 vs 16/100), with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100,000 versus 3,245 for Palo Alto — 4% lower. Palo Alto has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Palo Alto has a 82% lower rate.
Note: Phoenix is 25.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Palo Alto — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Phoenix — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Palo Alto, CA
Phoenix, AZ
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Palo Alto | Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,245.3 | 3,125.4 | +119.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 212.1 | 800.0 | -588.0 |
| Murder Rate | 1.5 | 8.4 | -6.8 |
| Rape Rate | 38.4 | 64.3 | -25.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 53.8 | 181.6 | -127.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 118.3 | 545.3 | -427.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,033.2 | 2,325.3 | +707.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 225.9 | 317.2 | -91.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,623.0 | 1,582.1 | +1,040.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 184.4 | 426.0 | -241.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palo Alto or Phoenix safer?
Phoenix is safer with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100K vs 3,245 for Palo Alto — a 4% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Palo Alto has a violent crime rate of 212.1 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. Palo Alto has lower violent crime.
About Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, is a wealthy Silicon Valley hub home to Stanford University. Its residents are highly educated, with a significant portion holding advanced degrees. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 65,079, Palo Alto has a total crime rate of 3,245.3 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.