Is Palo Alto or Waterbury Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Waterbury is safer than Palo Alto (Safety Score 16/100 vs 16/100), with a total crime rate of 3,241 per 100,000 versus 3,245 for Palo Alto — 0% lower. Palo Alto has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Palo Alto has a 78% lower rate.
Palo Alto — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Waterbury — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Palo Alto, CA
Waterbury, CT
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Palo Alto | Waterbury | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,245.3 | 3,241.1 | +4.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 212.1 | 322.5 | -110.4 |
| Murder Rate | 1.5 | 6.9 | -5.4 |
| Rape Rate | 38.4 | 44.2 | -5.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 53.8 | 104.9 | -51.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 118.3 | 166.4 | -48.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,033.2 | 2,918.6 | +114.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 225.9 | 229.7 | -3.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,623.0 | 2,054.4 | +568.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 184.4 | 634.5 | -450.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palo Alto or Waterbury safer?
Waterbury is safer with a total crime rate of 3,241 per 100K vs 3,245 for Palo Alto — a 0% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Palo Alto has a violent crime rate of 212.1 per 100K while Waterbury has 322.5. 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 Waterbury, CT
Waterbury, once a brass manufacturing hub, is a city in New Haven County. Situated on the Naugatuck River, it's home to a diverse population and distinct neighborhoods. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 115,363, Waterbury has a total crime rate of 3,241.1 per 100,000 residents.