Salem vs Tempe Crime Comparison
Is Salem or Tempe Safer?
Salem is the safer city, with a total crime rate 1% lower than Tempe based on 2024 FBI data. Salem has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Tempe has a 42% lower rate.
Salem, OR
Safety Score
39/100
Population
177,936
Total Crime Rate
3,337.7
Category Wins
2/7
Tempe, AZ
Safety Score
38/100
Population
191,376
Total Crime Rate
3,364.1
Category Wins
5/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Salem | Tempe | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,337.7 | 3,364.1 | -26.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 534.5 | 470.3 | +64.2 |
| Murder Rate | 4.5 | 2.6 | +1.9 |
| Rape Rate | 37.1 | 71.6 | -34.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 88.8 | 66.4 | +22.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 401.8 | 329.7 | +72.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,803.3 | 2,893.8 | -90.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 442.3 | 334.4 | +107.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,965.9 | 2,257.9 | -292.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.1 | 301.5 | +93.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salem or Tempe safer?
Salem is safer with a total crime rate of 3,338 per 100K vs 3,364 for Tempe — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Salem has a violent crime rate of 534.5 per 100K while Tempe has 470.3. Tempe has lower violent crime.