Is Seattle or Spokane Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Spokane is safer than Seattle (Safety Score 3/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 5,518 per 100,000 versus 5,783 for Seattle — 5% lower. Seattle has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Spokane has a 34% lower rate.
Note: Seattle is 3.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Seattle — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Spokane — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Seattle, WA
Spokane, WA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Seattle | Spokane | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,783.1 | 5,518.3 | +264.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 775.5 | 677.5 | +98.0 |
| Murder Rate | 6.8 | 7.0 | -0.1 |
| Rape Rate | 46.3 | 76.7 | -30.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 220.6 | 145.1 | +75.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 501.3 | 446.1 | +55.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,007.6 | 4,840.8 | +166.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 1,152.0 | 646.5 | +505.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,882.0 | 3,668.8 | -786.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 973.6 | 525.4 | +448.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seattle or Spokane safer?
Spokane is safer with a total crime rate of 5,518 per 100K vs 5,783 for Seattle — a 5% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Seattle has a violent crime rate of 775.5 per 100K while Spokane has 677.5. Spokane has lower violent crime.
About Seattle, WA
Seattle, a major port city in the Pacific Northwest, is known for its vibrant music scene, particularly grunge, which emerged here. Situated on an isthmus between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, it’s home to a diverse population with a strong tech industry presence. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 760,058, Seattle has a total crime rate of 5,783.1 per 100,000 residents.
About Spokane, WA
Spokane, the "Lilac City," sits on the Spokane River in Eastern Washington, near the Idaho border. Home to Fairchild Air Force Base, its population is around 229,000. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 229,529, Spokane has a total crime rate of 5,518.3 per 100,000 residents.