Is St. Louis City or Washington Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Washington is safer than St. Louis City (Safety Score 56/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 1,496 per 100,000 versus 7,076 for St. Louis City — 79% lower. St. Louis City has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Washington has a 97% lower rate.
Note: St. Louis City is 17.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
St. Louis City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Washington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
St. Louis City, MO
Washington, MO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | St. Louis City | Washington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 7,075.9 | 1,496.2 | +5,579.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,368.9 | 254.7 | +1,114.3 |
| Murder Rate | 54.1 | 6.4 | +47.7 |
| Rape Rate | 58.1 | 44.6 | +13.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 249.6 | 6.4 | +243.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 1,005.4 | 197.4 | +808.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,706.9 | 1,241.5 | +4,465.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 819.7 | 76.4 | +743.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,412.3 | 1,069.6 | +2,342.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 1,475.0 | 95.5 | +1,379.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. Louis City or Washington safer?
Washington is safer with a total crime rate of 1,496 per 100K vs 7,076 for St. Louis City — a 79% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
St. Louis City has a violent crime rate of 1,368.9 per 100K while Washington has 254.7. Washington has lower violent crime.
About St. Louis City, MO
St. Louis City, Missouri, a major port on the Mississippi River, is home to the iconic Gateway Arch. With a population exceeding 300,000, it's a vibrant Midwestern hub with a rich German heritage. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 277,294, St. Louis City has a total crime rate of 7,075.9 per 100,000 residents.
About Washington, MO
Washington, Missouri, known for its historic German heritage and the Missouri Meerschaum Corncob Pipe Company, is a city in Franklin County along the Missouri River. Its population was estimated at 14,932 in 2022. With a safety score of 56/100 and a population coverage of 15,707, Washington has a total crime rate of 1,496.2 per 100,000 residents.