Is St. Petersburg or Vero Beach Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Vero Beach is safer than St. Petersburg (Safety Score 98/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 318 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for St. Petersburg — 90% lower. St. Petersburg has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Vero Beach has a 100% lower rate.
Note: St. Petersburg is 15.0x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
St. Petersburg — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Vero Beach — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
St. Petersburg, FL
Vero Beach, FL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | St. Petersburg | Vero Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,080.8 | 317.8 | +2,763.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 621.9 | 45.4 | +576.5 |
| Murder Rate | 6.8 | 0.0 | +6.8 |
| Rape Rate | 43.4 | 11.4 | +32.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 81.5 | 5.7 | +75.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 487.9 | 28.4 | +459.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,458.9 | 272.4 | +2,186.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 209.4 | 28.4 | +181.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,029.8 | 244.0 | +1,785.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 219.6 | 0.0 | +219.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. Petersburg or Vero Beach safer?
Vero Beach is safer with a total crime rate of 318 per 100K vs 3,081 for St. Petersburg — a 90% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
St. Petersburg has a violent crime rate of 621.9 per 100K while Vero Beach has 45.4. Vero Beach has lower violent crime.
About St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg, Florida, known as the "Sunshine City," boasts a vibrant arts scene and beautiful waterfront parks along Tampa Bay. It is part of the Tampa Bay Area, a major metropolitan region on Florida's Gulf Coast. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 264,999, St. Petersburg has a total crime rate of 3,080.8 per 100,000 residents.
About Vero Beach, FL
Vero Beach, a city on Florida's Treasure Coast, is known for its citrus industry and as home to the Dodgertown training facility. Its residents are predominantly older, with a median age of 60. With a safety score of 98/100 and a population coverage of 17,622, Vero Beach has a total crime rate of 317.8 per 100,000 residents.