Is St. Petersburg or Winter Haven Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Winter Haven is safer than St. Petersburg (Safety Score 47/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 1,785 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for St. Petersburg — 42% lower. St. Petersburg has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Winter Haven has a 71% lower rate.
Note: St. Petersburg is 4.5x 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
Winter Haven — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
St. Petersburg, FL
Winter Haven, FL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | St. Petersburg | Winter Haven | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,080.8 | 1,784.7 | +1,296.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 621.9 | 235.5 | +386.4 |
| Murder Rate | 6.8 | 6.7 | +0.1 |
| Rape Rate | 43.4 | 5.1 | +38.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 81.5 | 23.6 | +58.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 487.9 | 200.2 | +287.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,458.9 | 1,549.2 | +909.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 209.4 | 161.5 | +48.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,029.8 | 1,278.4 | +751.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 219.6 | 109.3 | +110.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. Petersburg or Winter Haven safer?
Winter Haven is safer with a total crime rate of 1,785 per 100K vs 3,081 for St. Petersburg — a 42% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
St. Petersburg has a violent crime rate of 621.9 per 100K while Winter Haven has 235.5. Winter Haven 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 Winter Haven, FL
Winter Haven, "The Chain of Lakes City," is a Polk County city in Central Florida. It was once home to Cypress Gardens, Florida's first theme park, which significantly shaped its tourism-dependent economy. With a safety score of 47/100 and a population coverage of 59,450, Winter Haven has a total crime rate of 1,784.7 per 100,000 residents.