Is this tool providing legal advice?

No. This tool provides general informational comparisons using publicly available crime index data. It is NOT legal advice, NOT safety guidance, and should NOT be used as the sole basis for any legal, housing, employment, or insurance decisions. Always consult qualified professionals and official sources for decisions that have legal implications.

Where does the crime data come from?

The crime index data is derived from publicly available sources, primarily based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data and other public domain crime statistics. This data represents reported crimes aggregated at the city level and indexed against national averages. The data may be 1-2 years old due to publication lag.

Why do scores differ from FBI reports or other crime statistics I've seen?

Different sources use different methodologies, weighting systems, and baseline years. FBI UCR data presents raw crime rates; crime indices normalize these against national averages and may weight categories differently. Additionally, some sources include different crime categories or use different geographic boundaries. Our composite index weights violent crime at 60% and property crime at 40%.

Can I use this data to determine if a city is 'safe' or 'dangerous'?

No. Crime indices are statistical aggregates that cannot determine whether any individual city, neighborhood, or location is 'safe' or 'dangerous.' Safety is highly localized (varying block-by-block), depends on time of day, personal circumstances, and many factors not captured in aggregate statistics. Use this tool as one of many inputs in your research, not as a safety determination.

Why isn't my city in the database?

This tool includes crime data for major US cities with available public statistics. Smaller cities, towns, and some jurisdictions may not have standardized crime index data available. If your city isn't found, the tool will use national average values (100) as a placeholder and display a warning.

How is the composite index calculated?

The composite crime index is calculated as: Composite = (Violent Crime Index × 0.6) + (Property Crime Index × 0.4). Violent crime is weighted more heavily (60%) due to its severity and direct threat to personal safety. Each category index is normalized so that 100 equals the US national average.

Should I avoid cities with high crime indices?

Not necessarily. A city's aggregate index masks enormous variation between neighborhoods. Many 'high index' cities have extensive low-crime areas, while some 'low index' cities have high-crime pockets. Focus on researching specific neighborhoods within any city you're considering, using local crime maps and police department data.

How often is the data updated?

Crime data is updated periodically based on the availability of new public statistics. Due to the nature of crime reporting and data publication, there is typically a 1-2 year lag between when crimes occur and when they appear in aggregated indices. The tool displays the data year for transparency.

Can I compare more than two cities at once?

Currently, this tool supports comparing two cities side-by-side. For broader comparisons across multiple cities, you can run multiple comparisons or use the Explore Cities tool which provides additional city metrics including cost of living, income levels, and other factors.

What should I do after using this tool?

Use the results as a starting point for deeper research: (1) Research specific neighborhoods using local police crime maps, (2) Check official FBI UCR data directly, (3) Read local news and community forums, (4) Visit neighborhoods in person at different times, (5) Talk to current residents, (6) Consider factors beyond crime like cost of living, job market, quality of life.

City Crime Risk Index & Comparison

Compare crime index levels between two US cities using public data. View violent crime, property crime, and composite safety scores.

Non-legal, general information only

Compare City Crime Risk

Compare crime index levels between two US cities using public data. View violent crime, property crime, and composite safety scores.

City A

City Name *

State *

City B

City Name *

State *

This comparison uses public crime index data. Results are for general information only and do not constitute legal or safety advice.

Compare City Crime Risk Indices

Enter two cities to compare their relative crime index scores. This tool uses public domain crime data to show violent crime, property crime, and overall composite indices.

Disclaimer: This is NOT legal advice or a safety guarantee. Crime indices are statistical aggregates and do not predict individual safety. Always research official sources and visit locations in person.

Understanding relative crime levels between cities is an important factor when considering relocation, job offers in different metros, or simply researching where to visit or invest. However, crime statistics can be misleading without proper context. This tool helps you compare aggregate crime indices between two US cities, giving you a data-driven starting point for your research—while clearly acknowledging the significant limitations of any such comparison.

Crime indices aggregate multiple data points—violent crimes (homicide, assault, robbery, rape) and property crimes (burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft, arson)—into composite scores that can be compared across jurisdictions. A score of 100 represents the national average. Cities with scores below 100 have statistically fewer reported crimes per capita than average; cities above 100 have more. But these numbers tell only part of the story and should never be used as the sole basis for major life decisions.

Consider this scenario: Maria is comparing job offers in Austin, TX (composite index ~89) and Seattle, WA (composite index ~118). On paper, Austin appears to have lower crime. But when Maria digs deeper, she discovers that Seattle's higher index is driven primarily by property crime (especially vehicle theft in certain neighborhoods), while violent crime rates in the specific Seattle neighborhoods near her potential workplace are actually below national average. Meanwhile, Austin's overall lower score masks significant variation—some neighborhoods have indices over 150, while others are below 50. The aggregate comparison gave Maria a starting point, but neighborhood-level research and understanding the types of crime driving the numbers proved far more valuable.

Understanding Crime Indices: What They Measure and What They Miss

How Crime Indices Are Calculated

Crime indices typically derive from FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data, which collects crime statistics from law enforcement agencies nationwide. The raw data counts crimes reported to police, normalized per 100,000 residents to allow comparison across cities of different sizes. These per-capita rates are then indexed against a national baseline (usually set at 100) to create easy-to-compare scores.

This tool uses a weighted composite formula: Composite Index = (Violent Crime Index × 0.6) + (Property Crime Index × 0.4). Violent crime is weighted more heavily because of its severity and direct threat to personal safety. Property crime, while financially and emotionally impactful, is weighted less because it typically doesn't involve direct physical harm.

Critical Limitations to Understand

1. Reporting Variation

Crime indices measure reported crimes, not actual crimes. Reporting rates vary significantly by jurisdiction, crime type, and community trust in police. Some cities with low indices may simply have lower reporting rates. Conversely, cities with strong community policing and high trust may have higher indices due to more complete reporting.

2. Neighborhood-Level Variation

A city's overall index averages together wildly different neighborhoods. A city with index 120 might have neighborhoods ranging from 30 (very safe) to 250 (high crime). Where you live, work, and spend time within a city matters far more than the city's aggregate score. Always research specific neighborhoods using local crime maps and police data.

3. Data Lag

Crime data typically lags 1-2 years behind current conditions. A city experiencing rapid change (gentrification, economic downturn, policy shifts) may have current crime patterns very different from the most recent published data. Indices are backward-looking snapshots, not predictors of future crime.

4. Definition Differences

How crimes are classified varies by state and jurisdiction. Assault definitions differ. Property crime thresholds vary. These definitional differences can inflate or deflate indices in ways that don't reflect actual safety differences.

How to Use This Tool Responsibly

Use as a Starting Point, Not a Conclusion: Crime indices provide a high-level comparison to help you identify which cities warrant deeper research. They should never be the sole factor in relocation or safety decisions.
Compare Similar Cities: Comparing cities of similar size, region, and economic profile yields more meaningful insights than comparing, say, a small college town to a major metropolis.
Look at Category Breakdowns: A city might have low violent crime but high property crime (or vice versa). The types of crime matter for your specific concerns.
Research Specific Neighborhoods: After identifying a city of interest, use local crime maps (many police departments publish these) to understand neighborhood-level variation.
Consider Your Personal Circumstances: Your risk profile depends on where you'll live, how you'll commute, your work hours, and other personal factors that aggregate indices cannot capture.
Visit in Person: Nothing replaces walking through neighborhoods at different times of day, talking to residents, and getting a feel for an area firsthand.

Understanding Your Results

Composite Crime Index

The main comparison metric. A weighted average of violent and property crime indices. Values below 100 indicate below-average crime rates; above 100 indicates above-average. The national average is set at 100.

Violent Crime Index

Includes homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Weighted at 60% of the composite score because of severity. A city with violent crime index of 150 has 50% more violent crimes per capita than the national average.

Property Crime Index

Includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Weighted at 40% of the composite score. Property crime is more common than violent crime but typically doesn't involve direct physical harm.

Percentage Difference

Shows the relative difference between the two cities' composite indices. A 20% difference means one city's index is 20% higher or lower than the other. Larger differences suggest more significant variation, but remember: even large percentage differences may be less meaningful than neighborhood-level factors.

Important Disclaimers

This is NOT legal advice. Crime indices are statistical tools for general comparison, not legal or safety guidance. Do not make legal, insurance, employment, or housing decisions based solely on these numbers.

This is NOT a safety guarantee. A low crime index does not mean a city is "safe" and a high index does not mean it is "dangerous." Personal safety depends on many factors these indices cannot measure.

Data has limitations. Crime indices are based on reported crimes, subject to data lag, and mask significant neighborhood variation. Always supplement this tool with official sources, local research, and on-the-ground observation.

Avoid stereotyping. Crime statistics should never be used to stereotype cities, regions, or residents. Crime is complex, driven by socioeconomic factors, and concentrated in specific areas—not evenly distributed across populations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about crime indices, data sources, limitations, and how to use this tool responsibly.

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City Crime Risk Index & Comparison

Compare crime index levels between two US cities using public data. View violent crime, property crime, and composite safety scores.

Non-legal, general information only

Compare City Crime Risk

Compare crime index levels between two US cities using public data. View violent crime, property crime, and composite safety scores.

City A

City Name *

State *

City B

City Name *

State *

This comparison uses public crime index data. Results are for general information only and do not constitute legal or safety advice.

Compare City Crime Risk Indices

Enter two cities to compare their relative crime index scores. This tool uses public domain crime data to show violent crime, property crime, and overall composite indices.

Understanding Crime Indices: What They Measure and What They Miss

How Crime Indices Are Calculated

Critical Limitations to Understand

1. Reporting Variation

2. Neighborhood-Level Variation

3. Data Lag

4. Definition Differences

How to Use This Tool Responsibly

Use as a Starting Point, Not a Conclusion: Crime indices provide a high-level comparison to help you identify which cities warrant deeper research. They should never be the sole factor in relocation or safety decisions.
Compare Similar Cities: Comparing cities of similar size, region, and economic profile yields more meaningful insights than comparing, say, a small college town to a major metropolis.
Look at Category Breakdowns: A city might have low violent crime but high property crime (or vice versa). The types of crime matter for your specific concerns.
Research Specific Neighborhoods: After identifying a city of interest, use local crime maps (many police departments publish these) to understand neighborhood-level variation.
Consider Your Personal Circumstances: Your risk profile depends on where you'll live, how you'll commute, your work hours, and other personal factors that aggregate indices cannot capture.
Visit in Person: Nothing replaces walking through neighborhoods at different times of day, talking to residents, and getting a feel for an area firsthand.

Understanding Your Results

Composite Crime Index

Violent Crime Index

Property Crime Index

Percentage Difference

Important Disclaimers

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about crime indices, data sources, limitations, and how to use this tool responsibly.

Related City Research Tools

Crime indices are just one factor in city research. Explore these tools to compare cost of living, salary requirements, moving expenses, and more.

City Crime Risk Index & Comparison | Compare City Safety Levels (2025)