Thinking about moving to Houston TX? You’re likely weighing a variety of factors, from the Houston cost of living to the quality of life in the area. One question that often comes up is, “Is Houston safe?” While it’s true that the Houston crime rate is higher than the national average, the city has made great efforts to reduce criminal activities over the past few years.
In this guide, we’ll break down the Houston Texas crime rate, focusing on key statistics for violent crime and property crime. We’ll also explore the safest neighborhoods in the Houston area, as well as those with higher crime rates, giving you a clear picture of what to expect. We’ll also give an overview of the law enforcement in the area and what they are doing to bring down Houston TX crime. Let’s dive into the numbers, trends, and how Houston experiences safety improvements every year.
Understanding the Houston Crime Rate - How Crime Rates Are Calculated
The first step to answering the question, “Is Houston safe?” is to understand how the Houston crime rate is calculated in the first place. Crime statistics are reported by the FBI based on data that is given to them by law enforcement. The city’s crime rate is divided into overall crime, violent crimes, and property crimes.
To find the final Houston TX crime rate, the FBI takes the total number of crimes committed in the area and divides it by the population. The numbers are then multiplied by 1,000, which is why the Houston crime rate is reported as “X number of crimes per 100,000 people.” It’s then also split into a violent crime rate and a property crime rate.
While the Houston crime rate is helpful for getting an overall picture of crime in the city, the numbers should be taken with a grain of salt. Crime stats in Houston lack context. While a high Houston homicide rate may be concerning, the numbers are very low compared to historic rates for a major city like Houston. Homicide rates across the United States are still far lower than when the homicide rates peaked in the 1980s and 1990s, when there was far more crime, according to CNN.
Additionally, the Houston crime rate does not differentiate by neighborhood. The reality is that many Houston neighborhoods see little to no crime at all, but one or two dangerous neighborhoods can bring up the overall Houston crime rate. It’s also important to note that crime reporting is completely voluntary.
So if a Houston criminal broke into your house or you got your car stolen from a parking lot and didn't report it, it won't count toward the overall crime rate, even though a crime was committed. Plus in one county, crime data may be recorded and submitted regularly, while in another location crime may not be tracked as closely by local authorities. So, one city may appear safer than another, but, in reality, they have just failed to report all of their crimes.
What Is the Houston Crime Rate?
Now that you know how crime rates are calculated, let’s take a look at the Houston crime rate compared to other cities in the state and the country. These are the Houston TX crime rates as well as the state and national crime rates.
National Crime Rate Statistics:
- Overall crime rate: 2,324 crimes per 100,000 people
- Violent crime rate: 370 violent crimes per 100,000 people
- Property crime rate: 1,954 property crimes per 100,000 people
Texas Crime Rate Statistics:
- Overall crime rate: 2,732 crimes per 100,000 people
- Violent crime rate: 432 violent crimes per 100,000 people
- Property crime rate: 2,300 property crimes per 100,000 people
Houston Crime Rate Statistics:
- Overall crime rate: 5,723 crimes per 100,000 people
- Violent crime rate: 1,142 violent crimes per 100,000 people
- Property crime rate: 4,582 property crimes per 100,000 people
As you can see, the Houston crime statistics are significantly higher than the state and national averages. The Houston crime rate is 109.5% higher than the Texas average and 146.2% higher than the national average. While these numbers are high, it’s important to note that most of the crime is concentrated in just a few small areas, and killings in Houston have been on the decline.
Additionally, the overall Houston crime rate went down by 27.1% in 2024, a trend that has continued every year, according to Houston Public Media. Community Impact reports that 746 cadets were added to the Houston Police Department since 2024, which has led to a 17% decrease in Houston Texas homicides, a 22.5% decrease in robberies in Houston, and a 17.3% decrease in aggravated assaults.
Additionally, the Houston Police Department has several programs in place to reduce crime in Houston Texas. These programs include:
Houston Crime Rate Map & Crime Reports
Is Houston a safe place to live? To get a better visual representation of the Houston crime rate, you’ll want to take a look at a crime rate map of Houston Texas. To get an idea of the Houston property crime rate and the Houston violent crime rate in real-time, you can take a look at the LexisNexis Community Crime Map. This maps out Houston crime reports as they happen, allowing you to see what kinds of crimes are going on in the city.
You can also take a look at the crime map below. The darker areas represent places with a higher Houston TX crime rate, while lighter areas represent places with a lower Houston crime rate.
Violent Crime Rate in Houston TX
Violent crimes make up a significant part of the Houston crime rate. Violent crimes include criminal activities like murders in Houston, Houston shootings, Houston Texas homicides, battery, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, and kidnapping.
Houston Violent Crime Rate:
- Overall violent crime rate: 1,142 crimes per 100,000 people (164.4% higher than state average and 208.8% higher than national average)
- Houston murder rate: 19 per 100,000 people
- Houston Texas murders by year (2022): 433
- Chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Houston: 1 in 88
As you can see, the violent crime rate in Houston is higher than the national and state averages. Additionally, the Houston murders by year are higher than average. According to Houston Public Media, however, the violent crime rate in Houston has decreased from 2023 to 2024. Axios reports that Houston has seen a 25.4% drop in overall violent crime and a 24.7% drop in murders.
Property Crime in the Houston Area
When looking at the Houston crime rate ranking, it’s also important to analyze the property crime rate.
Property Crime in Houston:
- Overall Houston property crime rate: 4,582 crimes per 100,000 people (99.2% higher than the state average and 134.4% higher than the national average)
- Total property crimes in Houston (2022): 104,304
- Chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Houston: 1 in 22
Although property crimes are frustrating, they are not generally a threat to your safety. The Houston Police Department has several resources and guides to help you protect your belongings and property, such as:
Dangerous Areas in Houston
There are a few dangerous neighborhoods in Houston crime rate tends to be higher. In these dangerous areas of Houston, violent crimes tend to be higher, raising the overall Houston crime rate. Due to these elevated crime rates, you can expect the presence of law enforcement to be higher in these high crime areas in Houston. You can also look at a Houston gang map to get a sense of which neighborhoods are not the best. These are a few areas to avoid in Houston.
- Far North: 32% higher than the Houston crime rate
- Northeast: 23% higher than the Houston crime rate
- North: 10% higher than the Houston crime rate
- Southeast: 7.7% higher than the Houston crime rate
Safest Places to Live in Houston
While there are plenty of bad areas in Houston, there are several nice neighborhoods in Houston that hardly contribute to the Houston crime rate at all. Some of the safest places to live in Houston TX include gated communities and 55+ communities in Houston. These are the safest neighborhoods in Houston TX.
- Midtown: 60% lower than the Houston crime rate
- West University: 10% lower than the Houston crime rate
- Far Northeast: 41% lower than the Houston crime rate
- Downtown: 60% lower than the Houston crime rate
Houston Safety Tips - How to Avoid Crime in Houston
Although the Houston crime rate is on the decline, it’s important to do what you can to protect yourself, your family, and your belongings. Here are a few steps you can take to avoid Houston TX crime.
- Lock your doors and windows when you’re not home.
- Increase lighting around your home.
- If you are walking alone, think about downloading an app such as WalkSafe.
- If you are heading out after dark, be aware of your surroundings and try to travel in groups.
- Avoid areas where gang violence is prevalent, like Far North and Southeast.
- Be mindful when taking public transportation.
Campus Crime & Safety
Many people move to the Houston area to attend the University of Houston. The school educates nearly 45,000 students across the city. The University has its own police department, the University of Houston Police Department, led by Police Chief Ceaser Moore.
The UHPD has several resources in place for students. The department offers security escorts for students who feel unsafe walking to their dorm or car, and all of the crimes on campus are available to view on the department’s Daily Crime Log.
University of Houston Police Department, 4051 Wheeler Ave, Houston, TX 77204, (713) 743-3333
Houston Police Department
When living in the area, you’ll want to know more about the law enforcement protecting you. The Houston Police Department patrols the area and is led by Chief of Police J. Noe Diaz. The police force was established in Houston in 1841, but did not become a proper police force until 1866. Today, the Houston Police Department has 6,271 employees and 5,243 officers.
Houston police reports are public information, and you can access them at any time. Just head over to the Public Information Requests section of the department’s website and request a copy of what you are looking for.
Houston Police Department, 1200 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002, (713) 884-3131
Houston Crime Rate FAQ
Is Houston Safe?
Houston is safe. Although crime rates are higher than average, and it isn’t one of the safest cities in Texas, overall, it is a very safe place to live.
Is Downtown Houston Safe?
Yes, the city center is very safe. In fact, Downtown Houston’s crime rate is 35% lower than the overall Houston crime rate.
Is Houston Dangerous?
How safe is Houston TX? Houston is not dangerous. While there are a few bad neighborhoods in Houston, you’re perfectly safe in most places.
What Is the Crime Rate in Houston Texas?
The Houston crime rate is 5,723 crimes per 100,000 people.
Considering Making the Move to Houston TX?
So, is Houston safe? While the Houston crime rate is on the higher end, the city is a very safe place to live. If Houston sounds great to you, then PDX Movers is ready to make your move smooth and stress-free. Give our Houston movers a call today at (346) 326-1141 to get started with a free quote from our world-class crew.
