Florida Crime Rate By City 2024 – Latest Statistics

An estimated 22,610,726 people call Florida home, according to the United States Census Bureau, making the Sunshine State the third most populous state in the country. Additionally, thousands of tourists from all parts of the world flock to Florida for vacations every year. Whether you’re a prospective resident or tourist, you may be wondering if Florida is a safe place to live or visit. Understanding the Florida crime rate by city can help you decide for yourself.

Florida Crime Rate Statistics Compared to Other States

According to the latest available data from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, or FBI, Florida holds the 37th spot in crime rankings for the number of criminal activities per capita in the United States, which means Florida has fewer incidents of crime per capita than 36 other states. The top five places with the highest crime rates are:

1. The District of Columbia
2. Washington
3. New Mexico
4. Colorado
5. Louisiana

The top five states or U.S. territories with the lowest crime rates are:

1. Puerto Rico
2. New Hampshire
3. Idaho
4. Maine
5. Massachusetts

In terms of property crime, Florida has lower rates of reported incidents compared to several other states, including North Carolina, Ohio, and Illinois. The property crime rate in Florida is slightly more than 1,500 per 100,000 people. Florida also has fewer incidents of reported hate crimes than some other states. Whereas Ohio has about 4.5 incidents of hate crime per every 100,000 people, Florida only has about 0.5 incidents of reported hate crimes, according to FBI data.

Gun Violence in Florida

Firearm mortality is a problem across the United States. Data from the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, indicates there were 3,142 deaths caused by firearms in Florida in a 12-month period. The death rate for firearm violence in Florida is 14.1 per 100,000 people. The state with the lowest death rate for firearm violence is Massachusetts, with a rate of 3.4 per 100,000 people, and the highest is Mississippi, with a rate of 33.9 per 100,000 people.

Counties With the Most Reported Violent Crimes in Florida

The FBI considers the four following types of crimes to be violent crimes:

• Murder and non-negligent manslaughter
• Forcible rape
• Robbery
• Aggravated assault

Violent crimes are serious in nature and can cause long-lasting harm to the victims and their families or loved ones. Certain counties in Florida have higher rates of violent crimes than others.

According to a report from the Florida Department of Health, the county with the highest violent crime rate in Florida is Taylor County, with 332.8 incidents of violent crime per every 100,000 people. Taylor County is located in the northern portion of Florida on the Gulf Coast, and it envelopes the cities of Steinhatchee and Perry.

Other Florida counties with high violent crime rates include Bay, Madison, Baker, and Hamilton counties, which are all relatively close to Taylor County in the northern area of the state or near the Florida-Georgia borderline.

Counties With Low Violent Crime Rates in Florida

With a violent crime rate of just 54.4 per every 100,000 people, as reported by the Florida Department of Health, the county of St. Johns has the lowest violent crime rate in Florida. St. Johns County is in the northeast part of Florida on the Atlantic Ocean, and this is where the city of St. Augustine is located.

The county of Collier has a slightly higher crime rate than St. Johns County, with 55.3 incidents of violent crime per every 100,000 people. The cities of Bonita Springs, Naples, and Marco Island are all located in Collier County, which is in the southwest portion of Florida on the Gulf Coast. Given that the county of Collier has a low crime rate, it is not surprising that Marco Island is reported to be the safest city in Florida for 2024.

FAQs

Q: What City in Florida Has the Lowest Crime Rate?

A: The city in Florida that has the lowest crime rate is Marco Island, which is located south of Naples on the Gulf Coast. Marco Island is 68% safer than other cities in the United States. Your chances of becoming a victim of violent crime in Marco Island are just one in 1,155. In all of Florida, this chance increases to one in 386. With its reputation for being a safe place to live, combined with its beautiful beaches, Marco Island is a popular tourist destination.

Q: What Counties in Florida Have the Highest Violent Crime Rates?

A: The counties in Florida that have the highest rates of reported violent crimes include Taylor, Bay, Madison, Baker, and Hamilton counties, which are all located in the northern end of Florida close to the state’s border with Georgia.

According to one report, 79% of other counties in the United States are safer than Taylor County. Perry, Athena, and Steinhatchee are cities and towns located in Taylor County, Florida.

Q: What Is the Safest City in Florida to Visit?

A: The safest city in Florida to visit is Marco Island. There are many other safe cities in Florida to visit, such as Sunny Isles Beach, Doral, Kissimmee, and Largo. While all five of these cities are considered to be safe due to having lower crime rates than other cities, it’s important to remain vigilant and be aware of your surroundings to avoid becoming a victim of crime. Tourists can sometimes be easy targets for theft, scams, and other types of crimes.

Q: What Florida City Has the Most Murders?

A: The Florida city that has the most murders, according to FBI crime data, is Jacksonville. The latest report from the FBI indicates there were 129 incidents of murder or nonnegligent manslaughter in a 12-month period. The Florida city with the second highest number of murders in the same year was Miami, with 43 murders or nonnegligent manslaughter incidents. Jacksonville has a significantly high number of murders compared to other Florida cities.

Trust the Law Office of Donald P. Day

The legal team at the Law Office of Donald P. Day understands Florida criminal laws and has years of combined experience representing individuals involved in criminal cases. We are committed to serving clients in Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Ave Maria, and other surrounding Florida communities. Contact us today to request a consultation.