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Washington, DC has a F safety grade (0/100) with a violent crime rate of 926 per 100,000 — 1211% above the national average.
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Washington, DC Crime Rate & Safety
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Crime data sourced from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program, covering violent crime, property crime, and individual offense categories. Safety grades reflect a composite analysis of violent and property crime rates benchmarked against national averages. For context on how crime statistics are collected and what they mean for community safety, read our guide to understanding FBI crime data.
Is Washington, DC safe? Washington has a violent crime rate of 925.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, according to FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data — 1211% higher than the national average and 43990% above the District Of Columbia average. The city receives a safety grade of F (High Risk). Property crime rate: 3588/100K. Population: 702,250.
FBI UCR Data Snapshot: Washington, DC
Washington, DC — reporting population 702,250 in 2024 — recorded 6,502 violent crimes and 25,197 property crimes in the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program's Table 8 city-level submissions. The city's violent crime rate works out to 925.9 per 100,000 residents, while the property crime rate reaches 3588 per 100,000. Combining those two rates against national benchmarks yields a composite safety grade of F (High Risk), scoring 0 out of 100.
Within the violent crime count, aggravated assault accounted for 3,004 incidents, robbery 3,080, murder 179, and rape 239 in 2024. Property crime splits into larceny-theft (18,220), burglary (1,671), motor vehicle theft (5,306), and arson (0). Larceny-theft and other property offenses typically dominate city crime counts, and larceny-theft leads Washington's mix at 57.5% of all Part I offenses.
Against the national violent crime average, Washington runs 1211% above the US benchmark, and 43990% above the District Of Columbia statewide rate. Translated to per-capita risk, the 2024 figures imply roughly a 1 in 22 statistical chance of being named in a crime report that year, narrowing to 1 in 108 for a violent offense. UCR figures reflect offenses reported to and submitted by local law enforcement and may undercount unreported crime.
Is Washington, DC Safe? Safety Assessment
Based on 2024 FBI crime data, Washington, DC receives a safety grade of F (High Risk) with a composite safety score of 0/100. Violent crime is 1211% above the national average, indicating substantially higher risk than most US cities.
Your statistical chance of being a crime victim in Washington is approximately 1 in 22 , with a 1 in 108 chance of being a violent crime victim. The most common crime type is larceny-theft, accounting for 57% of all reported offenses.
Safety assessments are based on FBI UCR reported crime statistics. Actual safety varies by neighborhood, time of day, and individual circumstances. Crime reporting rates differ across jurisdictions.
Safety Overview
Safety Grade
F
High Risk
Score: 0/100
Violent Crime Rate
925.9/100K
violent crimes per 100K residents
+1211% vs US
Property Crime Rate
3588/100K
property crimes per 100K residents
+945% vs US
Total Crimes
31,699
reported in 2024
Population
702,250
2024 Census-based estimate
Crime Breakdown (2024)
| Category | Count | Rate /100K |
|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 6,502 | 925.9 |
| Murder | 179 | 25.5 |
| Rape | 239 | 34 |
| Robbery | 3,080 | 438.6 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3,004 | 427.8 |
| Property Crime | 25,197 | 3588 |
| Burglary | 1,671 | 237.9 |
| Larceny-Theft | 18,220 | 2594.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5,306 | 755.6 |
| Arson | 0 | 0 |
Per-Capita Risk Assessment
Overall Crime Risk
1 in 22
Statistical chance of being a crime victim based on 2024 data
Violent Crime Risk
1 in 108
Statistical chance of being a violent crime victim
These are statistical averages based on reported crimes. Actual risk varies significantly by neighborhood, time of day, and individual circumstances.
Crime Type Distribution (2024)
Larceny-Theft 18,220 (57.5%)
Motor Vehicle Theft 5,306 (16.7%)
Robbery 3,080 (9.7%)
Aggravated Assault 3,004 (9.5%)
Burglary 1,671 (5.3%)
Rape 239 (0.8%)
Murder 179 (0.6%)
Washington vs District Of Columbia vs National Average
Washington
Violent925.9/100K
Property3588/100K
GradeF
District Of Columbia
Violent2.1/100K
Property7.6/100K
National Average
Violent70.6/100K
Property343.3/100K
Nearby Cities in District Of Columbia
Compare Washington against neighboring cities in the same state, or use our side-by-side compare tool to benchmark two cities directly.
Miami
F Pop: 460,392
Violent: 473.3/100K
Property: 2995.1/100K
Tampa
F Pop: 408,646
Violent: 444.6/100K
Property: 1465.3/100K
St. Petersburg
F Pop: 264,999
Violent: 619.6/100K
Property: 2458.9/100K
Gainesville
F Pop: 147,022
Violent: 738/100K
Property: 2703.7/100K
Palm Bay
F Pop: 141,137
Violent: 347.2/100K
Property: 1017.5/100K
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crime rate in Washington, DC? ▼
Washington has a violent crime rate of 925.9 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3588 per 100,000, based on 2024 FBI UCR data.
Is Washington, DC safe? ▼
Washington receives a safety grade of F (High Risk), with a safety score of 0/100. The violent crime rate is 1211% above the national average and 43990% above the District Of Columbia average.
What is the population of Washington, DC? ▼
The reporting population for Washington is 702,250 as of 2024.
How many crimes were reported in Washington? ▼
In 2024, Washington reported 6,502 violent crimes and 25,197 property crimes, for a total of 31,699 reported offenses.
What are the odds of being a crime victim in Washington? ▼
Based on 2024 data, the statistical chance of being a crime victim in Washington is approximately 1 in 22, with a 1 in 108 chance of being a violent crime victim. These are statistical averages and actual risk varies by neighborhood and circumstance.
What is the most common crime in Washington? ▼
The most common crime type in Washington is larceny-theft, accounting for 57.5% of all reported crimes (18,220 incidents in 2024).
Understanding Crime Data
► ► ► ►
Understanding Crime Rates
How per-capita rates are calculated and what they mean
Violent vs Property Crime
Key differences between crime categories
FBI Crime Stats Explained
How the FBI collects and reports UCR data
Crime, Housing & Schools
How safety connects to housing costs and school quality
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Data as of 2024. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.
Crime rates are calculated per 100,000 population. Not all agencies report complete data. FBI Crime in the United States (CIUS) Table 8. Population figures referenced from U.S. Census Bureau estimates where noted; state-level comparisons cross-check against state UCR programs.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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