Lake Wales, FL Crime Rates: Stats & Map

F

37%

Total crime NAT. AVG.

63%

Violent crime NAT. AVG.

32%

Property crime NAT. AVG.

Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.

Statistic	Reported_incidents	_{/100k people}	Lake Wales_{/100k people}	Florida_{/100k people}	National_{/100k people}
Total crime	534	n/a (estimate)	3,180	1,825	2,324
Murder	0	n/a	0.0	5.0	6.3
Rape	9	n/a	53.6	30.2	40.0
Robbery	10	n/a	59.5	33.6	66.1
Assault	82	n/a	488.3	190.1	268.2
Violent crime	101	n/a (estimate)	601	259	370
Burglary	74	n/a	440.7	173.5	269.8
Theft	332	n/a	1,977.0	1,254.7	1,401.9
Vehicle theft	27	n/a	160.8	138.0	282.7
Property crime	433	n/a (estimate)	2,578	1,566	1,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Lake Wales, FL

Crime is typically categorized into two main types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. Based on the most recent report, the Lake Wales crime rate is higher than the national average by 36.8%. Specifically, there were 101 violent crimes in Lake Wales, equivalent to 601 per 100,000 individuals, higher than the national average by 62.6%. Furthermore, Lake Wales recorded 433 property crimes, amounting to 2578 per 100,000 residents, which was higher than the average by 31.9%.

In a remarkable testament to the city's commitment to safety, Lake Wales reported a murder rate of 0. This could indicate that it is a very safe place to live, but also serves as an inspiration to other urban areas striving for safer communities. Examining the full crime report will provide a complete overview of all crimes - violent and property.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Lake Wales?

What do the local residents think about crime in Lake Wales? Well, based on a recent survey of 16 people (conducted by AreaVibes), 56% of Lake Wales residents said that there was virtually no crime and that they felt safe walking at night. Another 44% of respondents said that there was too much crime in the area and they did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Lake Wales a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if Lake Wales is a safe place to live, let's take a look at the overall crime rate of the area, as well as the number of daily crimes. Lake Wales has a total crime rate that is 37% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 1.46 daily crimes (0.28 violent daily crimes and 1.19 daily property crimes) in Lake Wales.

Has Crime in Lake Wales Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Lake Wales. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Lake Wales has increased by 81.6%. Violent crimes have increased by 134.9%, while property crimes have increased by 72.5%. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, authorities and communities can identify trends and patterns in criminal activity. This helps in understanding whether crime is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable over time.

Potential Causes for Crime in Lake Wales

Regions characterized by high population density frequently encompass expansive urban hubs that offer diverse economic prospects. In such areas, income inequality can be exacerbated, creating pockets of poverty alongside affluence. Economic disparities within these regions may correlate with elevated property crimes and, in certain instances, violent crimes. Conversely, areas with low population density numbers generally exhibit reduced Lake Wales crime rates. Lake Wales registers a population density of 876.4 people per square mile, in contrast to the national average of 90.6 people per square mile.

In Lake Wales, 74.7% of residents have graduated from high school, whereas the national average stands at 83%. The educational makeup of a community can exert a significant influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of educational attainment are associated with reduced crime rates, as they furnish individuals with improved employment prospects and viable alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, communities characterized by lower educational achievement often grapple with higher crime rates, as limited opportunities may drive individuals towards criminal behavior.

Lake Wales has a ratio of police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents that differs from the national norm, with 3.15 officers and civilians per 1,000 residents, compared to 3.25 nationwide. Crime rates are profoundly influenced by the effectiveness of law enforcement and community policing endeavors. A resilient and cooperative partnership between law enforcement agencies and the community can serve as a deterrent to criminal activities, ultimately enhancing safety. The efficacy of law enforcement extends beyond mere numbers and extends into the realm of community policing strategies, emphasizing the cultivation of trust and collaboration between officers and the community. It is not merely a matter of quantity but the quality of engagement with the community that matters most.

Lake Wales crime map

The Lake Wales crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Lake Wales as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Lake Wales crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Lake Wales crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.

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Crime Quick Facts

Lake Wales crime rates are 37% higher than the national average
Violent crimes in Lake Wales are 63% higher than the national average
In Lake Wales you have a 1 in 32 chance of becoming a victim of crime
Lake Wales is safer than 13% of the cities in the United States
Year over year crime in Lake Wales has increased by 85%

Lake Wales, FL Crime Quiz

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Daily Crime In Lake Wales (per 100,000 people)

The bar chart above reveals the rate of daily crimes in Lake Wales for every 100,000 residents. The Lake Wales total amount of daily crime is 1.74 times more than the Florida average and 1.37 times more than than that of the nation. As for violent crimes, the daily average in Lake Wales, is 2.32 times more than the Florida average, and it is 1.63 times more than the national average. The statistics for property crimes show that Lake Wales has a daily crime average that is 1.65 times more than the Florida average and 1.32 times more than the daily national rate.

How Safe is Lake Wales (higher is better)

When comparing the safety of Lake Wales to every other city in Florida, as well as the entirety of the United States, is Lake Wales safe? The gauges above illustrate that Lake Wales is safer than 19% of every city located within Florida along with 13% of the all the cities located in the United States. The results of these graphs are created after analyzing each of the cities in Florida and in the United States as a whole. As a result, Lake Wales, FL is ranked below average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Lake Wales

The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Lake Wales is 1 in 167

The chance of being a victim of property crime in Lake Wales is 1 in 39

The chance of being a victim of crime in Lake Wales is 1 in 32

Are you curious to know the likelihood of suffering from a crime in Lake Wales? If you reside in Lake Wales, the likelihood that you will become a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 167. Violent crimes include: murder, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. There is a 1 in 39 change that you will become a victim of a property crime. These sorts of crimes against personal property include: burglary, theft, and auto theft. In total, the likelihood of being victimized by a crime in Lake Wales, is 1 in 32.

Year Over Year Crime In Lake Wales (per 100,000 people)

A good indicator of whether Lake Wales is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Lake Wales has increased by 138%, while the property crime rate in Lake Wales has increased by 75% year over year. The number of total crimes in Lake Wales has increased by 85% year over year.

Lake Wales police department

Item	Lake Wales	Florida	National
Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)	46	31,023	558,732
Police officers & civilians /1000 residents	3.2	4.2	3.3

There are a total of 46 Lake Wales police officers. This results in 3.2 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 25.5% less than the Florida average and 3.1% less than the National average.

Sex offenders in Florida

State	Total offenders	Florida_/100K	National_/100K
Florida	53,771	330	266

There are a total of 53,771 sex offenders in Florida. This yields a total of 330 sex offenders in Florida per 100,000 residents which is 24% greater than the national average.

Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Grenelefe, FL	3,073	104	630	735
Crooked Lake Park, FL	1,591	131	793	924
Babson Park, FL	1,451	134	810	944
Eagle Lake, FL	2,758	141	854	995
Waverly, FL	734	142	859	1,001
Lake Alfred, FL	5,993	91	953	1,043
Haines City, FL	25,178	132	989	1,121
Lake Wales, FL	16,515	601	2,578	3,180

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Morganton, NC	16,517	410	3,330	3,740
Roosevelt, NY	16,522	511	2,053	2,564
East Highland Park, VA	16,499	285	2,066	2,351
Vienna, VA	16,532	56	1,031	1,087
Hillcrest Heights, MD	16,498	511	2,099	2,610
Lake Wales, FL	16,515	601	2,578	3,180

Source: The Lake Wales, FL crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.