F
46%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
27%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
50%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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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.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleGalveston/100k peopleTexas/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime1,796n/a (estimate)3,3942,7322,324
Murder6n/a11.36.76.3
Rape64n/a120.950.040.0
Robbery38n/a71.870.566.1
Assault140n/a264.5304.7268.2
Violent crime248n/a (estimate)469432370
Burglary202n/a381.7334.3269.8
Theft1,137n/a2,148.51,634.41,401.9
Vehicle theft209n/a394.9331.2282.7
Property crime1,548n/a (estimate)2,9252,3001,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Galveston, TX

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Galveston is 46% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 248 violent crimes reported in Galveston, equivalent to 469 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 26.7%. Additionally, Galveston recorded 1548 property crimes, amounting to 2925 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 49.7%.

Although the murder rates in America have decreased steadily since 1990, over the last few years there has been an uptick. Galveston has one of the highest murder rates in the country when compared to all other cities that reported crime in the U.S. There were a total of 6 murders in Galveston, which is 11 murders per 100,000 people.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Galveston?

What is the prevailing sentiment among Galveston residents regarding the state of crime? A comprehensive survey conducted by AreaVibes, involving 68 respondents, sheds light on this matter. The results were as follows: 31% of Galveston residents expressed a notable sense of security, asserting that crime was virtually non-existent in their community, and they felt at ease strolling the streets after dark. While, 69% of those surveyed held a contrasting viewpoint, perceiving a higher incidence of crime, leading them to feel apprehensive about walking alone at night.

Is Galveston a Safe Place to Live?

Before you decide to relocate, it’s always good to ask yourself “Is Galveston a safe place to live?” Although the answer might not be that simple, as some areas are safer than others, getting a good feel for the overall rate of crime can definitely be helpful. Overall, the Galveston crime rate is 46% higher than the national average. If we break that down daily, that translates into 4.92 crimes per day - 0.68 violent crimes and 4.24 property crimes.

Has Crime in Galveston Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Galveston. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Galveston has increased by 10%. Violent crimes have decreased by 17.9%, while property crimes have increased by 16.3%. 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 Galveston

Galveston reports an unemployment rate of 4.6%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. Constrained employment opportunities or a prevalence of low-paying positions can contribute to elevated rates of unemployment and underemployment. Areas where individuals contend with joblessness or insufficient wages may display heightened susceptibility to an increase in criminal activities attributed to economic insecurity. Conversely, regions characterized by robust employment rates often witness a decrease in overall Galveston crime rates.

Highly populated regions typically encompass expansive urban hubs teeming with diverse economic prospects. Within these areas, income inequality can be exacerbated, giving rise to enclaves of poverty amid affluence. Communities marked by economic disparities may contend with heightened property crimes, and in certain instances, violent crimes. Conversely, regions characterized by low population density often exhibit lower Galveston crime rates. For instance, in Galveston, the population density stands at 1225.4 people per square mile, diverging from the national average of 90.6 people per square mile.

Escalating cost of living expenses, encompassing exorbitant housing costs, grocery and healthcare expenditures, can induce financial strain on individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. Such economic stress may propel individuals towards criminal activities, including theft or burglary, as a means of addressing their financial hardships. Conversely, cities characterized by a lower cost of living may alleviate economic pressures, potentially resulting in a reduced crime rate. In Galveston, the cost of living is 7% lower than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

Galveston crime map



The Galveston crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Galveston 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 Galveston crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Galveston 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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Compare Galveston, TX Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Galveston crime rates are 46% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Galveston are 27% higher than the national average
      • In Galveston you have a 1 in 30 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Galveston is safer than 16% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Galveston has increased by 5%

      Galveston, TX Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Galveston (per 100,000 people)

        The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in Galveston, TX per 100,000 people. In Galveston, the number of daily crimes is projected to be 1.24 times more than the Texas average and 1.46 times more than the national average. The average number of daily violent crimes in Galveston is 1.09 times more than the Texas average and 1.27 times more than the daily national average. With regards to property crimes, Galveston has a daily crime rate that is 1.27 times more than the Texas average and 1.50 times more than the overall daily national average.

        How Safe is Galveston (higher is better)

        How safe is Galveston, Texas compared to other cities in Texas and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Galveston is safer than 13% of the cities in Texas and 16% of the cities in the United States. These results are calculated by analyzing all cities in Texas and across the US as a whole and determining how many areas have a lower crime rate than Galveston. Overall, Galveston is ranked below average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Galveston

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Galveston is 1 in 214
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Galveston is 1 in 35
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Galveston is 1 in 30
        Are you at risk of becoming a victim of crime in Galveston, Texas? If you reside in Galveston, then there is a 1 in 214 chance that you will experience a violent crime. These types of crimes may include homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. Your risk of being a victim of property crime is 1 in 35. These types of crime include burglary, petty theft, and theft of motor vehicles. Altogether, there is a 1 in 30 risk that you will become a victim of crime in Galveston.

        Year Over Year Crime In Galveston (per 100,000 people)

        A good indicator of whether Galveston 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 Galveston has decreased by 22%, while the property crime rate in Galveston has increased by 11% year over year. The number of total crimes in Galveston has increased by 5% year over year.

        Galveston police department

        Item Galveston Texas National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)16846,020558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents3.43.03.3
        There are a total of 168 Galveston police officers. This results in 3.4 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 13.7% greater than the Texas average and 5.1% greater than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Texas

        State Total offenders Texas /100K National /100K
        Texas95,281443266
        There are a total of 95,281 sex offenders in Texas. This yields a total of 443 sex offenders in Texas per 100,000 residents which is 67% 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
        Bayou Vista, TX1,96761323383
        Jamaica Beach, TX1,299188469657
        Bolivar Peninsula, TX2,611137730867
        Tiki Island, TX1,0951759291,104
        San Leon, TX5,4393351,7842,119
        Hitchcock, TX7,8313472,0132,359
        Texas City, TX49,4682772,3162,593
        Galveston, TX50,3074692,9253,394

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Maricopa, AZ50,358188762950
        Plainfield, NJ50,2524521,3171,770
        Aliso Viejo, CA50,38585682767
        Stillwater, OK50,1833101,9182,228
        Country Club, FL50,4363211,9392,260
        Galveston, TX50,3074692,9253,394
        Source: The Galveston, TX 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.