C+
14%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
38%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
24%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 peopleGainesville/100k peopleTexas/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime472n/a (estimate)2,6532,7322,324
Murder1n/a5.66.76.3
Rape4n/a22.550.040.0
Robbery5n/a28.170.566.1
Assault31n/a174.3304.7268.2
Violent crime41n/a (estimate)230432370
Burglary55n/a309.2334.3269.8
Theft320n/a1,798.91,634.41,401.9
Vehicle theft56n/a314.8331.2282.7
Property crime431n/a (estimate)2,4232,3001,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Gainesville, TX

Looking at the most recent crime report, the crime rate in Gainesville is 14.2% higher than the national average. These crimes fall into two primary categories: violent and property. Violent crimes encompass murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes involve theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In Gainesville, there were 41 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 230 per 100,000 individuals, 37.7% lower than the national average. Additionally, there were 431 property crimes, amounting to 2423 per 100,000 residents, 24% higher than the U.S. average.

When evaluating the Gainesville crime rate for every 100,000 residents, it positions itself in the middle range among all cities that reported crime. Our examination of total offenses, spanning both violent and property crimes, indicates that the reported Gainesville crime rates closely correspond to the national average reported by other regions.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Gainesville?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Gainesville residents. Out of the respondents (17 in total), 24% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Gainesville were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 76% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Gainesville a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Gainesville is a place to live may not always yield a simple answer, given the city's varying safety levels across different areas. Nonetheless, comprehending the city's overall crime rate can be a valuable asset. In broad terms, Gainesville has an overall crime rate that is 14% higher than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 1.29 daily occurrences, comprising 0.11 violent crimes and 1.18 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Gainesville as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Gainesville Increased Since Last Year?

In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Gainesville has decreased by 3.9%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of Gainesville, aiding residents in assessing whether it is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. These crime rates are categorized into two primary groups: violent and property crimes. Year-over-year, violent crime has decreased by 38.8%, while property crime has decreased by 1.7%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not Gainesville is a safe place to live.

Potential Causes for Crime in Gainesville

In Gainesville, the current unemployment rate stands at 4.6%, diverging from the national average of 4.7%. The availability of job opportunities is a pivotal factor influencing unemployment and underemployment rates. Communities where individuals contend with limited employment prospects or a preponderance of low-wage positions may witness elevated rates of joblessness and income inadequacy, which can contribute to heightened crime levels driven by financial insecurity. Conversely, areas characterized by robust employment rates often experience a reduction in overall Gainesville crime rates.

Gainesville has a population density of 857.7 people per square mile, while with the national average is 90.6 people per square mile. Cities characterized by high population density are frequently larger urban centers offering diverse economic prospects. Within these areas, income inequality may be accentuated, resulting in the coexistence of poverty and affluence. Such economic disparities can contribute to elevated property crimes and on occasion, violent crimes. Conversely, areas with low population density generally record lower Gainesville crime rates.

In Gainesville, the ratio of police officers and civilians stands at 3.21 per 1,000 residents, contrasting with the national average of 3.25. This discrepancy highlights the potential impact of law enforcement and community policing on crime rates. The strength of their collaboration can serve as a deterrent to criminal behavior, fostering a safer environment. Effective law enforcement leans heavily on community policing strategies that prioritize the cultivation of trust and cooperation between police and residents. It's essential to recognize that the effectiveness of these efforts isn't solely tied to the quantity of officers but also hinges on the quality of their engagement with the community.

Gainesville crime map



The Gainesville crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Gainesville 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 Gainesville crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Gainesville 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.
New Real Estate Listings in Gainesville Area
Search Homes for Sale in Gainesville, TX

Compare Gainesville, TX Crime

      vs

      Crime Quick Facts

      • Gainesville crime rates are 14% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Gainesville are 38% lower than the national average
      • In Gainesville you have a 1 in 38 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Gainesville is safer than 38% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Gainesville has decreased by 8%

      Gainesville, TX Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Gainesville

        See all the best places to live around Gainesville
        How would you rate the amount of crime in Gainesville?
        Write a review to give others more information about this area.
        Do you feel safe walking alone at night in Gainesville?
        Write a review to give others more information about this area.
        See all Gainesville poll results

        Daily Crime In Gainesville (per 100,000 people)

        The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Gainesville, Texas is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Gainesville are 1.03 times less than the Texas average and 1.14 times more than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Gainesville are 1.87 times less than than Texas and 1.60 times less than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Gainesville are 1.05 times more than than Texas and 1.24 times more than the national average.

        How Safe is Gainesville (higher is better)

        Compared to the other cities in Texas and all other cities across the US, is Gainesville safe? From the gauges displayed above, you will notice that Gainesville is safer than 36% of other cities in the state of Texas. In addition, Gainesville is safer than 38% of cities in the entire United States. To achieve these results, all Texas and United States cities were analyzed to determine how many locations had a lower crime rate than Gainesville. By studying this data, it was possible to determine that Gainesville is below average in safety when compared with other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Gainesville

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Gainesville is 1 in 434
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Gainesville is 1 in 42
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Gainesville is 1 in 38
        Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In Gainesville, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 434. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 42 chance of being the victim of a property crime such as vehicle theft, personal property theft, and burglary. Your overall risk of becoming a crime victim in Gainesville is 1 in 38.

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

        An ideal indicator of whether Gainesville is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live can be done by analyzing the year over year crime rates per 100,000 people. Year over year violent crime in Gainesville has decreased by 42% and the rate of property crime in Gainesville has decreased by 3%. The total crime rate in Gainesville has decreased by 8% year to year.

        Gainesville police department

        Item Gainesville Texas National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)5246,020558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents3.23.03.3
        There are a total of 52 Gainesville police officers. This results in 3.2 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 6.6% greater than the Texas average and 1.4% less 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
        Tioga, TX95882082
        Collinsville, TX1,7332010201
        Lake Kiowa, TX2,41868361429
        Lindsay, TX1,17697518615
        Muenster, TX1,287123655779
        Whitesboro, TX4,0432591,3761,635
        Thackerville, OK40002,4272,427
        Gainesville, TX16,5572302,4232,653

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Abington, MA16,5571518891,040
        Washington, IL16,55563924987
        South Venice, FL16,5552531,5321,785
        Mercedes, TX16,5618002,8963,697
        Country Club Hills, IL16,5643662,1462,512
        Gainesville, TX16,5572302,4232,653
        Source: The Gainesville, 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.