F
67%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
74%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
65%
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 peopleWaco/100k peopleTexas/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime5,456n/a (estimate)3,8722,7322,324
Murder14n/a9.96.76.3
Rape117n/a83.050.040.0
Robbery106n/a75.270.566.1
Assault669n/a474.8304.7268.2
Violent crime906n/a (estimate)643432370
Burglary750n/a532.3334.3269.8
Theft3,420n/a2,427.11,634.41,401.9
Vehicle theft380n/a269.7331.2282.7
Property crime4,550n/a (estimate)3,2292,3001,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Waco, TX

The Waco crime rates are 66.6% higher than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 906 violent crimes in Waco (643 per 100,000 people), which is 73.9% higher than the national average and there were a total of 4550 property crimes (3229 per 100,000 residents) which is 65.2% higher than average.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Waco?

What is the prevailing sentiment among Waco residents regarding the state of crime? A comprehensive survey conducted by AreaVibes, involving 137 respondents, sheds light on this matter. The results were as follows: 35% of Waco 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, 65% of those surveyed held a contrasting viewpoint, perceiving a higher incidence of crime, leading them to feel apprehensive about walking alone at night.

Is Waco a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if Waco 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. Waco has a total crime rate that is 67% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 14.95 daily crimes (2.48 violent daily crimes and 12.47 daily property crimes) in Waco.

Has Crime in Waco Increased Since Last Year?

In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Waco has decreased by 6%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of Waco, 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 12.1%, while property crime has decreased by 4.7%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not Waco is a safe place to live.

Potential Causes for Crime in Waco

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 Waco crime rates. For instance, in Waco, the population density stands at 1552.7 people per square mile, diverging from the national average of 90.6 people per square mile.

Law enforcement and community policing efforts can play a pivotal role in shaping crime rates. Establishing a robust and cooperative partnership between the police and the community can act as a deterrent to criminal behavior and enhance overall safety. In Waco, the ratio of police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents differs from the national average, with 2.53 officers and civilians per 1,000 residents compared to 3.25 nationally. Effective law enforcement often hinges on community policing strategies that prioritize the cultivation of trust and collaboration between law enforcement and the community. It's not solely about the quantity of officers but also the quality of their engagement with the community.

In areas where housing affordability is an issue, crime can become a significant concern. Some individuals and families may be forced to live in overcrowded or substandard housing conditions, which can increase stress and potentially contribute to domestic disputes and related crimes. The median home price in Waco is $133,500, compared to a national average of $184,700.

Waco crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Waco crime rates are 67% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Waco are 74% higher than the national average
      • In Waco you have a 1 in 26 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Waco is safer than 10% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Waco has decreased by 5%

      Waco, TX Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Waco

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        Daily Crime In Waco (per 100,000 people)

        The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in Waco, TX per 100,000 people. In Waco, the number of daily crimes is projected to be 1.42 times more than the Texas average and 1.67 times more than the national average. The average number of daily violent crimes in Waco is 1.49 times more than the Texas average and 1.74 times more than the daily national average. With regards to property crimes, Waco has a daily crime rate that is 1.40 times more than the Texas average and 1.65 times more than the overall daily national average.

        How Safe is Waco (higher is better)

        When comparing the safety of Waco to every other city in Texas, as well as the entirety of the United States, is Waco safe? The gauges above illustrate that Waco is safer than 6% of every city located within Texas along with 10% of the all the cities located in the United States. The results of these graphs are created after analyzing each of the cities in Texas and in the United States as a whole. As a result, Waco, TX is ranked below average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Waco

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Waco is 1 in 156
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Waco is 1 in 31
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Waco is 1 in 26
        Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In Waco, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 156. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 31 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 Waco is 1 in 26.

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

        Determining whether Waco is becoming less or more safe for its residents (per 100,000) is most easily done by comparing year-over-year crime rates. Waco violent crime rates have decreased by 11%. At the same time, property crime has decreased by 3% year over year. Total crimes for Waco has decreased by 5% in the same time frame.

        Waco police department

        Item Waco Texas National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)32546,020558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.53.03.3
        There are a total of 325 Waco police officers. This results in 2.5 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 15.9% less than the Texas average and 22.3% 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
        Hewitt, TX14,7051668961,062
        Woodway, TX8,936531,0621,114
        China Spring, TX1,2641991,0581,257
        Lorena, TX1,8221681,1751,343
        Robinson, TX11,8062471,0961,343
        Hallsburg, TX4054072,1662,573
        Lacy-Lakeview, TX6,6984062,5622,968
        Waco, TX137,7796433,2293,872

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Carrollton, TX137,3192071,6611,867
        Metairie, LA138,5114291,8742,303
        Charleston, SC137,0413751,8892,264
        Roseville, CA138,8601631,8852,048
        Surprise, AZ139,0071181,4031,521
        Waco, TX137,7796433,2293,872
        Source: The Waco, 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.