Kent County Crime & Safety

Kent County, Delaware

Safety Score

11/100

Higher = safer

Safety Rating

High Crime

Total Crime Rate

2734.1

per 100K population

Crime Statistics

Violent Crime Rate

468.2

per 100K population

National avg 380.7

Property Crime Rate

2265.9

per 100K population

National avg 1954.4

Safety Score

11/100

Higher = safer

State avg 16/100

State Safety Rank

of 3 counties (1 = safest)

Data Story

About Crime & Safety in Kent County, Delaware

Kent County crime rates exceed national benchmarks

Kent County maintains a safety score of 95.7, which reflects a generally secure environment. However, its total crime rate of 2,734.1 per 100K residents sits above the national average of 2,385.5. This data comes from 22 reporting agencies monitoring the heart of the state.

Kent ranks third for safety in Delaware

Kent County currently ranks as the least safe of Delaware's three counties. Its safety score of 95.7 falls slightly below the statewide average of 96.2. Local law enforcement manages a total crime rate higher than the state's average of 2,392.4 per 100K.

How Kent compares to its Delaware neighbors

Kent County reports more crime per capita than both New Castle and Sussex counties. Its total rate of 2,734.1 per 100K is higher than New Castle's 2,598.1 and significantly higher than Sussex's 1,844.9. This makes Kent the primary outlier for crime volume in the region.

Analyzing violent and property crime in Kent

Property crimes make up the bulk of local incidents at 2,265.9 per 100K, exceeding the national average of 2,015.7. Violent crime also trends higher than the U.S. benchmark, with 468.2 incidents per 100K compared to 369.8 nationally. These figures suggest that while property crime is more common, violent crime is also a significant local focus.

Securing Kent County homes and property

High property crime rates suggest residents should prioritize home security systems and visible deterrents. Simple steps like outdoor lighting and neighborhood watch participation can help lower these statistics. Protecting your home starts with awareness of these local trends.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the crime rate in Kent County, DE?

Kent County has a total crime rate of 2734.1 per 100,000 residents, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. This includes both violent crimes (468.2 per 100K) and property crimes (2265.9 per 100K).

Is Kent County, DE safe?

Kent County has a safety score of 11/100, rated "High Crime". A higher safety score indicates lower crime rates relative to other counties nationwide. It ranks #3 out of 3 counties in Delaware for safety (1 = safest).

How does Kent County crime compare to the Delaware average?

What types of crime are most common in Kent County?

How is crime data measured and reported for Kent County?

Crime data for Kent County comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. Local law enforcement agencies submit data on violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft) to the FBI. Rates are calculated per 100,000 residents to allow fair comparison between counties of different sizes. The safety score (0-100) is derived from these rates, with higher scores indicating safer counties.

What is being done about crime in Kent County?

Kent County has a safety score of 11/100, which is below the Delaware average of 16/100. Many counties with above-average crime rates invest in community policing, crime prevention programs, neighborhood watch initiatives, and social services aimed at reducing crime over time.