Palm Beach County Crime & Safety

Palm Beach County, Florida

Safety Score

35/100

Higher = safer

Safety Rating

High Crime

Total Crime Rate

1507.2

per 100K population

Crime Statistics

Violent Crime Rate

271.9

per 100K population

National avg 380.7

Property Crime Rate

1235.3

per 100K population

National avg 1954.4

Safety Score

35/100

Higher = safer

State avg 57/100

State Safety Rank

#52

of 67 counties (1 = safest)

Data Story

About Crime & Safety in Palm Beach County, Florida

Palm Beach Scores High for Safety

Palm Beach County reports a total crime rate of 1,507.2 per 100,000 residents, which is significantly safer than the national rate of 2,385.5. The county achieves an impressive safety score of 97.6 out of 100. This data reflects the efforts of 44 different reporting agencies across the region.

Tracking Against Florida State Averages

The county's total crime rate of 1,507.2 exceeds the Florida state average of 1,027.9. Consequently, its safety score of 97.6 is slightly lower than the state's average score of 98.4. Local officials continue to manage these urban crime trends effectively.

Palm Beach vs. Sarasota County

Palm Beach County's rate of 1,507.2 is slightly lower than Sarasota's rate of 1,533.3. It also remains significantly safer than Pinellas County, which reports over 2,078 incidents per 100,000. These figures place Palm Beach in a competitive position among Florida's coastal counties.

Violent and Property Crime Analysis

Property crime accounts for 1,235.3 incidents per 100,000 people, while violent crime sits at 271.9. While property crime is the most common issue, the violent crime rate remains lower than the national average of 369.8. Residents primarily face risks related to theft or burglary.

Enhance Your Palm Beach Home Security

Given that property crime is the most frequent report, residents should consider installing alarm systems and high-quality locks. Keeping valuables out of sight from windows can significantly reduce the risk of opportunistic theft. Community vigilance remains a key factor in keeping Palm Beach safe.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the crime rate in Palm Beach County, FL?

Palm Beach County has a total crime rate of 1507.2 per 100,000 residents, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. This includes both violent crimes (271.9 per 100K) and property crimes (1235.3 per 100K).

Is Palm Beach County, FL safe?

Palm Beach County has a safety score of 35/100, rated "High Crime". A higher safety score indicates lower crime rates relative to other counties nationwide. It ranks #52 out of 67 counties in Florida for safety (1 = safest).

How does Palm Beach County crime compare to the Florida average?

What types of crime are most common in Palm Beach County?

How is crime data measured and reported for Palm Beach County?

Crime data for Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County?

Palm Beach County has a safety score of 35/100, which is below the Florida average of 57/100. 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.