Is Tampa Florida Safe?

When you’re moving to a new city, there are a lot of things you’ll probably be asking. Are houses expensive? What recreational activities are available in the area? Are schools acceptable? These are all valid questions you can, and in fact, should ask before you move to Tampa, but there’s one more question you’re probably wondering about: is the city of Tampa safe? 

The answer to this question is simultaneously a pleasant surprise and largely unimpressive, due to the distinction between violent crimes and property crimes. This distinction is fairly self-explanatory; crimes such as assault, homicide and rape are classified as violent crimes, and other crimes such as theft or burglary are classified as property crimes.

Now, let’s get into the actual stats. Violent crime is a bit higher than the national average at around 4.3 violent crimes per one thousand residents, as opposed to the national average of 4 violent crimes per one thousand residents. While this is below average, for a large city like Tampa it’s actually surprisingly low. 

Property crimes, on the other hand, are actually surprisingly low! With an average property crime rate of 18 incidents per one thousand residents, Tampa’s property crime rates are exceptionally low for a city of similar size, when compared to the national average of 24 incidents per one thousand residents. 

It’s worth noting that, while Tampa’s violent crime rates are a bit high when compared to the national average, there are certain precautions that can be taken to minimize the danger of falling victim to a violent crime. Simple precautions such as carrying a can of pepper spray or (more controversially) a licensed concealed carry weapon can reduce your chances of becoming another statistic. 

If our assessment of the crime rates in the area doesn’t deter you, why not contact one of the top real estate agents in Tampa FL and get a feel for the real estate market? Who knows; if you are impressed by what you find, you might just find yourself moving to the beautiful city of Tampa!