Our original post using the FBI’s 2023 crime data is available here for comparison.
Whether compared to states—since Democrats want D.C. to become the 51st state—or to major cities, the district stands out for all the wrong reasons.
Anyone who has been in a CVS or Walgreens in D.C. knows how everything is behind plexiglass, and given how high the property crime rate in D.C. is 34% higher than the highest state, that isn’t too surprising. Similarly, D.C.’s violent crime rate is 39% higher than the highest state, and 198% higher than the average state.
The latest final FBI crime data for reported crime is for 2024 (easy to read charts are shown below). (Note that we have frequently pointed out the large recent differences between reported crime and total crime, with only about 43% of violent crime and property crime reported to police (see here and here). And that D.C. has an additional problem with apparently fudging crime data to make things look better than they actually are (see here and here).) D.C.’s crime rates are remarkably high compared to the rest of the country.
The previous numbers for the states show how D.C. compares to the nation, but the more telling comparison is with other major cities. D.C.’s murder rate far exceeds that of the 25 most populous cities—and D.C. itself ranks 22nd in population. Among those cities, Indianapolis recorded the highest rate at 19.98 murders per 100,000 people. D.C.’s murder rate still comes in 28% higher than Indianapolis, the next worst of the top 25.
D.C.’s violent crime rate ranks among the worst of major cities. It is the fourth highest of the 25 most populous citiesand runs 35% above their average violent crime rate.
The picture looks even bleaker when you widen the lens. Among the 500 U.S. cities with more than 50,000 residents that report data, D.C. holds the third highest robbery rate.
During 2024, members of D.C.’s business trade association community wrote D.C. mayor and city council about their concerns over crime: “Our organizations are primarily based in the downtown business district, where there have been horrifying acts of violence . . . Innocent people in neighborhoods across the city have been targeted in robberies, carjackings, and seemingly random acts of violence.”
— D.C.’s violent crime rate is 39% higher than the highest state, Alaska. It is 198% higher than the average.
— D.C.’s murder rate is 136% higher than the highest state, Louisiana. It is 434% higher than the average.
— D.C.’s rape rate is 72% lower than the highest state, Alaska. And it is 12% lower than the average.
— D.C.’s robbery rate is an incredible 291% higher than the highest state, Maryland. It is 1005% higher than the average.
— D.C.’s aggravated assault rate is 21% lower than the highest state, New Mexico. It is 93% higher than the average.
— D.C.’s property crime rate is 34% higher than the highest state, New Mexico. It is 121% higher than the average.
Here is the data by state for 2024
Here are comparisons for D.C. to other cities in the 25 most populous cities
