The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Washington: Crime Maps and Statistics

D-

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	C
Property Crime Grade	F
Other Crime Grade	D

Which crimes are included?

$4.9 billion

Cost of Crime™ for Washington

In 2025, crime will cost $1,594 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Washington in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Washington Safe?

The D- grade indicates that the rate of crime is much higher than that of the average US state. Washington ranks in the 8th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 8% of states but less safe than 92%. This analysis applies only to Washington's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby states.

The crime rate in Washington is 49.59 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Washington Residents generally consider the south part of the state to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Washington varies by city - ranging from 1 in 16 in the west cities to 1 in 29 in the south.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Washington see the most incidents - about 114,670 per year. In contrast, the south part of the state has the fewest, with approximately 9,843 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Washington

The total projected cost of crime in Washington for 2025 is $4,910,128,658. This translates to approximately $610 per resident and $1,594 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.2% of the median household income in Washington. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 57.9%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 31.1%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 10.9%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Washington Compared to Other States?

Washington:	$610
New Mexico:	$835
New Jersey:	$240
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Washington is $610 per year, which is $146 more than the national average. Below we compare states similar to Washington:

In New Mexico, crime costs $835 per person, which is $225 more than in Washington.
In New Jersey, crime costs $240 per person, which is $371 less than in Washington

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Washington for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to Washington	Cost per Washington Resident
Murder	$857.4 million	$107
Rape/Sexual Assault	$361.5 million	$45
Robbery	$214.1 million	$27
Assault	$554.5 million	$69
Kidnapping	$94.7 million	$12
Vehicle Theft	$797.4 million	$99
Burglary	$393.4 million	$49
Theft	$856.9 million	$107
Arson	$37.5 million	$5
Vandalism	$622.7 million	$77
Animal Cruelty	$2.69 million	$0
Drug Crimes	$57.9 million	$7
Identity Theft	$59.5 million	$7
Total Cost of Crime	$4,910,128,658	$610

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Washington

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Washington totals $7,675,093,648 ($954 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $12,585,222,306 ($1,564 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Washington crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the central part of the state has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports, of which Washington has 1, always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Washington has 1,307, have the same problem. Of Washington’s 8,045,372 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Washington at ISP Reports.

Washington Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Washington residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	2.400
Robbery	0.8460
Rape	0.7411
Murder	0.0567
Total Violent Crime	4.044 (C)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	20.56
Vehicle Theft	6.400
Burglary	5.391
Arson	0.1929
Total Property Crime	32.55 (F)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.1940
Drug Crimes	0.9734
Vandalism	10.83
Identity Theft	0.9559
Animal Cruelty	0.0453
Total "Other" Rate	13.00 (D)

Individual Washington Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby States

Compared to surrounding states, the rate of crime in Washington is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for states close to Washington.

Nearby State	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Oregon	D-	C+	D-
Idaho	A-	B	A+
Montana	C-	D+	C-
Nevada	D	D	D-
Utah	C-	B	C
Wyoming	B+	A	A
California	C	D	D+
Colorado	F	D-	F
North Dakota	C-	B-	C-
Arizona	B-	C	C+

Crime Maps and Rates for State with Similar Populations

Washington is higher versus other states of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in states with comparable overall population in the state‘s boundaries.

Similar State	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Pennsylvania	A	A-	A-
Montana	C-	D+	D+
Nebraska	C+	B+	B+
Nevada	D	D	D
New Hampshire	A	A+	A+
New Jersey	A+	A	A
New Mexico	F	F	F
New York	A-	C	C
North Carolina	C-	C-	C-
North Dakota	C-	B-	B-

Considering only the crime rate, Washington is as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Washington average SchoolGrade of D, with 27% actual proficiency versus 38% projected; overall, schools underperform expectations. See Washington schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.