Murder per Capita in Polk County
The map below shows murder per 1,000 Polk County residents.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
A+
Overall Crime Grade™
A |
|
A |
|
Other Crime Grade |
A+ |
Fact
A crime occurs every 48 minutes (on average) in Polk County.
300%
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
Crime Grade's murder map shows the safest places in Polk County in green. The most dangerous areas in Polk County are in red, with moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted by the type and severity of the crime.
Is Polk County, FL Safe?
The A+ grade means the rate of murder is much lower than the average US county. Polk County is in the 94th percentile for safety, meaning 6% of counties are safer and 94% of counties are more dangerous. This analysis applies to Polk County's proper boundaries only. See the table on nearby places below for nearby counties.
The rate of murder in Polk County is 0.0266 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. People who live in Polk County generally consider the southwest part of the county to be the safest.
Your chance of being a victim of murder in Polk County may be as high as 1 in 30,204 in the west neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 46,735 in the southwest part of the county. See the section on interpreting the murder map, however, because comparing rates for murder or any other crime is not as intuitive as it may seem.
By a simple count ignoring population, more crimes occur in the northeast parts of Polk County, FL: about 4 per year. The east part of Polk County has fewer cases of murder with only 1 in a typical year.
Interpreting the Murder Maps
When looking at the murder map for Polk County, remember that the rate of murder per resident may appear inflated when people visit the area during the day, but do not live there. For example, there are more retail establishments in the west part of the county. Many crimes are committed in retail areas in blocks where few people live. Red areas on the murder rate map do not always indicate danger for Polk County residents who live there.
More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports, of which Polk County has 0, 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 Polk County has 80, have the same problem. Of Polk County’s 782,472 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Ultimately crime happens where people are, whether they live there or not. Before writing off an area as unsafe, look at both the crime rate and total crime maps, then consider nearby destinations that people may be visiting.
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 Polk County, FL at ISP Reports.Polk County Crime Breakdown
The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All murder rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Polk County residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
1.640 |
Robbery |
0.2503 |
Rape |
0.3096 |
Murder |
0.0266 |
Total Violent Crime |
2.227 (A) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
7.548 |
Vehicle Theft |
0.5465 |
Burglary |
1.320 |
Arson |
0.0275 |
Total Property Crime |
9.442 (A) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.0343 |
Drug Crimes |
0.9829 |
Vandalism |
1.114 |
Identity Theft |
0.1611 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0161 |
Total "Other" Rate |
2.308 (A+) |
Individual Polk County Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of murder in Polk County is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Polk County.
Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade | Murder Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | A- | A- | A- | |
A | C | B+ | C+ | |
A+ | A- | B+ | A | |
A | B+ | B+ | A- | |
A+ | A- | A+ | A- | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A+ | A | A | A+ | |
A+ | A- | A+ | A |
Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations
Polk County is lower versus other counties of the same size for murder. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.
Similar County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade | Murder Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
D | C | C | B- | |
A- | B- | B- | B+ | |
A- | A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A+ | A | A | B+ | |
B | A | A | A+ | |
D | D+ | D+ | D | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | A- | |
D | D | D | B | |
B- | B+ | B+ | A- | |
B- | B+ | B+ | A- |
Considering only the murder rate, Polk County is safer than the Florida state average and safer than the national average.
Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Polk County, FL average SchoolGrade of C+, with 40% actual proficiency versus 38% projected; overall, schools exceed expectations. See Polk County 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.