The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Central, Tacoma, WA: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Central

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Central.

 

Central, Tacoma, WA Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

F

Overall Crime Grade™

D-
F
Other Crime Grade
F

$24.7 million

Cost of Crime™ for Central, Tacoma, WA

In 2025, crime will cost $2,579 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Central 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 Central, Tacoma, WA Safe?

The F grade indicates that the rate of crime is much higher than that of the average US neighborhood. Central ranks in the 4th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 4% of neighborhoods but less safe than 96%. This analysis applies only to Central's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby neighborhoods.

The crime rate in Central is 91.64 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Central Residents generally consider the northwest part of the neighborhood to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Central varies by area - ranging from 1 in 6 in the southwest areas to 1 in 15 in the northwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southeast parts of Central, Tacoma, WA see the most incidents - about 419 per year. In contrast, the east part of the neighborhood has the fewest, with approximately 146 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Central, Tacoma, WA

The total projected cost of crime in Central for 2025 is $24,726,507. This translates to approximately $1,084 per resident and $2,579 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 2.5% of the median household income in Central. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 59.1%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 30.0%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 10.8%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Central Compared to Other Neighborhoods?

Central, Tacoma, WA: $1084
New Tacoma, Tacoma, WA: $1762
Moran Prairie, Spokane, WA: $324
Washington: $610
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Central is $1,084 per year, which is $620 more than the national average and $474 more than Tacoma's city average. Below we compare neighborhoods similar to Central:
  • In New Tacoma, Tacoma, WA, crime costs $1,762 per person, which is $678 more than in Central.
  • In Moran Prairie, Spokane, WA, crime costs $324 per person, which is $760 less than in Central

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Central for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Central
Cost per Central Resident
Murder
$2.68 million
$117
Rape/Sexual Assault
$1.08 million
$47
Robbery
$1.24 million
$54
Assault
$4.82 million
$211
Kidnapping
$333,220
$15
Vehicle Theft
$4.11 million
$180
Burglary
$1.71 million
$75
Theft
$3.69 million
$162
Arson
$117,732
$5
Vandalism
$4.19 million
$184
Animal Cruelty
$16,046
$1
Drug Crimes
$329,596
$14
Identity Theft
$420,705
$18
Total Cost of Crime
$24,726,507
$1,084

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Central, Tacoma, WA

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 Central totals $24,860,663 ($1,090 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $49,587,170 ($2,174 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 Central 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 northwest part of the neighborhood 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 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 Central has 2, have the same problem. Of Central’s 22,810 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 Central, Tacoma, WA at ISP Reports.

Central 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 Central residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
7.362
Robbery
1.722
Rape
0.7796
Murder
0.0624
Total Violent Crime
9.926 (D-)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
31.21
Vehicle Theft
11.64
Burglary
8.246
Arson
0.2137
Total Property Crime
51.31 (F)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.2409
Drug Crimes
1.953
Vandalism
25.73
Identity Theft
2.383
Animal Cruelty
0.0951
Total "Other" Rate
30.40 (F)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Neighborhoods

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

Nearby Neighborhood
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
F
F
F
D+
C
D
F
D-
F
D+
B-
D+
D-
D+
D-
F
D
F
B-
B+
B-
B
B+
B
C-
B
C-
C-
C+
D+

Crime Maps and Rates for Neighborhood with Similar Populations

Central is higher versus other neighborhoods of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in neighborhoods with comparable overall population in the neighborhood‘s boundaries.

Similar Neighborhood
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
D+
B
B
C
C-
C-
A+
A+
A+
B+
B-
B-
A-
B+
B+
C+
A-
A-
A-
C
C
B
A-
A-
B
B-
B-
A+
A
A

Considering only the crime rate, Central is less safe than the Washington state average and less safe than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Central, Tacoma, WA average SchoolGrade of N/A, with N/A% actual proficiency versus 33% projected; overall, schools N/A. See Central 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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Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 4 hours 11 minutes in Central. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in Central, Tacoma, WA

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.