The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in DeSoto County, FL: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in DeSoto County

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

 

DeSoto County, FL Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

A+

Overall Crime Grade™

A-
A+
Other Crime Grade
A+

$6.09 million

Cost of Crime™ for DeSoto County, FL

In 2025, crime will cost $506 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in DeSoto County 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 DeSoto County, FL Safe?

The A+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is much lower than that of the average US county. DeSoto County ranks in the 99th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 99% of counties but less safe than 1%. This analysis applies only to DeSoto County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in DeSoto County is 10.51 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. DeSoto County Residents generally consider the southwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in DeSoto County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 47 in the central areas to 1 in 158 in the southwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of DeSoto County, FL see the most incidents - about 91 per year. In contrast, the west part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 11 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in DeSoto County, FL

The total projected cost of crime in DeSoto County for 2025 is $6,093,680. This translates to approximately $193 per resident and $506 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.8% of the median household income in DeSoto County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 52.0%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 35.9%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.0%

How Much Does Crime Cost in DeSoto County Compared to Other Counties?

DeSoto County, FL: $193
Miami-Dade County, FL: $384
Martin County, FL: $116
Florida: $246
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in DeSoto County is $193 per year, which is $271 less than the national average and $53 less than Florida's state average. Below we compare counties similar to DeSoto County:
  • In Miami-Dade County, FL, crime costs $384 per person, which is $191 more than in DeSoto County.
  • In Martin County, FL, crime costs $116 per person, which is $77 less than in DeSoto County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of DeSoto County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to DeSoto County
Cost per DeSoto County Resident
Murder
$1.98 million
$63
Rape/Sexual Assault
$623,296
$20
Robbery
$268,877
$9
Assault
$1.57 million
$50
Kidnapping
$35,539
$1
Vehicle Theft
$56,530
$2
Burglary
$226,039
$7
Theft
$860,723
$27
Arson
$24,128
$1
Vandalism
$190,721
$6
Animal Cruelty
$3,562
$0
Drug Crimes
$211,138
$7
Identity Theft
$41,666
$1
Total Cost of Crime
$6,093,680
$193

The Intangible Cost of Crime in DeSoto County, FL

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 DeSoto County totals $16,652,355 ($527 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $22,746,035 ($720 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 DeSoto County 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 county 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 DeSoto County has 4, have the same problem. Of DeSoto County’s 31,601 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 DeSoto County, FL at ISP Reports.

DeSoto County 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 DeSoto County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
1.729
Robbery
0.2705
Rape
0.3253
Murder
0.0334
Total Violent Crime
2.358 (A-)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
5.259
Vehicle Theft
0.1155
Burglary
0.7886
Arson
0.0316
Total Property Crime
6.195 (A+)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.0185
Drug Crimes
0.9033
Vandalism
0.8448
Identity Theft
0.1703
Animal Cruelty
0.0152
Total "Other" Rate
1.952 (A+)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in DeSoto County is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to DeSoto County.

Nearby County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
A+
A+
A+
A
C
B+
A+
A-
A+
A+
A+
A+
A+
A
A+
A+
A
A+
A-
B-
B-
A-
C+
B-
A+
A
A
A+
A-
B+

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

DeSoto County is lower versus other counties of the same size for crime. 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
C-
B
B
D-
F
F
F
F
F
B-
B-
B-
F
D
D
C-
C
C
B+
C-
C-
C
D+
D+
D+
D
D
B
B+
B+

Considering only the crime rate, DeSoto 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 DeSoto County, FL average SchoolGrade of D, with 27% actual proficiency versus 36% projected; overall, schools underperform expectations. See DeSoto 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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Home Security

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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.