The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in District of Columbia: Crime Maps and Statistics

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	F
Property Crime Grade	F
Other Crime Grade	F

Which crimes are included?

$857.5 million

Cost of Crime™ for District of Columbia

In 2025, crime will cost $2,620 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia Safe?

The F grade indicates that the rate of crime is much higher than that of the average US state. District of Columbia ranks in the 1st percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 1% of states but less safe than 99%. This analysis applies only to District of Columbia's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby states.

The crime rate in District of Columbia is 67.25 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. District of Columbia Residents generally consider the northwest part of the state to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in District of Columbia varies by city - ranging from 1 in 12 in the southwest cities to 1 in 20 in the northwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southeast parts of District of Columbia see the most incidents - about 9,274 per year. In contrast, the southwest part of the state has the fewest, with approximately 42 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in District of Columbia

The total projected cost of crime in District of Columbia for 2025 is $857,523,712. This translates to approximately $1,264 per resident and $2,620 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.6% of the median household income in District of Columbia. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 50.5%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 37.6%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.9%

How Much Does Crime Cost in District of Columbia Compared to Other States?

District of Columbia:	$1264
New Mexico:	$835
New Jersey:	$240
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in District of Columbia is $1,264 per year, which is $800 more than the national average. Below we compare states similar to District of Columbia:

In New Mexico, crime costs $835 per person, which is $429 less than in District of Columbia.
In New Jersey, crime costs $240 per person, which is $1,024 less than in District of Columbia

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

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

Crime	Cost to District of Columbia	Cost per District of Columbia Resident
Murder	$383.4 million	$565
Rape/Sexual Assault	$31.0 million	$46
Robbery	$79.3 million	$117
Assault	$71.4 million	$105
Kidnapping	$3.26 million	$5
Vehicle Theft	$65.2 million	$96
Burglary	$11.8 million	$17
Theft	$90.9 million	$134
Arson	$141,195	$0
Vandalism	$97.6 million	$144
Animal Cruelty	$99,654	$0
Drug Crimes	$11.4 million	$17
Identity Theft	$12.1 million	$18
Total Cost of Crime	$857,523,712	$1,264

The Intangible Cost of Crime in District of Columbia

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 District of Columbia totals $2,748,577,744 ($4,051 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $3,606,101,456 ($5,315 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 District of Columbia 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 west 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 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 District of Columbia has 354, have the same problem. Of District of Columbia’s 678,492 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 District of Columbia at ISP Reports.

District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	3.662
Robbery	3.713
Rape	0.7525
Murder	0.3007
Total Violent Crime	8.429 (F)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	25.88
Vehicle Theft	6.202
Burglary	1.920
Arson	0.0086
Total Property Crime	34.01 (F)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.0793
Drug Crimes	2.281
Vandalism	20.14
Identity Theft	2.295
Animal Cruelty	0.0199
Total "Other" Rate	24.81 (F)

Individual District of Columbia Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby States

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

Nearby State	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Maryland	C	C-	C+
Delaware	D	C-	C-
Pennsylvania	A	A-	A-
Virginia	B-	B+	B-
New Jersey	A+	A	A-
West Virginia	A-	B+	A
New York	A-	C	B-
North Carolina	C-	C-	C-
Connecticut	B+	A+	B
Ohio	C+	B-	B-

Crime Maps and Rates for State with Similar Populations

District of Columbia 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
Alaska	C+	F	F
Hawaii	B	A	A
Puerto Rico	F	F	F
Vermont	B+	A-	A-
Wisconsin	B	B-	B-
Washington	D-	C	C
Texas	D+	D+	D+
South Dakota	C	C	C
South Carolina	D-	D	D
Rhode Island	A	A	A

Considering only the crime rate, District of Columbia is as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in District of Columbia average SchoolGrade of B+, with 52% actual proficiency versus 29% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See District of Columbia 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.