Crime per Capita in King County
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in King County.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
F
Overall Crime Grade™
C- |
|
F |
|
Other Crime Grade |
C |
$1.9 billion
Cost of Crime™ for King County, WA
In 2025, crime will cost $2,070 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in King 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 King County, WA Safe?
The F grade indicates that the rate of crime is much higher than that of the average US county. King County ranks in the 8th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 8% of counties but less safe than 92%. This analysis applies only to King County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.
The crime rate in King County is 56.17 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. King County Residents generally consider the northeast part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in King County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 10 in the west areas to 1 in 33 in the northeast.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the south parts of King County, WA see the most incidents - about 28,176 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 6,590 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in King County, WA
The total projected cost of crime in King County for 2025 is $1,924,532,921. This translates to approximately $819 per resident and $2,070 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.2% of the median household income in King County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 52.8%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 36.5%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 10.7%
How Much Does Crime Cost in King County Compared to Other Counties?
| King County, WA: | $819 |
|---|---|
| Pierce County, WA: | $671 |
| Benton County, WA: | $391 |
| Washington: | $610 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in King County is $819 per year, which is $355 more than the national average and $209 more than Washington's state average. Below we compare counties similar to King County:
- In Pierce County, WA, crime costs $671 per person, which is $148 less than in King County.
- In Benton County, WA, crime costs $391 per person, which is $428 less than in King County
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of King County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to King County |
Cost per King County Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$585.8 million |
$249 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$109.0 million |
$46 |
Robbery |
$73.8 million |
$31 |
Assault |
$174.3 million |
$74 |
Kidnapping |
$22.9 million |
$10 |
Vehicle Theft |
$294.3 million |
$125 |
Burglary |
$165.4 million |
$70 |
Theft |
$293.2 million |
$125 |
Arson |
$14.1 million |
$6 |
Vandalism |
$165.7 million |
$71 |
Animal Cruelty |
$400,823 |
$0 |
Drug Crimes |
$10.1 million |
$4 |
Identity Theft |
$15.5 million |
$7 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$1,924,532,921 |
$819 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in King County, 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 King County totals $4,482,801,124 ($1,908 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $6,407,334,045 ($2,727 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 King 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 west 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, of which King County 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 King County has 395, have the same problem. Of King County’s 2,349,351 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 King County, WA at ISP Reports.King 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 King County residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
2.583 |
Robbery |
0.9983 |
Rape |
0.7654 |
Murder |
0.1327 |
Total Violent Crime |
4.479 (C-) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
24.10 |
Vehicle Theft |
8.091 |
Burglary |
7.762 |
Arson |
0.2490 |
Total Property Crime |
40.20 (F) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.1608 |
Drug Crimes |
0.5813 |
Vandalism |
9.872 |
Identity Theft |
0.8502 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0231 |
Total "Other" Rate |
11.49 (C) |
Individual King County Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in King County is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to King County.
Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
D- | C+ | D- | |
D | B | D- | |
D- | D+ | F | |
C- | D+ | C- | |
D- | D | D- | |
D+ | B- | D- | |
C | C+ | D+ | |
D | B | D- | |
D | C+ | D- | |
C- | B | D+ |
Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations
King County is higher 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 | C- | C- | |
C- | D | D | |
B- | C | C | |
B- | C+ | C+ | |
D | D | D | |
C | C+ | C+ | |
A- | B | B | |
C | D | D | |
B- | D+ | D+ | |
B- | C- | C- |
Considering only the crime rate, King County 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 King County, WA average SchoolGrade of F, with 3% actual proficiency versus 48% projected; overall, schools underperform expectations. See King County schools on SchoolGrade
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