The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Knoxville, TN: Crime Maps and Statistics

D+

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	D
Property Crime Grade	C-
Other Crime Grade	D

Which crimes are included?

$517.0 million

Cost of Crime™ for Knoxville, TN

In 2025, crime will cost $1,361 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in the Knoxville area 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 Knoxville, TN Safe?

The D+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is higher than that of the average US city. Knoxville ranks in the 27th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 27% of cities but less safe than 73%. This analysis applies only to the Knoxville area's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in the Knoxville area is 33.28 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. the Knoxville area Residents generally consider the south part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in the Knoxville area varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 23 in the east neighborhoods to 1 in 45 in the south.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Knoxville, TN see the most incidents - about 6,272 per year. In contrast, the southeast part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 1,295 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Knoxville, TN

The total projected cost of crime in Knoxville for 2025 is $517,021,782. This translates to approximately $550 per resident and $1,361 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.4% of the median household income in Knoxville. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 53.6%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 34.5%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.9%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Knoxville Compared to Other Cities?

Knoxville, TN:	$550
Bolivar, TN:	$1463
Castalian Springs, TN:	$302
Tennessee:	$694
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Knoxville is $550 per year, which is $86 more than the national average and $143 less than Tennessee's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Knoxville:

In Bolivar, TN, crime costs $1,463 per person, which is $913 more than in Knoxville.
In Castalian Springs, TN, crime costs $302 per person, which is $248 less than in Knoxville

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

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

Crime	Cost to Knoxville	Cost per Knoxville Resident
Murder	$151.2 million	$161
Rape/Sexual Assault	$41.9 million	$45
Robbery	$15.7 million	$17
Assault	$98.8 million	$105
Kidnapping	$10.4 million	$11
Vehicle Theft	$41.7 million	$44
Burglary	$19.5 million	$21
Theft	$52.1 million	$55
Arson	$2.97 million	$3
Vandalism	$35.5 million	$38
Animal Cruelty	$402,354	$0
Drug Crimes	$46.4 million	$49
Identity Theft	$526,675	$1
Total Cost of Crime	$517,021,782	$550

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Knoxville, TN

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 Knoxville totals $1,234,488,149 ($1,314 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $1,751,509,931 ($1,864 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 the Knoxville area 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 city 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 the Knoxville area has 54, have the same problem. Of the Knoxville area’s 939,710 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 Knoxville, TN at ISP Reports.

Knoxville 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 Knoxville residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	3.662
Robbery	0.5298
Rape	0.7347
Murder	0.0856
Total Violent Crime	5.012 (D)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	10.71
Vehicle Theft	2.864
Burglary	2.290
Arson	0.1308
Total Property Crime	15.99 (C-)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.1824
Drug Crimes	6.681
Vandalism	5.281
Identity Theft	0.0724
Animal Cruelty	0.0579
Total "Other" Rate	12.27 (D)

Individual Knoxville Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in the Knoxville area is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to the Knoxville area.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Powell, TN	D+	D-	C-
Louisville, TN	C	D+	B-
Edgemoor, TN	D+	D+	D+
Rockford, TN	D	D	C-
Clinton, TN	D+	D	C-
Farragut, TN	D+	C+	D+
Seymour, TN	C	D+	C+
Oak Ridge, TN	D	C-	D+
Mascot, TN	D	F	C-
Strawberry Plains, TN	C-	D	C

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Knoxville is similar versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.

Similar City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Baton Rouge, LA	D	D-	D-
Oxnard, CA	C	D+	D+
Allentown, PA	B	B	B
New Haven, CT	C	A-	A-
Sarasota, FL	A+	A-	A-
El Paso, TX	D-	D	D
Columbia, SC	D-	D-	D-
McAllen, TX	D-	D-	D-
Dayton, OH	C-	C	C
Albany, NY	B-	C	C

Considering only the crime rate, the Knoxville area is safer than the Tennessee state average and as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Knoxville, TN average SchoolGrade of C+, with 39% actual proficiency versus 38% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Knoxville schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

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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.