The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Opelousas, LA: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Opelousas

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

 

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

D-

Overall Crime Grade™

F
D-
Other Crime Grade
D

$40.1 million

Cost of Crime™ for Opelousas, LA

In 2025, crime will cost $2,633 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Opelousas 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 Opelousas, LA Safe?

The D- grade indicates that the rate of crime is much higher than that of the average US city. Opelousas ranks in the 10th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 10% of cities but less safe than 90%. This analysis applies only to Opelousas's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Opelousas is 48.32 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Opelousas Residents generally consider the south part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Opelousas varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 14 in the central neighborhoods to 1 in 25 in the south.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southwest parts of Opelousas, LA see the most incidents - about 348 per year. In contrast, the east part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 121 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Opelousas, LA

The total projected cost of crime in Opelousas for 2025 is $40,071,277. This translates to approximately $1,027 per resident and $2,633 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 4.2% of the median household income in Opelousas. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 47.1%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 41.5%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.3%

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

Opelousas, LA: $1027
Angola, LA: $1419
Madisonville, LA: $283
Louisiana: $723
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Opelousas is $1,027 per year, which is $563 more than the national average and $304 more than Louisiana's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Opelousas:
  • In Angola, LA, crime costs $1,419 per person, which is $392 more than in Opelousas.
  • In Madisonville, LA, crime costs $283 per person, which is $744 less than in Opelousas

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Opelousas for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Opelousas
Cost per Opelousas Resident
Murder
$19.5 million
$500
Rape/Sexual Assault
$1.27 million
$33
Robbery
$927,939
$24
Assault
$6.78 million
$174
Kidnapping
$334,254
$9
Vehicle Theft
$1.67 million
$43
Burglary
$2.01 million
$52
Theft
$3.88 million
$100
Arson
$76,799
$2
Vandalism
$2.33 million
$60
Animal Cruelty
$26,908
$1
Drug Crimes
$1.25 million
$32
Identity Theft
$5,266
$0
Total Cost of Crime
$40,071,277
$1,027

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Opelousas, LA

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 Opelousas totals $137,226,753 ($3,518 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $177,298,029 ($4,545 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 Opelousas 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 Opelousas has 1, have the same problem. Of Opelousas’s 39,007 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 Opelousas, LA at ISP Reports.

Opelousas 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 Opelousas residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
6.048
Robbery
0.7563
Rape
0.5362
Murder
0.2661
Total Violent Crime
7.607 (F)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
19.22
Vehicle Theft
2.760
Burglary
5.684
Arson
0.0815
Total Property Crime
27.75 (D-)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.1413
Drug Crimes
4.342
Vandalism
8.375
Identity Theft
0.0174
Animal Cruelty
0.0933
Total "Other" Rate
12.97 (D)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

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

Nearby City
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
F
F
F
D
D
D-
F
D-
F
F
F
F
F
F
F
D+
D+
D
F
F
F
D
D-
D-
F
F
F
C
C-
C+

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Opelousas is higher 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
B-
B-
B-
C+
B+
B+
C-
C+
C+
C
C
C
D
D-
D-
B
C+
C+
B+
B+
B+
C-
C
C
D-
D
D
B+
C
C

Considering only the crime rate, Opelousas is less safe than the Louisiana 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 Opelousas, LA average SchoolGrade of D-, with 22% actual proficiency versus 24% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Opelousas 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 38 minutes in Opelousas. Want to protect your home?

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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.