If you are thinking about visiting Boca Raton and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.
We are going to deep dive into the statistics, look at some maps, graphs and talk to the residents of the city to give you a better understanding of how safe Boca Raton really is.
Is Boca Raton Safe To Visit?
Statistically speaking, Boca Raton is a very safe place to visit. It is one of the safest cities in Florida. In 2020, Boca Raton had a violent crime rate of 211.45 per 100,000 people, which is well below the state and national average.
As a tourist, and assuming you will be going to the beach and doing normal touristy things, you should have absolutely no problem while visiting Boca Raton.
Boca Raton Crime Stats
Here’s a breakdown of all the crimes in the city for 2020 compared to 2019:
In 2020 Boca Raton reported 206 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 211.45 per 100,000 people.
The national average for violent crime is 398.5 per 100,000 residents. Boca Raton’s violent crime rate is almost half the national average.
Boca Raton’s violent crime rate is almost half the state average.
Year over year violent crime has increased by 11%.
Here’s a map showing you how violent crime has trended in Boca Raton over a 30 year period.
Violent crime peaked in 1998 when there were 258 violent crimes reported and the city had a violent crime rate of roughly 322.78 per 100,000 people.
Violent crime has decreased 19% from it’s 30-year high in 1998.
*Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults and the violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Boca Raton’s Property Crime Stats
In 2020 Boca Raton reported 1,996 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 2,048.82 per 100,000 people.
The national average for property crime is 1958.2 per 100,000 residents. Boca Raton’s property crime rate is 5% greater than the national average.
Boca Raton’s property crime rate is 16% greater than the state average.
Year over year property crime in Boca Raton has decreased by 9%.
Here’s a map showing you how property crime has trended in Boca Raton over a 30 year period.
Property crime peaked in 1998 when there were 3,701 property crimes reported and the city had a property crime rate of roughly 4,684.81 per 100,000 people.
Property crime has decreased over 46% from it’s 30-year high in 1998.
Property crime is at its lowest level in 30 years.
*Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson and property crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Boca Raton’s Murder Stats
In 2020, Boca Raton reported 2 homicides, a 33% decrease over 2019, where 3 homicides were reported.
In 2020 Boca Raton had a homicide rate of 2 per 100,000 people.
Boca Raton’s murder rate is 32% less than the national average.
Boca Raton’s murder rate is 35% less than the state average.
Here’s a graph showing you the violent crime rates of the 16 most populous cities in Florida. Boca Raton’s violent crime rate ranked 12th place among all the cities and is about 2.8x less than Daytona Beach, the city with the highest crime rate on the list.
Statistically speaking, Boca Raton is safer than Miami. Miami’s violent crime rate is almost 3x as high as Boca Raton. It should also be noted that Miami has a higher property crime rate and murder rate than Boca Raton.
Boca Raton vs The Most Dangerous Cities in the United States
Here’s a list of the top 18 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Boca Raton’s violent crime rate is 11.4x less than Memphis, the most dangerous city on the list.
Downtown Boca Raton is generally a safe area to visit day and night. The downtown area is very walkable from Mizner Park to Royal Palm Plaza and there are plenty of good options for restaurants, bars and shopping.
Is Boca Raton Beach Safe?
Boca Raton Beach is generally a safe area to visit. It’s one of the main tourist attractions in Boca Raton, so safety is a top priority there.
The water is beautiful, nice, warm, clear and there is almost no trash and great restaurants nearby.
The biggest issue you will have is parking. You have to get there a little earlier if you want to park at the beach otherwise you might end up parking a little further than you would like.
What do residents of Boca Raton say about it’s safety?
"Boca Raton is a great town to visit. It is very safe and “bad neighborhoods” are in the minority."
"I don’t think I seen any ghettos in Boca."
" There’s no bad areas in Boca, the east side is safe, the west side is safe."
"People live in Boca because it’s safe, not because it’s fun."
"Boca is safe but its generally an unfriendly town, full of narcissistic and wealthy jerks."
"Boca is very safe, go to mizner park, you’ll have fun."
"Boca Raton is very clean, well manicured and definitely safe, but expensive."
"The sketchiest part of Boca is where SW 18th street and 441 meet. That would be considered Boca’s version of the hood."
"East Boca has more crime than West Boca. West is mostly rich people live."
Is Boca Raton Safe For Women?
While there are no guarantees, Boca Raton is generally safe for female solo travelers.
To mitigate your chances of being a victim you should learn the layout of the city, avoid problem areas, stay in well lit/well populated areas and avoid going to deserted areas at night.
Is Boca Raton Tap Water Safe To Drink?
The tap water in Boca Raton Florida is safe to drink, however it should be noted that Boca Raton Florida has had 1 unresolved violation (Lead and Copper Rule) that started on Jan 1, 2018.
While the tap water in Boca Raton meets the EPA health guidelines, it can still contain contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run.
If you have any concerns about the tap water in Boca Raton, we suggest that you use bottle water for your drinking needs.
Is Boca Raton Safe From Hurricanes?
Boca Raton is not safe from hurricanes and is actually very susceptible to them, due to its coastal location on the southern tip of Florida.
From 1871-2015, Boca Raton has been directly hit by around 26 tropical storms and hurricanes.
Boca Raton averages a direct hurricane hit every 5.8 years. The longest gap between hurricanes was 9 years, 2007-2015.
When is hurricane season in Boca Raton?
Hurricane season in Boca Raton officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. The peak of hurricane season is mid-August to mid-October.
Is it safe to visit Boca Raton during hurricane season?
It is safe to visit Boca Raton during hurricane season, as long as you don’t visit when a hurricane is about to hit! Fortunately there is usually adequate warning when a hurricane is brewing in the area.
In the state of Florida, if there’s a river, canal, ponds, lake, river or even pools, there’s probably a gator.
Most alligators tend to stay away from humans, however they will snatch your dog if given the chance.
Luckily, they don’t live in the ocean (salt water), so you don’t have to worry about alligators stalking you when you swimming in the Atlantic.
Tips to stay safe while visiting Boca Raton
Research the city before you visit. Look at Google street view when booking your accomodations, so you don’t a place in a sketchy area.
Stick to well-trafficked and brightly lit areas during the nighttime.
If you are traveling alone, blend in as much as you can. You’re already at a disadvantage with criminals when you’re on your own, don’t make it easier for them to spot an outsider.
Keep your valuables secure at all times. Make sure you are not being distracted away from your valuables.
Be careful drinking, especially on your own or with people you don’t know
Never keep your wallet in your back pocket. Put your wallet and phone in a front pants pocket. Much harder to pickpocket.
Trust your instincts and your gut feeling. If you don’t feel safe, if something is amiss, don’t do it, don’t go, etc.
Try to be fairly inconspicuous. Don’t wear expensive-looking jewelry/clothing etc.
Be skeptical of people who are attempting to “help” you unsolicited – Thieves usually work in teams – one to draw your attention away and the other to steal your goods.
A Few Things You Should Do While Visiting Boca Raton According To Locals
The Sticky Bun – An awesome breakfast spot and definitely get the sticky bun!
Los Bocados – Delicious Mexican food. Their carne asada burrito is amazing.
How Dangerous Is Boca Raton?
Boca Raton is not dangerous at all and is a very safe city. It’s violent crime rate is well below the national average and the state average and is one of the safest cities in Florida.
Quick Facts About Boca Raton
Fact
Boca Raton, Florida
United States
Population, Census, April 1, 2020
97,422
331,449,281
Population, Census, April 1, 2010
84,392
308,745,538
Black or African American alone, percent
4.5%
13.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent
0.1%
1.3%
Asian alone, percent
2.9%
5.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent
0.0%
0.2%
Two or More Races, percent
2.1%
2.8%
Hispanic or Latino, percent
14.5%
18.5%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent
75.5%
60.1%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019
$458,600.00
$217,500.00
Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2015-2019
$2,469.00
$1,595.00
Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2015-2019
$977.00
$500.00
Median gross rent, 2015-2019
$1,760.00
$1,062.00
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2015-2019
95.8%
88.0%
Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2015-2019
55.3%
32.1%
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2015-2019
58.0%
63.0%
Median household income (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019
$83,114.00
$62,843.00
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019
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