If you are thinking about visiting St. Petersburg and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.
Lets deep dive into the some crime statistics and crime rates and see how safe or dangerous St. Petersburg really is.
Is St. Petersburg, Florida safe?
Statistically speaking, St. Petersburg is a moderately safe city. In 2021, St. Petersburg had a violent crime rate of 623.9 per 100,000 residents, which is 1.6 times greater than the national average and its property crime rate of 2,530.89 per 100,000 residents is 1.3 times greater than the national average.
Does St. Petersburg have a high crime rate?
St. Petersburg does not have a high crime rate. It’s crime rate is elevated but it does not enter the high or unsafe territory. St. Petersburg’s crime rate is similar to cities like Seattle, Louisville and Jacksonville.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on St. Petersburg’s crime rate:
St. Petersburg, Florida crime rate breakdown
Violent Crime Rate
In 2020 St. Petersburg reported 1,627 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 623.9 per 100,000 residents. Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults.
Year over year violent crime has decreased 8.2%.
You have a 1 in 160 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in St. Petersburg.
Here’s a graph showing you how violent crime has trended in St. Petersburg over a 12 year period.
St. Petersburg’s Murder Rate
In 2020, St. Petersburg reported 33 murders and had a murder rate of 12.65 per 100,000 residents. St. Petersburg’s murder rate is nearly 2 times greater than the national average.
Year over year murder has increased by 120%.
You have a 1 in 7,902 chance of becoming a victim of murder in St. Petersburg.
Here’s a graph showing you how murders have trended over the last 12 years in St. Petersburg.
Here’s a table you showing the murder rates of 15 major cities in the United States. St. Petersburg has a similar murder rate to Phoenix and Portland.
In 2020 St. Petersburg reported 6,600 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 2,530.9 per 100,000 residents. Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson.
Year over year property crime has decreased 3.5%.
You have a 1 in 40 chance of becoming a victim of property crime in St. Petersburg.
Here’s a graph showing you how property crime has trended in St. Petersburg over a 12 year period.
St. Petersburg’s crime rate vs other cities in Florida (2020)
Here’s a graph showing you how St. Petersburg’ss crime rate compares to other cities in Florida. St. Petersburg had the 6th highest crime rate of all the cities listed in 2020.
Here’s a list of the top 23 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. St. Petersburg’s violent crime rate is 4.7 times less than Monroe, Louisiana, the most dangerous city on the list.
How are St. Petersburg, Florida crime rates calculated?
Crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
For example, in 2021 there were 1,627 violent crimes in St. Petersburg and the population was 260,778. This equals a crime rate of 623.9 per 100,000 residents.
In 2021, St. Petersburg reported 8,227 total crimes, which is a 4.5% decrease over 2020.
In 2021, St. Petersburg reported 1,627 violent crimes, which is a 8.2% decrease over 2020.
In 2021, St. Petersburg reported 33 murders, which is a 120% increase over 2020.
In 2021, St. Petersburg reported 6,600 property crimes, which is a 3.5% decrease over 2020.
Most dangerous neighborhoods in St. Petersburg
Here’s a crime map of St. Petersburg showing you the locations of all the homicides from 2019-2021, to give you some perspective on crime in St. Petersburg.
South St. Petersburg has the highest concentration of murders in the city and is widely regarded as the roughest part of town by many residents.
Childs Park, Bartlett Park, Wildwood Heights, Melrose-Cercy and Jordan Park have the highest concentration of crime and are the most dangerous neighborhoods in St. Petersburg.
Is Downtown St. Petersburg Safe?
Downtown St. Petersburg is generally a safe area to visit. At night you should avoid straying too far south of the downtown areas, as those areas are sketchy.
Is the public transportation in St. Petersburg safe?
The buses are generally a safe option to use during normal commuting hours (7am – 6pm), however we recommend that you use a taxi or ride sharing service outside of those hours. At night there are less people using the public transit and it can get sketchy.
There is also a trolley called the Looper that offers free rides around the downtown area and it is a pretty safe option during its service hours, 8:00AM – 10:00PM.
Is St. Petersburg safe at night?
St. Petersburg is generally safe at night as long as you stay out of the problem areas mentioned above (Southside St. Petersburg).
Be aware that streets and squares that are perfectly safe to visit in the daytime can be questionable and sketchy at night.
Learn the layout of the city and figure out which parts are good and which parts are bad and plan your trip accordingly.
Is St. Petersburg safe from hurricanes?
St. Petersburg is not safe from hurricanes and is actually susceptible to them, due to its coastal location on the coast of Florida.
Hurricane season in St. Petersburg officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. The peak of hurricane season is mid-August to mid-October.
It is safe to visit St. Petersburg 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.
What do residents of St. Petersburg say about it’s safety?
"South St Pete is probably the roughest part of town. Specifically, 18th to 22nd Ave near MLK st."
"The southside is sketchy but its improving. Stay out of Bartlett Park and Jordan Park. Those are probably the worst neighborhoods."
"I’ve lived here all my life and I would say that the northside is the better part of town. The southside has a lot of poverty and suffers from a crime problem."
"Generally speaking, north of central ave is all good and south of central is hit or miss."
"I’ve lived in St. Pete for most of my life and never once did I feel unsafe. If you go to the wrong areas, there’s a risk but I stay out of those areas at night because I value my livelihood."
Tips to stay safe while visiting St. Petersburg
Research the city before you arrive. Learn which parts of the city are good and which parts are sketchy and plan your trip with this knowledge.
Always be aware of your surroundings. Stay off your cellphone and keep your eyes and ears open for any potential dangers.
Always walk with confidence and purpose. Criminals like to target individuals who meek or unsure of themselves.
Avoid walking through desolate and unlit areas at night. Stay in places where there are people around.
Don’t travel by yourself late at night.
Don’t leave valuables in your car or in plain sight in your car.
Don’t park in desolate areas or areas that are not well lit. Consider using parking garages when visiting.
Facts about St. Petersburg, Florida
The population of St. Petersburg in 2021 was 260,778 and is the 79th most populous city in the United States.
The city covers a land area of 61.87 square miles.
92.7% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 37.1% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
The median income for a household in the city was $60,798. The per capita income for the city was $38,802.
11.6% of the population live below the poverty line.
The median home value in St. Petersburg is $355,000 in 2022.
In 2022, the average rent for a St. Petersburg 2-bedroom apartment is $2,200.
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