Orlando is a city located in Central Florida and has a population of 307,573. It is the 67th largest city in the United States and the 4th largest city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa. Once occupied by European settlers, Orlando is now known for its amazing tourist attractions such as Disney World and Universal Studios, its incredible nature, and its beautiful real estate. Because of the many opportunities this city has to offer, many people consider moving to Orlando.
But is Orlando a safe place to live? Although the crime rates are high, Orlando is a safe place to live. Crime in Orlando is on a downward trend, and the crime that does happen is mostly concentrated in a few areas where nightlife activity is higher and increases the chance of violent activity. Here’s everything you need to know about the crime rate in Orlando, FL, and the safest and most dangerous areas of the city.
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Understanding the Orlando Crime Rate – How Crime Rates Are Calculated
The first step to determining whether or not Orlando is a safe place to live is to look at the crime rates. But what are Orlando crime rates telling you (or not telling you)? Crime rates are based on FBI crime data from law enforcement agencies and include both violent and property crimes. In order to find these rates, the FBI takes the total number of crimes committed in an area and divides it by the total population of that area. Those numbers are then multiplied by 100,000 and are reported as “X” number of crimes per 100,000 people.
While Orlando crime statistics can be helpful, there are many flaws in the reporting system. Firstly, data reporting is voluntary. Law enforcement decides whether or not they want to share the crime information they have.
Also, crime rates are city-wide. Crime rates do not take into consideration the fact that some neighborhoods are more dangerous than others. Different areas, neighborhoods, and even streets can have different levels of crimes. However one small section with high crime can significantly impact the overall crime rate.
In addition to these inaccuracies, it is important to note that the crime rates reporting system changed from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting system to the National Incident Based Reporting Systems in 2021. The new system is much more accurate as it collects more data and differentiates between attempted and completed crimes. Although this is a positive change, this can lead to a misleading rise in crime rates from 2020 to 2021.
So, while crime rates can be useful, it is important to take them with a grain of salt. Take the time to do more research into where the crime is concentrated and how accurate the numbers really are.
What Is the Orlando FL Crime Rate?
To better understand the Orlando, Florida crime rate, you will want to compare it to both the state and national averages.
The national crime rate is:
- 2,346 crimes per 100,000 people
- 388 violent crimes per 100,000 people
- 1,958 property crimes per 100,000 people
- 1 in 43 chance of being a victim of a crime
The Florida crime rate is:
- 2,153 crimes per 100,000 people
- 384 violent crimes per 100,000 people
- 1,769 property crimes per 100,000 people
- 1 in 46 chance of being a victim of a crime
Based on the information above, you can see that the crime rate in Florida is lower than the national average. But how does Orlando compare?
The Orlando crime rate is:
- 4,664 crimes per 100,000 people
- 860 violent crimes per 100,000 people
- 3,803 property crimes per 100,000 people
- 1 in 21 chance of being a victim of a crime
The overall crime rate in Orlando is 116.6% higher than the state average and 98.8% higher than the national average.
Although these numbers are high, it is important to remember that most of the crime is concentrated in a few areas where gang activity is higher and nightlife contributes to people acting irresponsibly. It is also important to keep in mind that Orlando is a huge city, so crime rates will naturally be a bit higher in places with a large population as well as a decent amount of tourist activity.
Orlando Crime Map & Crime Reports
This Orlando crime map gives you a better idea of where most of the crimes are concentrated in the city. The lighter areas are the safest, while the darker areas are said to be the most dangerous.
As you can see, most of the crime is concentrated in the western part of the city. This area contains most of the major tourist attractions such as Universal Studios and Disney World. Because of the large number of people going in and out of this area every day, the crime rates will naturally be higher.
One way to get a better insight into crime in Orlando is to take a look at the police department’s reports. You can access Orlando police reports at any time on the City of Orlando’s website. You can take a look at 911 calls, unsolved crimes, shootings, and missing persons data.
Violent Crime in Orlando
Violent crimes include murder, homicide, assault and battery, manslaughter, rape, sexual assault, robbery, and kidnapping.
Orlando Violent Crime Statistics:
- Orlando murder rate: 11 per 100,000 people
- Orlando violent crime rate: 860 per 100,000 people
- Total number of violent crimes in Orlando (2020): 2,524
- Chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Orlando: 1 in 116
The violent crime rate in Orlando is 124.2% higher than the state average and 121.8% higher than the national average. Although these percentages are high, law enforcement in Orlando has been taking strides to get these numbers down. Orlando appointed a new police chief in September of 2022, and since Chief Eric Smith has been in charge, violent crime has been declining. Since December of 2022, violent crime has gone down 8% and shootings have gone down 12%.
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Property Crime in Orlando
Property crimes include theft, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson, shoplifting, and vandalism.
Orlando Property Crime Statistics:
- Orlando property crime rate: 3,803 per 100,000 people
- Total property crimes (2020): 11,158
- Chance of becoming a victim of property crime in Orlando: 1 in 26
The property crime rate in Orlando is 114.9% higher than the state average and 94.2% higher than the national average.
Nearly all of the property crimes committed in 2020 were categorized as theft. Although theft should be taken seriously, most thefts are minor and do not threaten your safety. When living in Orlando, the best thing you can do is take the steps to protect your belongings. Make sure not to leave any valuable items in your car and lock up your belongings at home.
High Crime Areas of Orlando FL
Although crime is on a downward trend in Orlando, there are still a few neighborhoods where crime is high. Here are just a few of the worst neighborhoods in Orlando FL in terms of crime.
Mercy Drive
- Population: 1,836
- Crime rate: 4,038 per 100,000 people (369% higher than Orlando average)
You have a 1 in 8 chance of being a victim of a crime in Mercy Drive. This area has higher poverty rates, which likely contributes to the uptick in crimes.
North Orange
- Population: 986
- Crime rate: 2,995 per 100,000 people (248% higher than Orlando average)
Located near Downtown Orlando, North Orange sees high levels of property crimes due to the large number of tourists heading in and out of the area.
Malibu Groves
- Population: 1,165
- Crime rate: 2,878 per 100,000 people (235% higher than Orlando average)
Just north of Universal Studios, Malibu Groves is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Orlando. There is a lot of gang-related activity in this area that accounts for most of the serious crimes.
Safest Neighborhoods in Orlando
There are many amazing places to live in Orlando where the crime rate is extremely low. Here are a few of the safest Orlando neighborhoods.
Eagles Nest
- Population: 5,039
- Crime rate: 126 per 100,000 people (97% lower than Orlando average)
Eagles Nest is known for its amazing parks, top-rated schools, and beautiful real estate. This western Orlando neighborhood sees hardly any crime.
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Wedgewood Groves
- Population: 1,274
- Crime rate: 409 per 100,000 people (91% lower than Orlando average)
Wedgewood Groves is a beautiful neighborhood of 242 homes nestled on quiet, lamp-lined streets. This area is perfect for anyone who wants to stay close to downtown without the fear of high crime rates.
Lake Nona Estates
- Population: 397
- Crime rate: 858 crimes per 100,000 people (82% lower than Orlando average)
Lake Nona Estates is one of the best neighborhoods in Orlando for families. This master-planned community includes multiple sub-districts, businesses, healthcare facilities, and shopping opportunities.
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Orlando Safety Tips – How to Avoid Crime in Orlando
- Be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking at night in places such as Malibu Groves where there is not much tourist traffic.
- If you are on a college campus such as the University of Central Florida, then keep an eye on your valuables and know the phone number of the campus police.
- If you are walking alone, consider carrying pepper spray or downloading an app such as WalkSafe that can help you find the safest route to your destination.
Orlando Police Department
After moving to Orlando, you will be served by the Orlando Police Department. The department is led by police chief Eric D. Smith. The department was formed in 1875 and has rapidly grown along with the popularity of the city. Today, there are 806 officers on the force. This is 3 police officers for every 1,000 citizens.
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The Orlando Florida police reports are public information and can be accessed on the official website. You can find the Orlando Police Department at 1250 West South Street or call them at (321) 235-5300.
Orlando Crime Rate FAQ
Is Orlando Safe?
Yes, Orlando, Florida is a safe place to live.
Is Downtown Orlando Safe?
Downtown Orlando is safe. It is important, however, to exercise extra caution when walking through the area at night. Downtown Orlando has a popular nightlife scene that can lead to an increase in crime.
What Is the Crime Rate in Orlando FL?
The crime rate in Orlando, Florida is 4,664 crimes per 100,000 people.
Although the Orlando crime rate is high, there are many safe neighborhoods to choose from, making it a great place to live. If you are considering moving to Orlando, contact Orlando Movers today at (813) 922-1529 for a free estimate.
