Frequently Asked Questions
How many cities and counties does CrimeSafe cover?
CrimeSafe covers 9,000+ US cities, 2,300+ counties, 10,000+ ZIP codes, and 125,000+ city comparisons with crime data from the FBI. You can search any city, county, or ZIP code.
How is the safety score calculated?
Safety scores (1-100) are calculated using violent crime rates (50% weight) and property crime rates (30% weight), normalized against national averages using a log-scale formula. Higher scores = safer. The formula:
100 - (violent_rate/380×50) - (property_rate/2000×30), clamped between 10-95.What do the letter grades mean?
A (80-100): Very Safe — well below national crime averages
B (70-79): Safe — below average crime rates
C (60-69): Moderate — near national average
D (50-59): Below Average — above average crime
F (below 50): High Crime — significantly above average
B (70-79): Safe — below average crime rates
C (60-69): Moderate — near national average
D (50-59): Below Average — above average crime
F (below 50): High Crime — significantly above average
Where does the crime data come from?
All data comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program — the official national crime statistics database. This is the same data used by law enforcement, researchers, and journalists nationwide.
What types of crime are included?
Violent crimes: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault
Property crimes: burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft
Violent crimes are weighted more heavily since they pose greater risk to personal safety.
Property crimes: burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft
Violent crimes are weighted more heavily since they pose greater risk to personal safety.
Why is my city missing or showing no data?
Some cities don't report crime data to the FBI UCR program. Notable examples include Florida cities (the state uses a different reporting system) and some smaller towns. If your city is missing, it's because official data isn't available.
How often is the data updated?
Data is updated annually when the FBI releases new UCR statistics. Current data reflects the latest available FBI release.
Can I search by ZIP code?
Yes! Enter any 5-digit ZIP code in the search bar or use the dedicated ZIP lookup. We cover 10,000+ ZIP codes (~30% of US residential ZIPs). Each ZIP shows the safety score of its primary city.
Can I compare cities?
Yes! We have 125,000+ city comparisons covering the top 500 US cities. Use our comparison tool to compare safety scores, crime rates, and grades side by side.
Is CrimeSafe free to use?
Yes, CrimeSafe is completely free. We believe safety information should be accessible to everyone making decisions about where to live, work, or visit.