Miami Crime Rate 2024 – The Other Side of the Sun

Throndsen Edgar
Published: 03/20/2024
Updated: 04/03/2024

Miami is a melting pot of cultures, languages, and traditions. Known for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and Latin and Caribbean influences, Miami is a city that pulsates with energy and life. However, like any other major city, it also faces its share of challenges, one of which is crime.

It is important to understand the nature of crime in the city, the types of crimes that are most prevalent, and the areas that are most affected. This understanding can provide valuable insights for residents, visitors, and policy-makers alike.

When comparing Miami’s crime rate with the state and national averages, it’s crucial to consider both violent and property crimes. Violent crimes include offenses like murder, rape, robbery, and assault, while property crimes encompass burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.

The City’s Crime Rate

According to NeighborhoodScout, Miami’s total crime index is 11^[1.1]. This means that Miami is safer than 11% of U.S. neighborhoods. This index is a measure that takes into account both violent and property crimes. It’s a sobering statistic that underscores the challenges Miami faces in terms of crime.

The annual number of crimes in Miami is reported to be 13,390, with a crime rate of 29.79 per 1,000 residents. This includes both violent crimes, which are reported to be 1,743, and property crimes, which are significantly higher at 11,647.

The chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Miami are 1 in 285, while the chances of becoming a victim of a property crime are 1 in 39. These figures highlight the prevalence of property crimes in the city, which is a common trend in urban areas with high population densities.

AreaVibes, on the other hand, reports that Miami’s total crime rate is 10% lower than the national average^[2.1].

This statistic is a stark reminder of the city’s crime problem, and it underscores the importance of effective crime prevention^[3] and law enforcement strategies.

Back in January, Miami Police Department’s Assistant Chief Armando Aguilar stated that^[4]:

[su_note note_color=”#fc611f”]”In 2023, the department reported a 40% reduction in murders and non-fatal shootings compared to 2022.”[/su_note]

Miami Neighborhoods

The next thing we want to point out is discussing the situation in Miami’s neighborhoods. Once again, we will consult AreaVibes.

Let us start with the safest ones, by comparing them to the national average:

Neighborhood	Total crime	Violent crime	Property crime
Sunny Isles Beach^[2.2]	45% lower	77% lower	39% lower
Coral Way^[2.3]	45% lower	46% lower	39% lower
Downtown^[2.4]	64% lower	46% lower	63% lower
Coral Gables^[2.5]	64% lower	68% lower	63% lower
Key Biscayne^[2.6]	70% lower	73% lower	69% lower

and then the least safe one, using the same method:

Neighborhood	Total crime	Violent crime	Property crime
West Flagler^[2.7]	4% higher	7% lower	7% higher
Little Havana^[2.8]	28% higher	15% higher	31% higher
Little Haiti^[2.9]	33% higher	19% higher	36% higher
Allapattah^[2.10]	35% higher	20% higher	37% higher
Model City^[2.11]	39% higher	24% higher	42% higher

What About Miami Beach?

Since Miami Beach is a part of the Miami metropolitan area, it is important to take a look at the situation there.

According to stats^[5] outlined by the local government officials, it looked like this between 2019 and 2022:

Category	2019	2020	2021	2022
Violent Crime
Homicide	6	5	3	5
Rape	92	62	125	109
Robbery	284	200	264	243
Aggravated Assault/Stalking	470	401	632	492
Violent Crime Total	852	668	1024	849
Non-Violent Crime
Burglary	717	444	580	497
Larceny	5894	4244	5500	5848
Auto Theft	366	421	433	418
Non-Violent Crime Total	6977	5109	6513	6763

In 2023 and 2024, we can see that Miami Beach has significantly higher crime rate than Miami and the state of Florida median level.

Once again, Neighborhoodscout helps^[1.2] by stating that the violent crime rate in Miami Beach is 10.62, which is significantly higher than median level in the state, which lies just at 2.59.

On the other side, property crime rate in Miami Beach is way more common than in Miami, with 84.62 per 1,000, which means that chances of being a victim of property crime amount to 1 in 12. You will certainly agree that this rate is extremely high.

Unsurprisingly, tourists are the commonest target of the crimes in Miami Beach.

Not even Hollywood is safe, there was a beach shooting a couple of months ago, it was a tragedy but the police managed to catch the suspects.

Methodology

For my analysis of crime rates in Miami, FL, I rely on the crime data annually published by the FBI and city police. This data is released in two key segments: a preliminary overview focused on the nation’s largest cities, followed by a detailed year-end report.

Our investigative approach centered around two principal metrics:

Per Capita Violent Crime Rates
Per Capita Property Crime Rates

In pursuing a nuanced examination, our study predominantly concentrated on Boston while also integrating comparative data from other Massachusetts cities for a more rounded state-wide perspective.

References:

1. NeigborhoodScout:

2. AreaVibes:

3. Police1: https://www.police1.com/chiefs-sheriffs/articles/law-enforcement-strategies-to-reduce-violence-wItHuxvLO0IHLEEk/

4. Local10: https://www.local10.com/news/local/2024/01/10/miami-is-the-safest-its-ever-been-police-chief-credits-officers-technology-for-lower-crime-rate/

5. Miamibeachfl: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/yourmbpd/crime-statistics/

Throndsen Edgar

I'm Edgar Thorndsen, a researcher and freelance journalist specializing in criminal justice journalism. I live in Arkansas City and focus on crime rates and criminal activities across the U.S. Since May 2023, I've contributed to Daily Currant, combining my investigative skills and storytelling to highlight societal issues.