Read together, these numbers describe a city moving in the right direction from a hard starting point. Washington sits in the 3rd percentile of the 13,216 jurisdictions SafeNest grades on measured crime, with property crime 84% above the national rate. Against that, the violent crime rate fell 11.6% in the most recent FBI reporting year, a pattern SafeNest classifies as improving. Schools land mid-scale at 5.5/10 across 237 rated schools, and the average hides a split: high schools average 5.9/10 while middle schools average 4.7/10. Flood risk is the quieter line. There are no FEMA flood-specific disaster declarations on record, though 6 hurricane or tropical-storm declarations are, and neither settles a parcel's flood zone. Every figure here is a city-wide average. The 926 per 100k covers streets well above it and streets well below.
Crime in Washington vs. the national average
Washington reports 926 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 143% above the U.S. average of 381, and 3,588 property crimes per 100k versus a national 1,954 (84% above). In the most recent FBI reporting year (2024), the violent crime rate fell 11.6% year over year, a pattern SafeNest classifies as improving.
| Washington | US average | |
|---|---|---|
| Violent crime (per 100k) | 926 | 381 |
| Property crime (per 100k) | 3588 | 1954 |
City-wide averages hide block-by-block variation — the safest and least safe neighborhoods in Washington can differ dramatically. For a specific address, a SafeNest report covers it directly — or search free in the iPhone app.
Flood & natural hazard risk
Federal disaster records list no FEMA flood-specific disaster declarations for District of Columbia in the available record. District of Columbia has also seen 6 hurricane or tropical-storm declarations, events that frequently drive flooding. These are state-level federal declarations, not a parcel-level flood-zone determination — a specific Washington address may sit inside or well outside a FEMA flood zone, which SafeNest does not determine; check FEMA's flood maps and flood-insurance requirements for that address.
Schools in Washington
Public schools in Washington average 5.5/10 on the SafeNest School Score across 237 rated schools. By level, high schools rate strongest at 5.9/10 on average, while middle schools average 4.7/10. The highest-scoring is Stoddert ES at 10.0/10.
Registered offenders
Registered-offender data is meaningful only at the address level, so SafeNest does not publish a city-wide figure for Washington: a single citywide number would blend blocks with very different profiles and mislead more than it informs. Registered offender counts by distance band for any specific Washington address are included in a SafeNest report, drawn directly from the state's public registry. The iPhone app shows that count free for any address, and maps each registrant with Premium.
Check a specific Washington address
City averages are a starting point. A SafeNest report covers one specific address — crime, registered offender counts, flood and disaster history, schools, air quality, taxes — delivered by email as a PDF for $6.99.
Or search any Washington address free in the iPhone app.
Common questions about safety in Washington
Is Washington, DC safe?
Washington records 926 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 143% above the US national average of 381. Overall SafeNest grade: D, a city-wide average of reported crime. It does not describe a specific street or address.
What is the crime rate in Washington?
Washington reports approximately 926 violent crimes and 3588 property crimes per 100,000 residents in 2024, the most recent FBI reporting year in our data.
Does Washington have flood risk?
SafeNest reports federal disaster declaration history for the area. Federal records show no flood-specific disaster declarations for District of Columbia; a specific Washington address may still sit inside or outside a FEMA flood zone, which SafeNest does not determine.
How this page was built
Every figure here comes from the same public records behind SafeNest's grading. We published the full method and what it does and doesn't support in We graded 13,216 American cities with FBI data — including where a letter grade means almost nothing.
Other city safety reports
Data compiled from public sources including FBI crime statistics, FEMA disaster declarations and the FEMA National Risk Index, NCES education data, and state registries. Last updated 2026-08-17. Figures are city-level estimates; verify with primary sources before making decisions. SafeNest is not a consumer reporting agency (see Terms).