Delaware Crime Statistics
46 years of data (1979–2024)
Key Insights
- →Delaware ranks #22 out of 51 states for violent crime rate (360.8 per 100K).
- →Violent crime decreased 8.4% from 2023 to 2024.
- →38 cities report crime data. Safest: Ellendale (0.0/100K). Most dangerous: Dewey Beach (4433.5/100K).
- →60 murders in 2024 — a rate of 5.7 per 100K residents.
- →Since 1979, Delaware's violent crime rate has changed by -33%.
Violent Crime Rate
360.8
-8.4% YoY
Murder Rate
5.7
60 total
Property Crime Rate
1745.8
18,364 total
Population
1,051,917
2024
2024 Crime Breakdown
Violent Crime: 3,795
Murder60
Rape165
Robbery494
Aggravated Assault3,076
Property Crime: 18,364
Burglary1,842
Larceny-Theft14,326
Motor Vehicle Theft2,196
Violent Crime Rate Trend
Homicide Rate Trend
Violent Crime Breakdown (2024)
Most Dangerous Cities
| City | Violent Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Dewey Beach | 4433.5 | 406 |
| Laurel | 1451.2 | 4,410 |
| Seaford | 1133.6 | 8,998 |
| Wilmington | 1127.0 | 71,958 |
| Dover | 1012.8 | 40,087 |
| Milford | 791.3 | 14,028 |
| Blades | 748.5 | 1,336 |
| Georgetown | 702.2 | 8,117 |
| Bethany Beach | 640.4 | 1,093 |
| Rehoboth Beach | 635.9 | 1,258 |
Safest Cities
| City | Violent Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Ellendale | 0.0 | 558 |
| South Bethany | 0.0 | 520 |
| Viola | 0.0 | 149 |
| Townsend | 34.9 | 2,862 |
| Ocean View | 65.9 | 3,035 |
| Greenwood | 89.0 | 1,123 |
| Selbyville | 91.3 | 3,286 |
| Clayton | 110.0 | 4,545 |
| Frankford | 110.5 | 905 |
| Middletown | 125.0 | 25,594 |
Related Analysis
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer. Rates per 100,000 residents. City data from Table 8.