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.
- →39 cities report crime data. Safest: Middletown (125.0/100K). Most dangerous: Wilmington (1127.0/100K).
- →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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 1127.0 | 71,958 |
| Dover | 1012.8 | 40,087 |
| Milford | 791.3 | 14,028 |
| Smyrna | 485.6 | 13,386 |
| Newark | 309.7 | 30,030 |
| Middletown | 125.0 | 25,594 |
Safest Cities
| City | Violent Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Middletown | 125.0 | 25,594 |
| Newark | 309.7 | 30,030 |
| Smyrna | 485.6 | 13,386 |
| Milford | 791.3 | 14,028 |
| Dover | 1012.8 | 40,087 |
| Wilmington | 1127.0 | 71,958 |
Crime Velocity — Which Cities Are Changing Fastest
Fastest Improving
Fastest Worsening
Velocity scores measure the direction and speed of crime changes. Negative = improving, positive = worsening. Full methodology →
Hate Crimes in Delaware
20 incidents reported
Explore full hate crime data →Arrest Demographics (National)
The FBI publishes state-level total arrest counts but does not break down arrest demographics by race at the state level in the same detail as national data. For national arrest demographic patterns, see our dedicated pages:
Related Analysis
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer. Rates per 100,000 residents. City data from Table 8.