F
157%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
41%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
178%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleMoses Lake/100k peopleWashington/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime1,533n/a (estimate)5,9633,7322,324
Murder2n/a7.85.06.3
Rape9n/a35.039.240.0
Robbery25n/a97.286.866.1
Assault98n/a381.2244.7268.2
Violent crime134n/a (estimate)521376370
Burglary193n/a750.7563.0269.8
Theft1,103n/a4,290.32,154.01,401.9
Vehicle theft103n/a400.6639.3282.7
Property crime1,399n/a (estimate)5,4423,3561,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Moses Lake, WA

Looking at the most recent crime report, the crime rate in Moses Lake is 156.6% higher than the national average. These crimes fall into two primary categories: violent and property. Violent crimes encompass murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes involve theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In Moses Lake, there were 134 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 521 per 100,000 individuals, 41% higher than the national average. Additionally, there were 1399 property crimes, amounting to 5442 per 100,000 residents, 178.4% higher than the U.S. average.

With a total of 5963 crimes per 100,000 people, the Moses Lake crime rates stand at 156.56 higher than the national average. Consequently, the area grapples with one of the nation's highest total crime rates. Addressing this challenge is crucial for enhancing the safety and livability in Moses Lake, making it a priority to reduce crime through community engagement, effective law enforcement, and collaborative efforts to secure a better future for residents and prospective residents.

Moses Lake reports one of the nation's highest property crime rates, with 5442 incidents per 100,000 people, positioning it among the worst 10% of American cities reporting crime. This unfortunate statistic translates to a 1 in 19 chance of falling victim to property crime in Moses Lake, significantly surpassing the national average. These figures underscore the city's challenges in combating property-related offenses, necessitating a concerted effort to enhance security and community safety.

The occurrence of vehicle thefts has been increasing nationwide, and Moses Lake faces one of the highest vehicle theft rates in the United States. In the latest reported crime year, there were a reported 103 vehicle thefts, translating to 401 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents. This places Moses Lake in the bottom 10% among all cities, signifying that 90% of cities have less stolen vehicles. The likelihood of experiencing a vehicle theft is 1 in 250.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Moses Lake?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Moses Lake residents. Out of the respondents (36 in total), 8% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Moses Lake were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 92% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Moses Lake a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Moses Lake is a place to live may not always yield a simple answer, given the city's varying safety levels across different areas. Nonetheless, comprehending the city's overall crime rate can be a valuable asset. In broad terms, Moses Lake has an overall crime rate that is 157% higher than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 4.2 daily occurrences, comprising 0.37 violent crimes and 3.83 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Moses Lake as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Moses Lake Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Moses Lake. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Moses Lake has increased by 59.9%. Violent crimes have increased by 54%, while property crimes have increased by 60.4%. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, authorities and communities can identify trends and patterns in criminal activity. This helps in understanding whether crime is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable over time.

Potential Causes for Crime in Moses Lake

If employment opportunities are limited or if many jobs offer low wages, it can lead to higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, which could lead to an increase in Moses Lake crime rates. Areas where individuals struggle with unemployment or low wages, may be more susceptible to an increase in criminal activities as a result of financial insecurity. While lower rates of unemployment or a surplus of job opportunities could lead to a decrease in crime as their basic needs are being met. Moses Lake has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, compared to a national average of 4.7%.

In Moses Lake, 79.1% of residents have graduated from high school, whereas the national average stands at 83%. The educational makeup of a community can exert a significant influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of educational attainment are associated with reduced crime rates, as they furnish individuals with improved employment prospects and viable alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, communities characterized by lower educational achievement often grapple with higher crime rates, as limited opportunities may drive individuals towards criminal behavior.

In Moses Lake, the average rental rates are $965 per month, compared to the national average of $949. Rapid increases in rental costs can lead to neighborhood instability as residents are forced to move frequently in search of more affordable housing. This transience can weaken community bonds and hinder the establishment of social support networks, which can indirectly contribute to crime. While affordable rent and areas with higher income per capita, allow for long term renters and community bonds to the formed, therefore reducing crime rates on the long term.

Moses Lake crime map



The Moses Lake crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Moses Lake as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Moses Lake crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Moses Lake crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Moses Lake, WA Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Moses Lake crime rates are 157% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Moses Lake are 41% higher than the national average
      • In Moses Lake you have a 1 in 17 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Moses Lake is safer than 7% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Moses Lake has increased by 52%

      Moses Lake, WA Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Moses Lake (per 100,000 people)

        The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Moses Lake, Washington is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Moses Lake are 1.60 times more than the Washington average and 2.57 times more than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Moses Lake are 1.39 times more than than Washington and 1.41 times more than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Moses Lake are 1.62 times more than than Washington and 2.78 times more than the national average.

        How Safe is Moses Lake (higher is better)

        When comparing the safety of Moses Lake to every other city in Washington, as well as the entirety of the United States, is Moses Lake safe? The gauges above illustrate that Moses Lake is safer than 6% of every city located within Washington along with 7% of the all the cities located in the United States. The results of these graphs are created after analyzing each of the cities in Washington and in the United States as a whole. As a result, Moses Lake, WA is ranked above average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Moses Lake

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Moses Lake is 1 in 192
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Moses Lake is 1 in 19
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Moses Lake is 1 in 17
        How likely are you to become a victim of crime? In Moses Lake, Washington you have a 1 in 192 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 19 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 17 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Moses Lake.

        Year Over Year Crime In Moses Lake (per 100,000 people)

        An analysis of year to year crime rates in Moses Lake, Washington (per 100,000 people) is a useful indicator of whether the area is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live. The amount of violent crime in Moses Lake has increased by 47%, the amount of property crime in Moses Lake has increased by 53%, and the total amount of crime in Moses Lake has increased by 53% year over year.

        Moses Lake police department

        Item Moses Lake Washington National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)428,169558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.02.23.3
        There are a total of 42 Moses Lake police officers. This results in 2.0 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 8% less than the Washington average and 38.7% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Washington

        State Total offenders Washington /100K National /100K
        Washington6,688107266
        There are a total of 6,688 sex offenders in Washington. This yields a total of 107 sex offenders in Washington per 100,000 residents which is 60% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Cascade Valley, WA3,2341741,5561,730
        Moses Lake North, WA4,6643913,4873,877
        Warden, WA2,773784,0024,079
        Ephrata, WA8,0812365,0805,316
        Moses Lake, WA23,4425215,4425,963

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        West Melbourne, FL23,4542331,3381,571
        Bailey's Crossroads, VA23,4592151,5621,777
        Apollo Beach, FL23,4871659961,161
        Wilmington, MA23,3901498541,003
        Tumwater, WA23,3902293,3593,588
        Moses Lake, WA23,4425215,4425,963
        Source: The Moses Lake, WA crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.