According to the latest data available from the FBI, the violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Tampa is 496.7 / 100k people. Like any major metro area, certain areas of Tampa have much higher risks for violent crimes than others.
Ybor City
A famous historic district known as Ybor City is known for its vibrant nightlife scene and its convenient proximity to down venues such as Amaelie Arena, which can be accessed via a trolley ride, but Ybor has the unfortunate distinction of having a violent crime rate much higher than the average zip code in the Tampa Bay / St. Peta area. During the Halloween weekend of 2023, 18 people were injured and two were killed in a mass shooting. Tampa mayor Jane Castor, who was Tampa’s police chief before she became mayor, has been criticized by her opponents as too soft on crime, and she has also been accused of changing the reporting format where one report would be created for all of the victims of a crime, if the police department determined it made sense for that particular case.
Ybor’s violent crime rate is 921% higher than the national average. The most dangerous zip code in Ybor City is 33605, which has a violent crime rate of 69.6. By comparison, the U.S. average is 22.7.
Drew Park
Drew Park’s crime rate is 580% higher than the national average. Many tourists come to the area for games and concerts. This area is home to Raymond James Stadium, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL play. It’s also the spring training home of the New York Yankees. The violent crime rate in Drew Park is 55.3, more than twice the national average.
North Tampa
North Tampa crime rates in zip code 33612 are 147% higher than the Tampa average, which is part of the reason it earned an “F” in safety on AreaVibes.com. With approximately 8,000 residents in this neighborhood, you can find housing that is cheaper than most homes in the area, but the tradeoff may involve sacrificing your personal safety.
Highland Pines
Out of a population of 1,234, Highland Pines has a crime rate that is 321% above the Tampa average. Highland Pines has long been associated with drug activity and a large homeless population. Other common types of crime include theft, burglary, assaults, and robbery. Residents have an overall 1 in 15 chance of becoming the victim of a crime. The average income in Highland Pines is 49% below the national average.
Tampa crime rates compared to the rest of Florida and the nation:
