Belle Glade, FL Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Belle Glade, FL Crime

What is Belle Glade's overall crime grade?

Belle Glade receives an overall crime grade of F for 2026, placing it among the higher-risk small cities in Florida. This grade reflects a combination of elevated violent and property crime rates relative to national benchmarks. Contributing factors include a poverty rate of 40.2% — more than four times the national average — and an unemployment rate of 13.3%, both of which are strongly correlated with crime in research literature. With a median household income of just $28,028, economic stress is a daily reality for many Belle Glade residents, and that pressure is visible in the city's crime profile.

How does Belle Glade's crime rate compare to other Florida cities?

Belle Glade's F crime grade puts it in the bottom tier of Florida municipalities by safety metrics. For context, the city's poverty rate of 40.2% and unemployment rate of 13.3% far exceed Florida state averages, which hover around 13% poverty and 3–4% unemployment in recent years. Cities with similar population sizes (roughly 19,829 residents) but stronger economic indicators typically earn crime grades in the C or B range. Belle Glade's population density of 1,098 people per square mile is moderate, meaning crime is not simply a function of overcrowding — the economic indicators are the dominant driver here.

What types of crime are most common in Belle Glade?

Property crime categories — including burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft — represent the most frequent incident types reported in Belle Glade, consistent with patterns seen in high-poverty communities nationwide. Violent crime, including assault and robbery, occurs at rates that contribute significantly to the city's F overall grade. Drug-related offenses also appear regularly in incident data, often intersecting with both property and violent crime categories. Areas near higher-traffic corridors and economically distressed blocks tend to show the greatest concentration of incidents on the Belle Glade crime map.

What are the safest areas in Belle Glade?

Within Belle Glade, the areas around Glades Central High School and the Belle Glade Marina and Campground near Lake Okeechobee are generally considered more stable, with stronger community presence and higher foot traffic from recreational users. Neighborhoods closer to established civic institutions and public parks tend to report fewer incidents relative to other parts of the city. That said, given the city's F crime grade and a poverty rate exceeding 40%, no area should be considered entirely low-risk. Consulting the live Belle Glade crime map for current incident clustering is the most reliable way to assess block-by-block conditions.

Is Belle Glade safe to visit or live in?

Belle Glade presents real safety challenges that prospective residents and visitors should weigh carefully. The city's F crime grade, combined with a median home value of only $112,413 and median rent of $638, reflects an affordability that comes with trade-offs. For those already embedded in the community, neighborhood watch participation and engagement with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office — which provides law enforcement services for Belle Glade — are meaningful ways to improve personal safety outcomes. Visitors are encouraged to stay in well-lit, higher-traffic areas, particularly around the marina and main commercial corridors, and to monitor the crime map before and during their stay.

Has crime in Belle Glade been getting better or worse?

Belle Glade's structural economic conditions — a 40.2% poverty rate, 13.3% unemployment, and a median household income of $28,028 — have remained persistently challenging, making dramatic short-term crime reductions difficult to sustain. While targeted law enforcement initiatives and community programs have produced localized improvements in specific corridors at various points, the city has retained an F overall crime grade heading into 2026. Long-term crime reduction in Belle Glade is closely tied to economic development, job creation, and expanded social services — factors that extend well beyond policing alone. Tracking year-over-year incident data through the Belle Glade crime map remains the best way to monitor directional trends.