Clearwater, FL Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Clearwater, FL

Is Clearwater, FL safe?

Clearwater earns an overall crime grade of B- citywide, but when you drill down to the neighborhood level, the picture is remarkably positive. Of the 122 neighborhoods analyzed, 91.8% received an A grade and the remaining 8.2% received a B — meaning 100% of Clearwater neighborhoods fall in the safe category (A or B). The city-wide safety rating is classified as Very Safe (A). The small cluster of neighborhoods with slightly elevated activity — Downtown Clearwater, Wyatt Street, Clearwater North East, Gateway, and Prospect Towers — all still hold B or B- grades, placing them well within safe territory. For the vast majority of residents and visitors, Clearwater presents a low-risk environment.

What is the crime rate in Clearwater, FL?

Clearwater's crime landscape, graded across 122 distinct neighborhoods, skews strongly toward safety. 112 neighborhoods (91.8%) earned an A grade, and 10 neighborhoods (8.2%) earned a B grade. Not a single neighborhood in the city received a C, D, or F. The highest-crime areas — Downtown Clearwater and Wyatt Street, both graded B- — represent the lower end of the "safe" spectrum, not a danger zone. This distribution reflects a city where property crimes and opportunistic incidents are concentrated in a very small geographic footprint, while the overwhelming majority of residential areas remain low-crime. Clearwater's 6.4% unemployment rate and 15.3% poverty rate provide economic context, as these factors can correlate with crime concentrations in specific corridors.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Clearwater?

Ten neighborhoods in Clearwater hold the top A+ safety grade, representing the gold standard for low crime in the city. Here's a data snapshot of the top performers:

• Countrypark — A+ grade, median household income $131,091 (population: 299)
• Crest — A+ grade, median household income $131,386 (population: 227)
• Shady Oak Farms — A+ grade, median household income $131,361 (population: 230)
• Oaks of Northwood — A+ grade, median household income $130,895 (population: 120)
• Lake Chautauqua — A+ grade, median household income $124,596 (population: 1,337)
• Keene Acres — A+ grade, median household income $103,262 (population: 1,978)
• Alcove — A+ grade, median household income $97,307 (population: 636)
• Pride — A+ grade, median household income $71,628 (population: 1,893)
• Montclair Lake Estates — A+ grade, median household income $64,180 (population: 576)
• Valencia Park — A+ grade, median household income $64,175 (population: 530)

Notably, A+ neighborhoods span a wide income range — from $64,175 in Valencia Park to $131,386 in Crest — demonstrating that top-tier safety in Clearwater is not exclusively tied to high household income. Larger communities like Keene Acres (1,978 residents) and Pride (1,893 residents) also maintain A+ grades, showing that neighborhood size alone does not compromise safety outcomes.

Which areas of Clearwater have higher crime?

The five neighborhoods with the highest relative crime levels in Clearwater are Downtown Clearwater (B-), Wyatt Street (B-), Clearwater North East (B), Gateway (B), and Prospect Towers (B). It's worth emphasizing that even these areas only reach a B- or B grade — there are zero C, D, or F-rated neighborhoods in the entire city. Downtown Clearwater and Wyatt Street's B- grades likely reflect the higher foot traffic, nightlife activity, and commercial density typical of urban cores. Visitors and residents in these zones are advised to apply standard urban precautions: secure valuables, stay aware of surroundings at night, and report suspicious activity to the Clearwater Police Department.

Is Clearwater a good place to live in 2026?

From a safety standpoint, the data makes a compelling case. With 91.8% of its 122 neighborhoods graded A and 100% graded A or B, Clearwater's residential safety profile is exceptionally strong. The city's population of approximately 115,975 is supported by a median home value of $223,714 and a median rent of $1,167 — both relatively accessible compared to many Florida metros. The median household income of $50,335 sits modestly below the state average, and the 15.3% poverty rate and 6.4% unemployment rate are factors worth considering when evaluating specific neighborhoods. However, the neighborhood-level grade data shows that even areas with lower median incomes — like Valencia Park (income: $64,175) and Pride (income: $71,628) — achieve A+ safety grades, suggesting effective community and law enforcement engagement across income brackets. For families, retirees, and remote workers seeking Florida Gulf Coast living with a strong safety record, Clearwater's 2026 crime data is encouraging.

How does Clearwater's safety compare across its neighborhoods?

The grade distribution across Clearwater's 122 neighborhoods is one of the most uniform safety profiles of any mid-sized Florida city. 112 neighborhoods (91.8%) earned an A grade, 10 neighborhoods (8.2%) earned a B grade, and the remaining grade tiers — C, D, and F — account for 0% of neighborhoods. The spread between the safest areas (A+ neighborhoods like Countrypark and Lake Chautauqua) and the highest-crime areas (B- neighborhoods like Downtown Clearwater and Wyatt Street) is narrow by any standard measure. This compressed grade range means that even if you are moving to or visiting one of Clearwater's "higher crime" neighborhoods, you are still within a statistically safe environment. The city's population density of 1,716 residents per square mile keeps communities connected without the overcrowding that often correlates with elevated crime in larger urban centers.