Flagstaff, AZ Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Flagstaff Crime & Safety

Is Flagstaff, AZ safe to live in?

Flagstaff earns an overall crime grade of B- city-wide, yet its neighborhood-level safety picture is remarkably strong. Of the 73 neighborhoods analyzed, 82.2% (60 neighborhoods) received an A grade and the remaining 17.8% (13 neighborhoods) received a B grade — meaning 100% of Flagstaff neighborhoods fall into the safe (A or B) tier. The city-wide safety rating aggregated across all neighborhoods is Very Safe (A). Top-rated areas like North Peak (A+), Mount Elden Foothills (A+), and Lynwood (A+) reflect the consistently low crime environment that most Flagstaff residents experience day to day.

What is Flagstaff's crime grade and how does it compare across neighborhoods?

Flagstaff's overall crime grade is B-, which accounts for city-wide factors including its 7.7% unemployment rate and 16.6% poverty rate — both of which can influence aggregate crime metrics. At the neighborhood level, however, the data is far more encouraging: 60 out of 73 neighborhoods (82.2%) earned an A grade, and the remaining 13 earned a B. The areas with the most elevated — though still moderate — grades are Pine Knoll (B-) and Bow and Arrow Acres (B-), followed by La Plaza Vieja (B), Woodlands Village (B+), and Sunnyside (B+). No neighborhood in Flagstaff received a C, D, or F grade, which sets the city apart from many comparably sized U.S. cities.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Flagstaff?

Ten neighborhoods in Flagstaff have achieved the highest possible rating of A+. Here is how they break down by population and median household income:

• Anasazi Ridge — A+ | Pop. 59 | Median income: $124,691
• Lynwood — A+ | Pop. 705 | Median income: $100,274
• Mount Elden Foothills — A+ | Pop. 164 | Median income: $95,940
• Creighton Estates / Forest Hills — A+ | Pop. 52 | Median income: $95,157
• Cheshire — A+ | Pop. 834 | Median income: $94,112
• Tintagel / Hidden Hollow — A+ | Pop. 183 | Median income: $94,259
• Rain Valley — A+ | Pop. 118 | Median income: $76,804
• North Peak — A+ | Pop. 35 | Median income: $68,889
• Forest Springs — A+ | Pop. 62 | Median income: $65,306
• Mobile Haven — A+ | Pop. 419 | Median income: $41,337

Notably, Cheshire and Lynwood are the largest A+ communities by population, making them particularly relevant for families and renters evaluating livability at scale. Mobile Haven is a standout because it achieves an A+ rating despite a below-average median income of $41,337, demonstrating that safety in Flagstaff is not exclusively tied to affluence.

Which Flagstaff neighborhoods have higher crime rates?

Even the highest-crime neighborhoods in Flagstaff remain in the B tier — there are zero C, D, or F-rated areas in the city. The five neighborhoods with the most elevated grades are Pine Knoll (B-), Bow and Arrow Acres (B-), La Plaza Vieja (B), Woodlands Village (B+), and Sunnyside (B+). A B- grade still represents a safe neighborhood by national standards; it simply indicates slightly more crime activity relative to Flagstaff's predominantly A-rated landscape. Residents in these areas are encouraged to use the interactive crime map to review incident type breakdowns and time-of-day patterns specific to their block.

Is Flagstaff safe for students attending Northern Arizona University?

Flagstaff's safety profile is broadly favorable for the large student population associated with Northern Arizona University. With 82.2% of neighborhoods graded A and a city-wide safety rating of Very Safe (A), the majority of off-campus housing areas fall within low-crime zones. The city's population density of just 428 people per square mile also means that high-density crime clustering — common in more urbanized university towns — is less prevalent here. Students should still consult the crime map when selecting housing, paying particular attention to proximity to neighborhoods like Woodlands Village (B+) and Sunnyside (B+), which border some busier commercial corridors.

Is Flagstaff a good place to buy a home from a safety perspective?

From a safety standpoint, Flagstaff's data supports homeownership with confidence. The median home value of $361,755 reflects a market where demand is driven in part by quality of life — and safety is a key component. With 100% of the city's 73 analyzed neighborhoods rated A or B, buyers have a wide selection of safe communities at various price points. High-income, A+-rated neighborhoods like Anasazi Ridge (median income $124,691) and Lynwood ($100,274) represent premium options, while Mobile Haven (A+, median income $41,337) shows that safety-grade real estate is accessible across income brackets. The median rent of $1,286 also makes Flagstaff competitive for renters who prioritize safety without the commitment of purchasing.

How does Flagstaff's poverty rate affect its crime grades?

Flagstaff's poverty rate of 16.6% is above the national median and contributes to the city's overall crime grade of B- — even though neighborhood-level grades are overwhelmingly A and B. This divergence is important to understand: the city-wide B- grade incorporates socioeconomic risk factors alongside raw incident data, while individual neighborhood grades reflect localized crime frequency more directly. The result is a city where the aggregate picture looks moderately elevated, but the lived experience in 82.2% of neighborhoods is an A-grade safety environment. Areas like Mobile Haven (A+) — which has a median household income of $41,337, well below the city median of $58,685 — illustrate that community cohesion and policing effectiveness can offset economic stress at the neighborhood level.