Kilgore, TX Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Kilgore, TX

What is Kilgore's overall crime grade?

Kilgore, TX earns an overall crime grade of B- for 2026, meaning it performs better than a meaningful share of U.S. cities of comparable size. For a community of roughly 14,824 residents spread across a low-density footprint of about 307 people per square mile, a B- reflects a city where crime exists but is not disproportionately severe. Property crimes — particularly theft and vehicle-related offenses — tend to drive the grade down from a straight B, while violent crime rates remain more manageable. Residents can use the interactive crime map on this page to see exactly which pockets of Kilgore account for the most reported incidents.

Is Kilgore, TX safe to live in?

By most measures, yes — Kilgore is a reasonably safe place to call home, especially relative to larger East Texas cities. The city's B- overall crime grade puts it in the upper half of Texas communities when adjusted for population. That said, Kilgore's unemployment rate of 7.1% and poverty rate of 16.3% are both above national medians, and research consistently links economic stress to elevated property crime. Neighborhoods closer to the Kilgore College campus and the established residential corridors near city parks tend to see lower incident concentrations, while areas with higher economic distress show more activity on the crime map. Practicing standard precautions — locking vehicles, securing entry points, and staying aware of surroundings at night — goes a long way in a city this size.

What types of crime are most common in Kilgore?

Property crime is the dominant category in Kilgore's incident data. Theft (including shoplifting and motor vehicle theft), burglary, and vandalism collectively account for the largest share of reported offenses. Violent crimes — assault and robbery — do occur but at lower frequencies, and they tend to cluster in specific corridors rather than being evenly distributed across the city. Drug-related offenses represent a third notable category, which is consistent with patterns seen across rural and semi-rural East Texas communities. The city's median rent of $855 and median home value of roughly $119,956 reflect a housing market that is accessible but also one where economic pressure can contribute to opportunistic property crimes. Filtering the crime map by incident type lets you isolate exactly which categories are most active near any given address.

Which neighborhoods in Kilgore have the lowest crime rates?

While granular block-level grades shift over time, the crime map consistently shows lower incident densities in the residential areas surrounding Kilgore College and in the quieter subdivisions on Kilgore's eastern perimeter. The East Kilgore corridor benefits from lower population density and stronger owner-occupancy rates, both of which correlate with reduced property crime. Neighborhoods adjacent to the city's parks and well-maintained school zones also tend to perform better on the map. Conversely, stretches closer to high-traffic commercial corridors show higher theft and vehicle crime counts — a pattern common to cities where retail density meets economic stress. Use the heat-map layer on this page to compare specific streets side by side.

How does Kilgore's crime rate compare to the Texas average?

Kilgore's B- crime grade positions it favorably against many Texas cities of similar economic profiles. Cities with comparable unemployment rates (around 7%) and poverty rates (around 16%) often score in the C range, so Kilgore's B- suggests that community policing and local engagement are having a measurable effect. Texas as a whole has historically seen property crime rates above the national average, yet Kilgore's low population density of 307 residents per square mile naturally limits the volume of incidents compared to denser urban centers. The median household income of $55,810 is a stabilizing factor — households with moderate income are statistically less likely to be both perpetrators and victims of property crime than those in deeper poverty.

Is Kilgore safe for families and first-time homebuyers?

Kilgore's combination of a B- safety grade, a median home value of approximately $119,956, and a median rent of $855 makes it one of the more accessible small-city markets in East Texas for first-time buyers. Families gravitating toward the Kilgore College area and the eastern residential subdivisions will find neighborhoods where property crime incidents are below the city average. The city's relatively low density also means less foot-traffic crime compared to urban cores. The main considerations for families are the 16.3% poverty rate — which can affect school-district resources and neighborhood stability — and the 7.1% unemployment rate, which signals some economic volatility. Cross-referencing school-zone boundaries with the crime map on this page is a practical first step for any household evaluating a specific address.