Ocala, FL Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Ocala, FL

Is Ocala, FL safe to live in?

Ocala earns a city-wide safety rating of Very Safe (A) based on analysis of all 9 tracked neighborhoods — a strong result for a city of 174,618 residents. An impressive 88.9% of neighborhoods received an A grade, and the remaining 11.1% earned a B grade, meaning 100% of analyzed neighborhoods fall into the safe category. Communities like Del Webb Stone Creek (A+), Oak Run (A+), and On Top of the World (A+) lead the rankings, while even the lowest-ranked area, The Fairways (B-), still represents a safe environment by national standards. The city's overall crime grade of C+ reflects some broader metro-level challenges, but neighborhood-level data tells a consistently positive safety story.

What is the crime rate in Ocala compared to other Florida cities?

Ocala's overall crime grade is C+ at the city level, which accounts for regional and metro-wide crime patterns. However, when drilling down to the neighborhood level, the picture improves sharply: 8 out of 9 neighborhoods (88.9%) score an A, and 1 neighborhood (11.1%) scores a B. No neighborhood in the analyzed dataset received a C, D, or F grade. For context, the city has a poverty rate of 19.2% and an unemployment rate of 8.7% — socioeconomic factors that can correlate with crime — yet neighborhood safety grades remain overwhelmingly high. Residents choosing established communities like Silver Springs Shores (population 31,226, Grade A-) or Kingsland Country (A+) are living in areas that outperform many comparable Florida metros on safety metrics.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Ocala?

Four neighborhoods share the top A+ safety grade in Ocala: Del Webb Stone Creek (median household income: $73,984), Oak Run (median income: $53,403; population: 3,906), On Top of the World (population: 5,358; median income: $48,819), and Kingsland Country (population: 2,501; median income: $52,414). Rounding out the safest tier are Bellechase (A) — the highest-income neighborhood analyzed at $87,161 median household income — along with Heath Brook (A) at $63,056 and Lake Diamond Golf & Country Club (A) at $56,007. Silver Springs Shores, Ocala's largest analyzed neighborhood at 31,226 residents, holds an A- grade, making it a notably safe option for those seeking a larger community. The only neighborhood below an A is The Fairways (B-), home to 240 residents with a median income of $65,137.

Which areas in Ocala have relatively higher crime?

It's important to frame this carefully: even Ocala's relatively higher crime areas still carry strong safety grades. The neighborhoods flagged as having comparatively more crime activity include Silver Springs Shores (A-), Lake Diamond Golf & Country Club (A), Heath Brook (A), Kingsland Country (A+), and On Top of the World (A+). None of these areas score below an A, meaning that within Ocala's neighborhood dataset, the range of crime risk is narrow and consistently safe. Silver Springs Shores draws the most attention given its large population of over 31,000 residents — a bigger community naturally generates more incidents in raw numbers even while maintaining an A- grade. Prospective residents should weigh both grade and population size when interpreting the data.

Is Ocala a good place to live for families?

Ocala presents a compelling case for families, backed by concrete data. The median home value of $147,646 is well below the Florida statewide average, making homeownership accessible. Median rent sits at $973/month, and the median household income is $42,361. On safety, 88.9% of neighborhoods earn an A grade and 100% earn at least a B — a benchmark many larger Florida cities cannot match at the neighborhood level. Family-oriented communities like On Top of the World (5,358 residents, A+) and Oak Run (3,906 residents, A+) offer established, larger neighborhoods with top safety grades and median incomes above the city average. The city's poverty rate of 19.2% and unemployment rate of 8.7% are worth monitoring, but the neighborhood safety data suggests these pressures have not translated into widespread crime across Ocala's residential areas.

How do income levels relate to neighborhood safety in Ocala?

Ocala's data reveals a clear positive relationship between neighborhood income and safety grades. The highest-graded neighborhoods — all earning A+ or A — tend to have median household incomes ranging from $48,819 (On Top of the World) to $87,161 (Bellechase), all well above the city median of $42,361. Del Webb Stone Creek (A+) has a median income of $73,984 despite being one of the smallest neighborhoods at 724 residents. Even The Fairways (B-), the lowest-graded neighborhood, has a relatively high median income of $65,137 among its 240 residents. Silver Springs Shores (A-) stands out as a large, more economically diverse community (median income: $52,264; population: 31,226) that still achieves a strong safety grade — suggesting that community size and density, not just income, shape local crime patterns in Ocala.