Ocean City, MD Crime Rate & Safety
Lower crime than 75% of major U.S. cities
Based on FBI UCR & local law enforcement data · Updated April 2026
Is Ocean City Safe?
Yes — Ocean City is safer than most cities
An above-average city for safety with lower crime than the national average.
Ocean City has a crime rate that is 40% below the national average. Your chance of becoming a victim of violent crime is 1 in 514.
Crime Index Comparison
100 = national average. Calibrated to reflect actual crime severity.
Your Chance of Being a Victim
Violent Crime
1 in 514
chance per year
National average: 1 in 263
49% lower than national average
Property Crime
1 in 102
chance per year
National average: 1 in 55
47% lower than national average
Want to know the crime risk at your exact address?
Ocean City Crime Breakdown
Estimated crime rates based on FBI UCR data, calibrated to city-level crime score.
| Crime Type | Index | vs National | Risk Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | ||||
|
Murder
|
52 | -48% | Low | |
|
Assault
|
59 | -41% | Low | |
|
Robbery
|
35 | -65% | Low | |
|
Rape
|
21 | -79% | Low | |
| Property Crime | ||||
|
Burglary
|
56 | -44% | Low | |
|
Larceny / Theft
|
49 | -51% | Low | |
|
Vehicle Theft
|
43 | -57% | Low | |
Violent vs Property Crime
Crime Index by Category
Ocean City Crime Map
Neighborhood-level crime heatmap. Click any area for details.
See the crime score for a specific address
Ocean City Crime by Zip Code
Explore crime data for specific Ocean City zip codes.
Ocean City Demographics & Context
Racial Demographics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the crime rate in Ocean City, MD?
Ocean City, MD has a crime safety grade of B+ as of 2026. The overall crime rate is estimated to be 40% below the national average. Residents face approximately a 1 in 514 chance of being a victim of violent crime per year and a 1 in 102 chance for property crime. Ocean City has lower crime than 75% of major U.S. cities (population 50,000+).
Is Ocean City, MD safe to live in?
Ocean City is generally considered a safe place to live, earning a crime grade of B+. However, safety varies significantly by neighborhood. Researching specific neighborhoods before moving to or visiting Ocean City is strongly recommended.
What is the violent crime rate in Ocean City?
The estimated violent crime rate in Ocean City is 194.4 per 100,000 residents, which is 49% lower than the national average. This means residents have roughly a 1 in 514 chance of becoming a violent crime victim each year. Key violent crime rates include: murder at 2.6 per 100K (48% below average); aggravated assault at 159.0 per 100K (41% below average); robbery at 25.9 per 100K (65% below average).
What is the property crime rate in Ocean City?
The estimated property crime rate in Ocean City is 975.9 per 100,000 residents, which is 47% lower than the national average. Residents have roughly a 1 in 102 chance of being a property crime victim per year. Key property crime rates include: burglary at 150.0 per 100K (44% below average); larceny/theft at 689.5 per 100K (51% below average); vehicle theft at 136.4 per 100K (57% below average).
How does Ocean City crime compare to the national average?
Ocean City's overall crime rate is 40% below the national average as of 2026. The biggest concern is assault (41% below average), while rape is 79% below average. Compared to other major U.S. cities, Ocean City has lower crime than 75% of them.
Is Ocean City safe to visit?
Ocean City is generally safe for visitors and tourists. Property crime (theft, vehicle break-ins) is 47% below average, which is typically the main concern for tourists. Avoid leaving valuables in vehicles, stay aware of your surroundings in unfamiliar areas, and stick to well-traveled neighborhoods.
How does Ocean City crime compare to the rest of Maryland?
Maryland as a whole has crime that is 1% above the national average. Ocean City's crime rate is 40% below the national average, making it safer the typical Maryland city.
What type of crime is most common in Ocean City?
Larceny/theft is the most common crime in Ocean City, with an estimated rate of 689.5 incidents per 100,000 residents. This is 51% below the national average for this crime type. Overall, property crime (976 per 100K) is more prevalent than violent crime (194 per 100K) in Ocean City, which is consistent with national trends.