Even With Crime Drop, D.C. Still Outpaces Major Cities — Trump Orders Guard
Isn't it amazing that crime has gone down since Trump became president in DC? But the crime rates are still higher than in any other city. Yes, Trump has the right to fight the high crime. Based on data from July 2024, the population of Washington D.C. was 702,250 residents.
Many residents of Washington, D.C., have expressed significant concerns about crime in their neighborhoods. Despite official data indicating a decrease in citywide crime rates, local residents report feeling increasingly unsafe.WUSA9+1.
A recent survey by Safety 7, focusing on Wards 7 and 8, revealed that most of the 150+ residents interviewed do not feel safe. Even if numbers are down, crime is the highest compared to New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. See statistics:
Violent crime in 2024 dropped by 35%, with homicides down 32%, robberies down 39%, and armed carjackings down 53%—the lowest violent crime levels in over 30 years.Department of Justice+1
As of mid-2025, violent crime remained down 26%, and overall crime down 8%, compared to 2024.Metropolitan Police DepartmentStatista
A regional dashboard covering DC, Maryland, and Virginia shows a 30% decline in homicides, 32% drop in robberies, 23% fewer rapes, and 21% fewer aggravated assaults in early 2025.MWCOG
However, in 2023, DC recorded 274 homicides, a 20-year high and significantly above years prior—raising the bar before the recent decline.WikipediaWUSA 9In per-capita terms, DC still ranks among the worst in the U.S.:
27.3 violent homicides per 100,000 residents in 2024—the fourth-highest in the countryThe White HouseThe Times
In 2023, DC had the highest violent crime rate among states/cities: 1,151 per 100,000 people, and the highest property crime rate at 4,307 per 100,000.USAFacts
The Fact is, the DC Crime is higher than New York City, Chicago and other big cities. See statistics:
Here’s the comparison picture:
📊 Violent Crime (per 100,000 residents, 2024–2025 data)
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D.C. – ~1,150 (highest among U.S. states/major cities in 2023; still in the top tier in 2025)
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Chicago – ~530 - the population is 2,721,308
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New York City – ~370 - the population is 8,478,072.
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Los Angeles – ~480 - the population is 3,971,883
(Source: USAFacts, FBI UCR, DC MPD)
🔪 Homicide Rate
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D.C. – 27.3 per 100k in 2024 → among the top 4 in the U.S.
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Chicago – 20.6
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Philadelphia – 27.5
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New York City – 5.4
(Note: National average is ~6.3)
🚗 Property Crime
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D.C. – ~4,300 per 100k (highest in the nation for 2023; still high in 2025)
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Chicago – ~3,050
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Los Angeles – ~2,780
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New York City – ~1,750
📌 Why It’s Still Higher
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Concentration of certain crimes – Carjackings, robberies, and burglaries remain more common than in many other big cities.
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Population size effect – D.C.’s smaller population means a given number of crimes produces a higher per-capita rate.
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Transit & tourism hubs – More non-residents in and out daily can raise property crime exposure.
💡 Bottom line:
While D.C. has seen major drops in violent crime since 2024, its per-capita rates are still higher than in New York, LA, or Chicago for many categories. The city is improving, but it hasn’t yet reached the safety levels of most other major metros.
While crime statistics may show a decline in certain areas, the lived experiences of D.C. residents suggest ongoing safety concerns. The debate over how best to address these issues continues, with differing opinions on the balance between local governance and federal intervention.
Traci Morin, Truth News
