Seattle’s homicide rate in 2024 was above the national average, yet significantly lower than many cities across the United States, according to recent FBI crime data. The city recorded a decline in murders and did not rank among the top 100 large cities for homicide rates. Interestingly, 13 of the 20 cities with the highest murder rates last year were located in Republican-led states, while many of those cities were governed by Democrats who often face conflicts with state officials.
In 2024, Seattle police reported 52 homicides, resulting in a rate of 6.8 homicides per 100,000 residents. This figure exceeds the national average of 5 per 100,000 but is lower than many other cities in Washington state and nationwide. Among 316 U.S. cities with populations exceeding 100,000, Seattle’s homicide rate ranked 121st.
In contrast, Jackson, Mississippi, recorded the highest murder rate at nearly 78 homicides per 100,000 residents, more than 15 times the national average. Birmingham, Alabama, followed with a rate of almost 59 per 100,000, while St. Louis and Memphis, Tennessee, also reported high homicide rates.
In terms of larger cities, Seattle’s homicide rate ranked 25th out of 37 cities with populations over 500,000. Several smaller Washington cities, including Lynnwood, North Bend, Yakima, Olympia, and Spokane, reported higher homicide rates than Seattle.
Nationally, the U.S. murder rate in 2024 fell to its lowest level since the Obama administration, a period when violent crime was nearing 30-year lows. Despite Seattle’s year-over-year decline, the 52 homicides recorded in 2024 were double the number reported in 2015, raising concerns about long-term crime trends that outpace population growth.
