Ybor City, Florida, is part of the Greater Tampa Bay Area. The historic neighborhood was named after Vicente Martinez Ybor and is known for its cigar district. Ybor was responsible for introducing the cigar business to the area. Ybor City features two districts – Historic Ybor and East Ybor.
Overall, Ybor City is not one of the safest places to live in Florida or the Tampa area. The neighborhood has some of the highest collective crime rates in Tampa. Both the Historic and East districts are considered some of the more dangerous neighborhoods in the metropolitan Tampa area. Let’s break down why Ybor City, FL, is not a safe place to live in.
Overall Crime Statistics for Ybor City, Florida
Compared to the national average, Historic Ybor’s overall crime rate is 333% higher. Historic Ybor is considered safer than only 3% of all cities in Florida. The rate of violent crimes is 725% higher than the national average.
East Ybor has an overall crime rate that is 269% higher than the U.S. average. Violent crimes are 438% higher than across the country. East Ybor is considered safer than 5% of Florida’s cities. Your risk of becoming a victim of crime is 1 in 11 in East Ybor and 1 in 10 in Historic Ybor.
Overall Crime Statistics for Florida
Florida’s violent crime rate is 3.8 incidents for every 1,000 residents. The national average is 4 incidents per 1,000 residents. So, the state is slightly below the national average.
The property crime rate in Florida is 17.7 incidents for every 1,000 individuals. This is also below the national average of 19.6 property crime incidents for every 1,000 residents. However, 59% of Florida residents are concerned that they will become crime victims.
Approximately 10% of Florida residents were victims of a violent crime within the past year. Other statistics highlight the following crime rates:
- 13% were victims of gun violence.
- 16% reported being victims of property crime.
- 22% experienced package theft.
Notably, Ybor City is not within the top 50 safest cities in the state. FBI crime statistics were used to determine which cities ranked highest for safety. Demographics and resident survey results were also used to determine the list of Florida’s safest cities.
Ybor City and Tampa Crime Rates
Some sites do not list separate crime rates for Ybor City versus Tampa. These sites indicate that individual FBI crime rate data for Ybor City is not available. Sites like Area Vibes list estimates of violent and property crime for Ybor City and give it an overall rating of F.
The total crime estimate is 4,952 incidents per 100,000 residents. Violent crime estimates place the number of incidents per 100,000 residents at 1,492. Property crime estimates are 3,460 incidents per 100,000 residents.
Despite not having individual crime data for Ybor City, the site does have FBI crime data for the entire Tampa area. Those statistics are listed below and represent incidents per 100,000 people.
- Murder: 10.1
- Rape: 24.8
- Robbery: 79.8
- Auto theft: 157.9
- Burglary: 227.1
- Assault: 405.5
- Theft: 980.2
In comparison to the state of Florida, Tampa ranks higher in the number of murders, robberies, and assaults. You’re much more likely to become the victim of a violent crime versus a property crime. If Ybor City estimates are correct, it’s the opposite within this Tampa neighborhood. Property crime against vehicles and homes is more of a problem in Ybor City than violent crime.
Crime Indexes for Tampa Metro Area
U.S. News & World Report ranks Tampa as having a better overall crime index than most similar metro areas. The publication uses a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 indicating the worst crime rates and 10 indicating the best crime rates. In 2020, Tampa rated 9.3 out of 10.
The score is calculated according to various sources, including FBI crime data, U.S. Census and Department of Labor data, and U.S. News & World Report surveys. Data for metro areas are compared and calculated according to size. Tampa’s score indicates it has a better crime rating than most other major cities with approximately the same population.
Violent crime rates in 2020 were 147.6 per 100,000 residents. This is a lower than average score when compared to similar cities. Property crime was at 686.6 per 100,000 people. This rate was also lower than average in comparison to other cities with the same population.
Data from U.S. News & World Report also shows that property crime in the Tampa metro area has declined since 2015. Property crime rates dipped below the national average in 2016 and have remained there. Tampa’s data was compared to cities such as Chicago, Illinois, and Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas.
Is Ybor City, Florida, Safe?
Ybor City, Florida, is not the safest place to live in the greater Tampa area. Your risk of becoming a victim of crime is much higher than it is in Tampa overall. However, a greater risk doesn’t mean you will become a crime victim.
Ybor City’s crime rates are also significantly higher than the national average. If safety is a top concern for you and your family, you should not relocate to Ybor City, Florida.
Conclusion
Crime rates and safety are things that people usually look at before they decide to move somewhere. While crime statistics are more difficult to find for Ybor City versus Tampa, the data that is out there is not favorable. Ybor City has statistically high crime rates for both property and violent offenses.
For those looking for safe and peaceful neighborhoods, Ybor City, Florida, is not the best choice. While each site uses different methodologies to report crime rates, they show that Ybor City is one of Tampa’s most dangerous neighborhoods. Learn about safer neighborhoods here instead.