Delray Beach, FL vs Melbourne, FL: Crime Rate Comparison (2025)
A side-by-side look at reported crime in Delray Beach and Melbourne, on the FBI-based Crime Index (0–100, higher = safer) for 2025.
Delray Beach and Melbourne are neck and neck
Both score 73/100 on the Crime Index for 2025. The difference is in the mix: Delray Beach wins 4 of 8 offense categories, Melbourne wins 4.
Delray Beach, FL
Crime Index
- Population
- 71,000
- Violent / 100k
- 289
- Property / 100k
- 1,783
- In Florida
- #21 of 39
Melbourne, FL
Crime Index
- Population
- 88,193
- Violent / 100k
- 335
- Property / 100k
- 1,370
- In Florida
- #22 of 39
Crime rates head-to-head
| Metric | Delray Beach | Melbourne | US average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Index (higher = safer) | 73C | 73C | 73C |
| Violent crime /100k | 289 | 335 | 315 |
| Property crime /100k | 1,783 | 1,370 | 1,487 |
| Homicide /100k | 2.8 | 1.1 | 4.1 |
| Total reported /100k | 2,072 | 1,704 | 1,802 |
Grade shown per index band (88–100 = A … 0–29 = F). Rates are reported offenses per 100,000 residents.
By offense
Rate per 100,000 residents — the lower (safer) city is highlighted.
| Offense | Delray Beach | Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2.8 | 1.1 |
| Rape | 40.8 | 48.8 |
| Robbery | 45.1 | 64.6 |
| Aggravated assault | 200 | 220 |
| Burglary | 145 | 153 |
| Larceny-theft | 1,620 | 1,211 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 15.5 | 3.4 |
| Arson | 2.8 | 2.3 |
Crime trends
Delray Beach
Melbourne
Frequently asked questions
Is Delray Beach or Melbourne safer?
Which has more violent crime, Delray Beach or Melbourne?
What are the odds of violent crime in Delray Beach vs Melbourne?
No area has zero risk
A high Crime Index score means lower reported crime relative to other US cities — it is not a guarantee of safety. Reported crime is not the same as actual crime. Research on the gap between crime that occurs and crime that gets reported to police — often called the "dark figure" of crime — estimates that roughly 40% of violent crime and about a third of property crime go unreported each year. Every index built on official statistics, including this one, necessarily undercounts real crime. That gap is exactly why homicide — the offense with the smallest dark figure — anchors the calculation instead of a more commonly reported but less reliable category like theft.
Scores on this page reflect FBI-reported data for 2025. See the full methodology →
Protecting yourself in Delray Beach & Melbourne
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