Newport, RI Crime Rate – Latest Statistics

If you are a Newport local or considering the town as a potential place to build your home, you may be curious about the Newport, RI, crime rate. Crime rates are helpful pulls of data that can summarize the amount and type of crime that happens in a localized area. They can help when making big decisions, like whether you should move to Newport to start a family.

Understanding Newport, RI’s Crime Rate

Crime rate data works to measure how often certain crimes happen, or are reported, in a specific area over a period of time, usually per 100,000 people. The basic formula for a crime rate is the number of reported crimes divided by the total population. Then, that number is multiplied by 100,000. It is generally divided between violent and property crimes.

Newport, RI, Violent Crime Rate

Recent data from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer shows that at the end of 2023, the Newport Police Department saw a 12.22 rate of aggravated assault as the only violent crime statistic available for the area. The state itself had a 7.48 rate for aggravated assault, 1.55 for rape, and 2.65 for robbery.

Newport’s Property Crime Rate

According to the same pull of data from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, at the end of 2023, the Newport Police Department saw a rate of 8.15 for burglary and 89.6 for larceny-theft. The state overall had higher crime rates for offenses beyond just burglary and larceny-theft, such as arson and motor vehicle theft.

The statistics show that there is minimal crime in Newport when compared with the state overall. While the rate of larceny-theft is quite high, it is also important to note that crimes like rape and robbery were not listed, as there were no reports of these crimes at the end of 2023.

How Should I Make Decisions Based on Newport’s Crime Rate?

After reviewing an area’s crime rate, it can be hard to know how to integrate that information into your decision-making. You may look into Newport’s crime rate to inform many types of decisions and considerations, such as:

• Safety awareness
• Home and family decisions
• Investment value

While all of these considerations are valid reasons to look into crime rates, it’s also important to remember that a city’s crime rate does not reflect its full picture.

A neighborhood can have a high crime rate, but it may also have strong community ties, great schools, and active and robust neighborhood watch programs. Conversely, a lower crime area may feel isolated or unfriendly. It is vital to know what you are looking for in a community and consider several different factors before making a decision. Crime rates can vary significantly across neighborhoods, from Thames Street to Bellevue Avenue, so you should research specific areas in addition to the city as a whole.

It is also important to remember that crime data may be misleading, as many crimes may go unreported. Even a few incidents of crime can make the rate appear inflated due to a smaller population. Essentially, it’s recommended to dig deeper than just the crime rate when making a decision. It can be a helpful tool in making decisions for you and your family, but you should consider taking advantage of other metrics as well.

Other components to look into outside of crime data include speaking with local residents and business owners to get a feel for the area. You can check out local news, community forums, and tools like WalkScore to get a well-rounded concept of a place. If you have children, you may want to look into the quality of local schools. If you are a young, single adult, you may want to look into the nightlife possibilities.

FAQs

Q: Where Does Rhode Island Rank in Crime?

A: Generally speaking, Rhode Island is a safe U.S. state. It was ranked as the seventh-safest state in 2024, with a total safety score of 57.5. According to these rankings, New England as a whole is the safest region in the country, with all six states in the top seven. Rhode Island has particularly low rates of human trafficking, gun violence, and missing people.

Q: What Is the Safest Place in Rhode Island?

A: Bristol often stands out as one of Rhode Island’s safest towns, as it has nearly no violent crimes and a very low property crime rate. Other safe and low-crime areas include Barrington, South Kingstown, North Kingstown, Cumberland, and Smithfield. These towns are all known for being peaceful, quiet, and family-friendly communities.

Q: Is Newport, RI, a Good Place to Live?

A: Whether or not Newport, Rhode Island, is considered a good place to live will vary greatly depending on what you are looking for from a home. However, many people consider it a great place to live. It has coastal charm, history, many annual events, including a jazz festival, and walkability, which can be hard to come by in the United States. Costs of living and education quality are also important components to consider.

Q: Are Crime Statistics Reports Reliable?

A: While crime statistic reports are often a good launching point to understand the safety of an area, it is important that you do not use them as your sole form of reference. Crime statistics may have accurate data, but these reports typically only capture crimes that were reported. It can be hard to accurately capture unreported crimes, and it’s important to note that many crimes never reach a police station.

Speak With a Trusted, Local Criminal Defense Lawyer From Ellison Law Today

If you have further questions about crime data or are facing a criminal charge in Newport, it may be time to reach out to a trusted criminal defense lawyer at Ellison Law. By setting up an initial consultation, you can share your concerns with our team and initiate the process of fighting for a fair result. Whether you are facing a criminal case or have questions regarding potential penalties for a crime, reach out today.