Is St. Pete as Dangerous as They Say?

We all remember when Men’s Health magazine dubbed the ‘Burgers a bunch of sad sacks sulking around the saddest city in the U.S. ‘Burgers weren’t too happy with that diagnosis, to say the least. Recently, areavibes listed St. Petersburg as number five on their list of “Top 10 Most Dangerous U.S. Cities.”

The ‘Burg fell behind Oakland, CA at number four, followed by Memphis, Detroit and finally St. Louis, MO as the number one most dangerous city. St. Petersburg, though one of the largest cities in Florida, is smaller in population than Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa.

areavibes lists St. Pete’s violent crime rate at 1,021 per 100,000. Miami’s violent crime rate is listed as 1,198 per 100,000 and that the chances of being a victim of a violent crime in Miami are 1 in 84, while the chances in St. Pete are 1 in 98.

“On the surface, St. Petersburg shouldn’t be as dangerous as it is – it has per capita income levels, unemployment rates and poverty levels close to the national average. Yet it still manages to be one of the scariest places in America, especially if you value your property or your face,” according to areavibes.

Conversely, the website also lists St. Pete as number 52 on their top 100 best cities to live in. This list emcompasses more factors about a city like livability score, amenities, cost of living, education, housing, employment and weather.

If one thing’s true, the Burg has a funky, laid back vibe that is hard to match. The ‘Burg has a lot to offer, like strolling the Pier or perusing the famous Dali museum, attending a show at The Mahaffey Theater or Jannus Live or the Palladium, laying out in the sun on one of the most beautiful streches of beach in Florida, or relaxing in the courtyard of the Ale and the Witch with a brew or dining al fresco on the sidewalks of BellaBrava and Cassis.

Every city has crime, a simple reality that is inherent of a living, breathing society. It exists for various complex reasons and the ‘Burg’s vibe and overall feeling of security has little to do with statistics.