Houston murders, violent crime have declined in 2024
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Violent crime, including murder, has dropped in Houston so far this year compared with 2023.
Why it matters: Most large U.S. cities are starting to see decreases in violence after sharp spikes during the pandemic.
- The number of homicides in 204 cities dropped 20% in the first three months this year compared with the same time last year, per an AH Datalytics report reviewed by Axios.
By the numbers: Houston saw a 24.7% drop in murders in the first three months of 2024 compared with the same period in 2023, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety's Uniform Crime Reporting System.
- There were 61 homicides in Houston this year as of March 31, compared with 81 homicides during the same period in 2023.
- Houston has also seen a 25.4% drop in overall violent crime in the same period. There were 4,488 reports in the first three months of 2024, compared to 6,016 reports in 2023.
Between the lines: Houston voters identified crime as a top issue in last year's mayoral election, and Mayor John Whitmire has made public safety his top priority.
AH Datalytics calculated its data using the latest available crime numbers from local and state sources. For Texas cities, the group used the Uniform Crime Reporting System.
The bottom line: The nation is on pace to see one of the most significant declines in violent crime and homicide since President Barack Obama was in office and before the death of George Floyd brought attention to policing.
Editor's note: The chart headline has been corrected to note that it is a selection of major cities, not the most populous cities.