Is Joseph Lee, Baltimore, Safe to Live or Visit in 2024?

Joseph Lee Crime Rates and Safety Rankings

Planning to live, visit, or move to Joseph Lee? Here's what you need to know to stay safe.

This article analyzes Joseph Lee’s most recent crime data, drawing on statistics from the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) and the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, to determine if the neighborhood is safe or dangerous.

We use a 0-100 crime rate scale. Higher scores mean more crime and greater danger.

We'll compare Joseph Lee to Baltimore and national averages, look at crime trends, and highlight key safety concerns.

Read on for essential facts and tips on protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your property in Joseph Lee.

Crime and safety snapshot

How dangerous is Joseph Lee? The area has some significant safety challenges. The crime rate is high at 79/100, with violent crime at 79/100 and property crime at 79/100. These numbers indicate that crime is a frequent issue in this area. If you're living in or visiting Joseph Lee, it's crucial to be vigilant and take extra precautions to ensure your safety.

Joseph Lee safety ranking in Baltimore

Joseph Lee ranks slightly more dangerous than average Baltimore neighborhoods regarding violent crime. In terms of property crime, it ranks safer than most in the city.

Is Joseph Lee Getting Safer or More Dangerous?

Now, let's take a closer look at how safety in Joseph Lee has changed over time.

Has Joseph Lee become safer (2023 vs. 2022)?

Data reveals that Joseph Lee has become slightly more dangerous between 2022 and 2023. While the change isn't dramatic, it's worth being more cautious than before.

How has crime in Joseph Lee changed over the years?

Note: We've excluded 2020-2021 from trend comparison analyses due to the unusual crime patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing instead on comparing current data to pre-pandemic trends.

Overall crime rates

Compared to pre-pandemic years (2017 and 2019), Joseph Lee is about as safe. Violent crime decreased by 2 points. Property crime increased by 4 points.

Crimes to be Careful of in Joseph Lee

Whether you live in or visit Joseph Lee, understanding the frequency of various crimes can help you navigate daily life more safely. By knowing which offenses are more common, you can take appropriate precautions to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property in Joseph Lee.

How common are violent crimes in Joseph Lee?

In Joseph Lee, the risk of becoming a victim of violent crime is significantly elevated.

Here's a breakdown of risk levels for specific violent crimes:

• Murder/Homicide (deadly attacks): Significantly elevated
• Rape (sexual assault): Elevated
• Robbery (theft by force or threat): Significantly elevated
• Aggravated Assault (serious physical attacks): Significantly elevated

While in Joseph Lee, watch out for the following crimes and take action to stay safe:

• Murder/Homicide and Aggravated Assault: This area sees more violent physical attacks than safer parts of town. After dark, be extra cautious. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and stay alert. If you encounter trouble, shout for help and head to a crowded area. Staying sober is crucial—it helps you stay sharp, spot potential danger from afar, and reduce the chance of becoming a target. If you feel uneasy, duck into a store or another safe place until things seem calmer.

• Rape: Women should be cautious, as sexual assaults are a serious concern here. Avoid walking alone, especially at night. Go out with friends or use trusted ride services. Stay vigilant in quiet areas. Consider carrying pepper spray or a whistle for protection. If threatened, scream for help and run towards busy spots or open businesses.

• Robbery: Muggings are more frequent here. Consider keeping valuables hidden—using a money belt can help protect your belongings.

How frequent are property crimes in Joseph Lee?

• Burglary (home break-ins): Significantly elevated
• Larceny (theft, including pickpocketing and bag-snatching): Significantly elevated
• Auto Theft (car stealing): Significantly elevated
• Arson (intentional fire-setting): Significantly elevated

If you own or rent property in Joseph Lee, regularly use a vehicle in the area, or frequently spend time in public spaces here:

• Secure your property from home break-ins — install good-quality locks, consider a home security system, and keep windows and doors secure.

• Protect yourself from pickpocketers and bag snatchers — be vigilant with personal belongings in public, secure your bag, and be aware of pickpocketing risks in crowded areas.

• Protect your car — lock it every time you leave, keep valuable items out of sight, install a car alarm if possible, and make sure you have adequate car insurance for extra peace of mind.

• Be mindful of arson risks — protect your property by keeping it well-lit, removing flammable materials from around buildings, getting comprehensive fire insurance coverage, and installing smoke detectors on every floor.

Violent Crime in Joseph Lee

Breakdown of violent crime rates (murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault)

Here are the latest crime rates for specific violent offenses:

• Murder/Homicide (deadly attacks): 85/100 - a major concern, 25 points higher than the US average.
• Rape (sexual assault): 58/100 - more frequent than average, 3 points higher than the US average.
• Robbery (theft by force or threat): 92/100 - a major concern, 40 points higher than the US average.
• Aggravated Assault (serious physical attacks): 84/100 - a significant issue, 27 points higher than the US average.

Joseph Lee’s violent crime ranking in Baltimore

In terms of violent crime rates, among the 264 neighborhoods in Baltimore, Joseph Lee ranks slightly more dangerous than average.

Here's how Joseph Lee ranks within Baltimore for each type of violent crime:

• Murder: Ranks 6th, as one of the most secure.

• Rape: Ranks 209th, more dangerous than most.

• Robbery: Ranks 40th, safer than most.

• Aggravated Assault: Ranks 78th, slightly safer than average.

Is Joseph Lee getting safer from violent crime (2023 vs. 2022)?

• The murder crime rate decreased by 1 point, now slightly safer.
• The rape crime rate increased by 10 points, now notably more dangerous.
• The robbery crime rate increased by 3 points, now slightly more dangerous.
• The aggravated assault crime rate decreased by 5 points, now moderately safer.

How has violent crime in Joseph Lee changed over the years?

Violent crime rates

Comparing Joseph Lee now to the pre-pandemic years of 2017-2019, violent crime is slightly lower by 3 points.

Rape crime rates

Property Crime in Joseph Lee

While violent crimes often grab headlines, it's property crimes that might affect residents and visitors more frequently. Whether you live in Joseph Lee or are just passing through, understanding the property crime situation can help you protect your belongings—from home burglaries to pickpocketing and bag snatching. Let's look closely at property crime in Joseph Lee and how it impacts locals and travelers.

Joseph Lee has a property crime rate of 79 out of 100. This categorizes the area as high crime.

For context, Baltimore's property crime rate in 2023 is 79/100, while the US average property crime rate for that year is 47/100.

Breakdown of property crime rates (burglary, larceny, auto theft, and arson)

Here are the latest crime rates for specific property offenses:

• Burglary (home break-ins): 71/100-more frequent than average, 29 points higher than the US average.
• Larceny (theft, including pickpocketing and bag-snatching): 83/100-a significant issue, 40 points higher than the US average.
• Auto Theft (car stealing): 93/100-a major concern, 32 points higher than the US average.
• Arson (intentional fire-setting): 71/100-more frequent than average, 16 points higher than the US average.

Joseph Lee’s property crime ranking in Baltimore

Joseph Lee ranks as safer than most neighborhoods out of 264 areas in Baltimore.Here's how Joseph Lee ranks within Baltimore for each type of property crime:

• Burglary: Ranks 52nd, safer than most.
• Larceny: Ranks 134th, about average.
• Auto Theft: Ranks 48th, safer than most.
• Arson: Ranks 1st, as one of the most secure.

Is Joseph Lee getting safer from property crime (2023 vs. 2022)?

From 2022 to 2023, Joseph Lee has become moderately more dangerous from property crime.Let's examine the year-over-year changes for each type of property crime:

• Burglary: Decreased by 4 points, now moderately safer.
• Larceny: Increased by 9 points, now moderately more dangerous.
• Auto Theft: Increased by 15 points, now notably more dangerous.
• Arson: remained unchanged, now largely unchanged.

How has property crime in Joseph Lee changed over the years?

Property crime rates

Comparing Joseph Lee now to the pre-pandemic years of 2017-2019, property crime is slightly higher by 1 point.

Nearest Neighborhoods by Crime Rate

Whether you're considering living in Joseph Lee or planning a visit, here's how nearby neighborhoods compare in terms of crime rates and safety.

Among nearby areas, Brewers Hill has the lowest overall crime rate, making it an alternative to consider if you're concerned about Joseph Lee’s safety.

Explore the crime and safety ranking of all neighborhoods in Baltimore.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

To answer the question, is Joseph Lee, Baltimore, safe or dangerous? Now that we've reviewed Joseph Lee’s crime and safety details, let's sum up the main points so you can decide if it's a place you'd want to live in or visit, what to be careful of, and how to stay safe if you go there:

Crime statistics

• Joseph Lee’s overall crime rate: 79/100
• Safety ranking: 184 out of 264 neighborhoods in Baltimore.
• Violent crime rate: 79/100 (3 points higher than Baltimore's average, 27 points higher than the national average.)
• Property crime rate: 79/100 (13 points higher than Baltimore's average, 32 points higher than the national average.)

Based on these crime statistics, Joseph Lee is quite dangerous. You need to be highly alert at all times.

Crime trends

Comparing 2023 to 2022:

• Overall: More dangerous by 2 points.
• Violent crime: Now slightly more dangerous than in 2022.
• Property crime: Now moderately more dangerous than in 2022.

Top crimes in Joseph Lee:

• Auto Theft: 93/100.
• Robbery: 92/100.
• Murder/Homicide: 85/100.

If you live in or visit Joseph Lee, stay vigilant and take these precautions:

• Joseph Lee has lots of car thefts. Always lock your car, even for quick stops. Never leave it running alone. Use a steering wheel or pedal lock; these can scare off thieves. If you can, put a GPS tracker in your car. Avoid parking on the street here, especially on quiet, dark streets. If you must, choose spots under streetlights or near security cameras.

• Joseph Lee has a high robbery rate. Keep valuables out of sight and use a money belt hidden under your clothes. Be especially careful near ATMs. If confronted by a robber, stay calm and comply with their demands—no possession is worth risking your life. If you can run fast and it's safe to do so, running might be an option. Otherwise, don't make sudden movements that could escalate the situation.

• Joseph Lee has high rates of violent crime. Avoid being out alone, especially after dark. Stick to well-lit main streets and stay alert to your surroundings. If you spot potential trouble from afar (drunk people, strange behavior, or groups), cross the street or calmly turn back. Don't engage with strangers in isolated areas. If attacked, shout loudly to draw attention and try to escape to a populated area if possible. Stay sober when in this area, as being intoxicated makes you an easier target. If you feel unsafe, duck into a store and stay there until it's safe to leave.

Nearby neighborhoods

Areas with the lowest crime rates near Joseph Lee:

• Lowest violent crime rates: Brewers Hill, Highlandtown, Patterson Park.
• Lowest property crime rates: Brewers Hill, Highlandtown, Patterson Park.