The crime rate in Elsmere is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 26 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Elsmere is 1 in 38. Based on FBI crime data, Elsmere is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Delaware, Elsmere has a crime rate that is higher than 60% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Importantly, when you compare Elsmere to other communities of similar population, then Elsmere crime rate (violent and property crimes combined) is quite a bit higher than average. Regardless of how Elsmere does relative to all communities in America of all sizes, when NeighborhoodScout compared it to communities of similar population size, its crime rate per thousand residents stands out as higher than most.

Now let us turn to take a look at how Elsmere does for violent crimes specifically, and then how it does for property crimes. This is important because the overall crime rate can be further illuminated by understanding if violent crime or property crimes (or both) are the major contributors to the general rate of crime in Elsmere.

NeighborhoodScout's research shows that Elsmere's violent crime rate is 2 per one thousand inhabitants, which is about average for all communities in America, across all population sizes. Violent crimes that are tracked and included in this rate are armed robbery, aggravated assault, rape (not statutory), and murder and non-negligent manslaughter. Roughly similar to the national average, our analysis shows that your chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Elsmere is one in 616.

NeighborhoodScout's analysis also reveals that Elsmere's rate for property crime is 25 per one thousand population. This makes Elsmere a place where there is an above average chance of becoming a victim of a property crime, when compared to all other communities in America of all population sizes. Property crimes are motor vehicle theft, arson, larceny, and burglary. Your chance of becoming a victim of any of these crimes in Elsmere is one in 41.

Importantly, we found that Elsmere has one of the highest rates of motor vehicle theft in the nation according to our analysis of FBI crime data. This is compared to communities of all sizes, from the smallest to the largest. In fact, your chance of getting your car stolen if you live in Elsmere is one in 293.