In the United States, crime statistics are information that many people are curious about, yet it can be difficult to access accurate and straightforward data.

For immigrants from Korea, the crime situation in American cities can feel vague and unfamiliar, and sensational news can easily lead to a preconceived notion that it is inherently dangerous.

Based on the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) announcements and Texas Department of Justice statistics, we will objectively examine the realities of public safety.

In the case of the most concerning crime, homicide, a total of 127 incidents occurred in San Antonio in 2024.

This number is the lowest since before the pandemic in 2019, showing a clear downward trend over the long term. Of course, 127 homicides in a large city with a population of 1.5 million is not a small number, but it is positive that public safety has improved compared to the past.

It is noteworthy that most of these violent crimes do not occur randomly throughout the city. They are primarily concentrated in specific vulnerable areas, and the main causes are often identified as gang disputes or domestic violence rather than indiscriminate crimes against the general public. Therefore, if you choose a safe place to live, the perceived risk in daily life is significantly lower.

Here, it is necessary to fact-check the safety of Stone Oak, a representative affluent area in the northern part of the city, which many immigrants pay attention to.

Across the United States, there are countless rural towns with very few residents and no crime, as well as ultra-wealthy gated communities, making it difficult to definitively label Stone Oak as the "safest" in the country.

However, it is clear that compared to downtown San Antonio and the Texas state average, it is an overwhelmingly safe area with top-tier public safety.

Looking at the detailed data, the violent crime rate in Stone Oak is only about 0.74 incidents per 1,000 people. This is an extremely low figure compared to the overall average of 6.48 incidents in San Antonio and 4.08 incidents in Texas.

In particular, in terms of homicides, the annual occurrence in Stone Oak approaches zero, indicating that residents are very well protected from violent crime. Compared to communities across the country, it boasts a high safety level, ranking in the top 22% of neighborhoods in the U.S. (safer than 78% of areas nationwide).

This is due to a combination of high household income, the systematic infrastructure typical of planned cities, and private security along with thorough community vigilance, creating an environment where violent crime has no opportunity to take root.

Of course, vehicle theft, which is closely related to personal safety, was reported at 12,668 incidents across San Antonio in 2024, a significant decrease of 34.7% from the previous year. While crimes targeting valuables inside vehicles, as well as parts like catalytic converters, still occur, caution is needed when using public parking lots, but the rate of improvement is rapid.

In fact, in 2025, vehicle theft is expected to decrease by an additional 26.5%, continuing the trend of stability. Property crimes, including vandalism, also decreased by 18.1% between 2024 and 2025, enhancing residents' sense of safety.

The number of vandalism incidents, which was high at 23,446 in 2024, also dropped by about 30% in 2025. In Stone Oak, property crime remains at 13.05 incidents per 1,000 people, which is a quarter of the citywide average of 57.24 incidents.

Overall crime rates have decreased by 13% compared to the same period last year, based on the first 11 months of 2025. In contrast, social crimes, including drug and narcotic violations, increased by over 21% in 2025, with about 11,307 incidents reported. This can paradoxically be interpreted as a result of significantly strengthened police enforcement and law enforcement leading to an increase in detected cases.

While the overall figures show a downward trend, the crime rate in San Antonio is still somewhat higher compared to the national average. Therefore, when relocating, it is wise to select statistically verified safe areas and to check school districts and safety data concurrently.