Is Deerfield Beach Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Updated On March 5, 2022
Deerfield Beach, United States
Safety Index:
78
* Based on Research & Crime Data

Choosing a city for a south Florida vacation isn’t easy.

There are nearly 100 miles of beach and dozens of cities along the coast.

What makes Deerfield Beach special is its clean reputation and family-friendly atmosphere.

This small town of 87,000 people gets big-time attention in many key areas.

The city earned the Blue Wave distinction from the Clean Beaches Coalition in 2020. It’s just one of seven Florida beaches to get the award.

This means the beach is “clean, healthy, and environmentally well-managed.”

Deerfield Beach is a place where you can surf in the ocean and inland (we’ll explain that one a little later on, but trust me, it’s worth it), a wooden pier that’s nearly 1,000 feet long, and some of the best Brazilian food you can get outside of Brazil.

Leave the big crowds of Miami behind and enjoy this slice of beach life in a location named for the deer that once roamed its shores.

Warnings & Dangers in Deerfield Beach

Overall Risk

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's an overall low risk in Deerfield Beach, especially when compared to some of its neighboring communities. Since it's not one of the most popular beaches in the area, it also gets less crime.

Transport & Taxis Risk

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Deerfield Beach is considered part of the Fort Lauderdale metro area, and it's in Broward County. If you want to find a list of approved taxi services in the area, check out www.broward.org. You should be safe with any of those options. Rideshares are available as well, and there's the Deerfield Beach Community Bus Shuttle that goes to various parts of town. All of these options come with low risk.

Pickpockets Risk

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium risk as the theft rates are higher than the national average at 1465 per 100,000. That's a one in 68 chance. That said, only 12 of the reported theft crimes were pickpocketing or purse snatching in 2020.

Natural Disasters Risk

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

With hurricane season from June to November and the sudden storms that can pop up and get quite severe, we'll give this a medium risk. There are plenty of beautiful beach days to be had, but when the weather gets bad it can be extremely bad, especially if you aren't used to violent thunderstorms. The good news is that thunderstorms are usually short-lived. Hurricanes, on the other hand, can last days with the damage taking weeks or months to clean up.

Mugging Risk

MUGGING RISK: LOW

There's a low mugging risk in Deerfield Beach with only 59 reported in 2020. That's 25% lower than the national average.

Terrorism Risk

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

This is a highly-populated region with several major cities and ports of entry. That's going to make it a possible terrorist target. While there's no imminent risk, we're still going to call this a medium risk just based on the sheer size and possible devastation that could happen in a terrorist attack.

Scams Risk

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

One of the most recent scams in town involves fake parking tickets being issued and the drivers being asked to pay for the ticket to an illegal company. Don't fall for it. Due to the possibility of scams in this area, where there are vulnerable tourists and a larger elderly population, we'll give this a medium risk.

Women Travelers Risk

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

This is probably one of the safest communities in the Fort Lauderdale area for women, giving it a low risk. There's not a big nightlife or party atmosphere here, so the common pitfalls of being a woman on vacation are lessened.

Tap Water Risk

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

There's low risk with tap water. Not only does it meet or exceed the standards, but the water plan also won Most Improved Water Plan in 2019, and the 2020 Water Project of the Year, both for keeping up with the evolving technology and the challenges of providing clean water.

Safest Places to Visit in Deerfield Beach

Every beach city has a pier, right?

So what is the big deal?

The Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier is such a sight to see.

The 976-foot all-wooden pier is perfect for dropping a line over the edge to catch some fish or just strolling down pondering the meaning of life.

I was surprised when I saw there was a fee to get onto the fishing pier, but after reading dozens of traveler reviews they all said “It’s worth the $1 price to walk the pier.”

(It’s now $2 for non-residents and $4 if you want to fish)

Ski Rixen USA is an inland waterpark with more adventure than just going down a slide.

There’s a wake park and an aquapark at Ski Rixen.

In the wake park, you can ride the water being pulled by cables—no boat needed.

It’s a unique experience with just as much excitement as if you were on the ocean.

The aquapark offers a playground on the water where you can test your balance and obstacle course skills.

Deerfield Island Park is an island getaway nestled in the beach community.

There are 43 acres to explore through mangroves and don’t be surprised if you see an alligator (from a distance).

There’s a ferry that takes you to and from the park.

Take a tour of the historic James and Alice Butler house to get a glimpse of pioneer life in Florida.

When you’re hungry, Deerfield Beach shines.

JB’s on the Beach is one of the popular beachside dining locations in town.

With 11% of the Deerfield Beach population being Brazilian, you have to try one of the many Brazilian steakhouses and restaurants.

For shopping, exercise your wallet at Mizner Park, where pink buildings stand out in the Florida sun and boutiques are around every corner.

Don’t miss the Italian stone fountain in the center of the park.

Places to Avoid in Deerfield Beach

Crime maps show the north-central part of the central city is the most dangerous.

Social media forums back this up, saying the Dixie Highway Corridor is a part of town to avoid.

There is a commercial and residential development project in this area to improve land use, add businesses, and create a better partnership with the community.

If you stay east of U.S. Highway 1 and west of Military Trail Road, you’ll be in the safer parts of Deerfield Beach.

The I-95 corridor through Deerfield Beach has some sketchy neighborhoods too.

Don’t go into these neighborhoods after dark.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Deerfield Beach

  1. The “sand groins” are piles of rocks that dot the beach of Deerfield Beach. They were installed to stop beach erosion, as in the 1950s Deerfield Beach was one of the most eroded beaches along the entire East Coast due to the heavy storms that came north from the Miami area. Now the rocks are a place where fish gather and make for some great snorkeling—when the sea is calm. If the waves are kicking up, it’s safest to stay away from the groins.
  2. You can smoke on Deerfield Beach, but no alcohol is allowed. Littering is illegal.
  3. There are limitations on this beach to where you can surf. It’s only allowed between the north side of the International Pier and south of Lifeguard Tower #7. You cannot swim in the surfing area if you aren’t surfing.
  4. In all other beach locations, you can swim and snorkel as long as you stay less than 50 yards from the shoreline.
  5. If you want to fish in the saltwater or freshwater in Deerfield Beach, you’ll need a license for each one. Download the Fish Rules app for easy-to-follow instructions on how to obtain one.
  6. Parking in Deerfield Beach is going to cost you and you’ll get a ticket if you don’t pay. You can either download the WayToPark app and pay via mobile phone or enter your license plate at a parking kiosk and pay there. Even if you pay at the kiosk, you can still use the app to buy more time if needed.
  7. There are 20 dive sites in Deerfield Beach if you want to go scuba diving. Florida doesn’t require a scuba license, but for your safety, it’s preferred you get one. Some of the dive sites have sessions you can take online before you arrive in Florida, giving you more time in the water.
  8. Sign up for Alert DFB while you are there so you can get text notifications in case of an emergency. Just text “AlertDFB” to 888777.
  9. If a hurricane or tropical system is heading toward South Florida, you might want to get out of town. Not only can the impending storm be dangerous when it hits land, but ahead of these storms businesses can close down, grocery stores get sold out of basic supplies, and traffic can be jammed on the interstates.
  10. There is a plastic straw ban in Deerfield Beach, so don’t ask for one when you order your favorite drink. The business can get in trouble for providing them. Styrofoam is also banned.

So... How Safe Is Deerfield Beach Really?

Deerfield Beach enjoys low crime rates, smaller crowds, and a laid-back vibe compared to some other South Florida communities.

There are some parts of town that crime numbers and local feedback tell us to avoid, like the I-95 corridor and near the Dixie Highway.

The tourist areas along the beach and inland are shown to be the lowest crime areas on crime maps.

Aside from an evening dinner, there isn’t much of a reason to be out at night in this community.

You shouldn’t wander around a strange city at night anyway.

The fishing pier is open until 11:00 p.m., but don’t go there alone at night because the walk back might be a little unsettling.

Of course, I’m super safety-oriented, so that advice comes in an abundance of caution, not because of an ever-present risk.

How Does Deerfield Beach Compare?

CitySafety Index
Deerfield Beach78
Oakland57
New Orleans57
Baltimore56
Boston67
Washington DC56
New York City67
Phnom Penh (Cambodia)61
Niagara Falls (Canada)87
Calgary (Canada)82
Buenos Aires (Argentina)60
Vancouver (Canada)82
Cordoba (Argentina)61

Useful Information

Visas

Visas

Your port of entry or airport of choice will take care of the Visa requirements. You don't need any additional identification to get into Deerfield Beach.

Currency

Currency

They say Florida pays people in the sunshine, but it's not a currency you can use. The U.S. Dollar is the currency of Florida, as with the rest of the United States. Many attractions and charges here can be paid ahead of time or through your mobile device, leaving little reason to pull your wallet out.

Weather

Weather

It rarely gets cold in South Florida. Deerfield Beach averages 75°(F) as the high temperature in the "coldest" month of January. Summers can get highs into the 90s and it's a humid heat. Be prepared to sweat. Bring plenty of changes of clothing. Average lows don't even go into the 50s in this tropical environment. Summer storms can pop up, so it's always good advice to bring rain gear.

Airports

Airports

The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is 22 miles south of Deerfield Beach. The West Palm Beach International Airport is 30 miles north. Miami's International Airport is the farthest away at 44 miles. All of those routes mean you have to get on I-95, which can lead to big traffic backups. You'll want to plan plenty of time to get to and from the airport of your choice.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance

There are a lot of airports nearby, but also a lot of weather variables that can delay flights. It's ideal to get travel insurance for your trip to Deerfield Beach, Florida.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Deerfield Beach Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 20° C
Feb 22° C
Mar 23° C
Apr 25° C
May 27° C
Jun 28° C
Jul 29° C
Aug 29° C
Sep 29° C
Oct 27° C
Nov 24° C
Dec 22° C
Choose Temperature Unit

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High
°C
242526283031323232302725
Low
°C
161819212325262625242118
High
°F
757779828688909090868177
Low
°F
616466707377797977757064

Florida - Safety by City

CitySafety Index
Amelia Island85
Boca Raton89
Boynton Beach74
Bradenton84
Brandon64
Cape Coral82
Clearwater71
Cocoa Beach92
Coral Springs78
Daytona Beach83
Deerfield Beach78
Delray Beach65
Deltona82
Destin92
Everglades City93
Fort Lauderdale64
Fort Myers75
Fort Pierce72
Fort Walton Beach84
Gainesville67
Hialeah52
Homestead65
Jacksonville41
Jupiter87
Kendall87
Key Largo84
Key West67
Kissimmee82
Lake Buena Vista72
Lake City72
Lake Worth Beach76
Lakeland67
Lauderhill75
Marco Island88
Melbourne65
Miami55
Miami Beach68
Miami Gardens52
Miramar72
Mount Dora91
Naples91
New Smyrna Beach84
North Port87
Ocala88
Orlando64
Ormond Beach83
Palm Beach Gardens82
Palm Harbor81
Panama City Beach77
Pembroke Pines77
Pensacola69
Pompano Beach72
Port St. Lucie85
Punta Gorda83
Sarasota83
St. Augustine87
St. Petersburg77
Tallahassee69
Tampa52
Vero Beach84
West Palm Beach54
Winter Park84

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