Is Deltona Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Updated On March 30, 2022
Deltona, United States
Safety Index:
82
* Based on Research & Crime Data

This is not a typo.

If you are looking for Daytona or Deland, you are not in the right place.

Deltona is a city that name came from a blending of those two other cities.

It was part of a genius marketing plan that was upended by that pesky Cuban Missile Crisis.

Nevertheless, the name stuck, and the new community, on the brink of extinction before it was even opened, thrived.

Deltona sits in Central Florida, about halfway between Orlando and Daytona Beach.

It’s nestled right to the edge of Lake Monroe.

By design, it’s meant to bring people in to live and raise families, but there’s plenty for tourists to do, especially if they love the outdoors.

While there isn’t an abundance of hotels in the area, you do have a great choice between traditional hotels and historic bed and breakfast inns.

Nearby Orange City shares some hotel tourism with Deltona, as well as the city of Lake Monroe just across the lake.

Warnings & Dangers in Deltona

Overall Risk

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low risk overall. It's a safe community protected by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. There is no local police force.

Transport & Taxis Risk

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Votran is the public bus system in Volusia County, where Deltona is located. There are a few routes in Deltona, but it's probably not the best way to get around for a tourist. You can grab a taxi or rideshare too. All of that has a low risk. A rental car would be preferred as a lot of the places you want to visit might be off the beaten path.

Pickpockets Risk

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

There's a one in 231 chance of being a robbery victim according to documents provided by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. That's a low risk.

Natural Disasters Risk

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Deltona is less than 30 miles from the shore and a hurricane can still keep its strength at that distance. Severe thunderstorms also rock this area all summer long. It's a medium risk because if it happens, it can get nasty quickly.

Mugging Risk

MUGGING RISK: LOW

There's a low risk. There were 54 robberies in 2021, and that's well below the national average when you do what I like to call "crime math." The only concerning part is that the robbery rate is up 32% since 2019.

Terrorism Risk

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There's a low risk. It's an hour from Orlando, which could be a target of terrorists, but far enough away to be considered safe.

Scams Risk

SCAMS RISK: LOW

It appears here the people just scam each other or the locals are only targeted. There aren't any rampant scams to be worried about. There's a low risk.

Women Travelers Risk

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk for females traveling, whether alone or in a group. There are some crazy domestic violence crimes on record in Deltona, however. The best advice I'd give a female traveler is to not walk around at night alone. It's not a big city with lots of bright streetlights with a common core of gatherings. It's a spread-out town with neighborhoods throughout. If you don't have business being there, don't go there, as I like to say.

Tap Water Risk

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

There's a low risk. The water surpasses requirements statewide and nationally, and does ongoing testing of the water throughout the year. The utility company has faced no violations since at least 2018.

Safest Places to Visit in Deltona

If you like birds now, you’re going to love Deltona.

If you don’t like birds now, you’re either going to grow an affinity for them or you’re going to be driven nuts by then.

Deltona is a birding paradise and Florida has some pretty amazing birds.

There are nine EcoParks in Deltona.

Thornby Nature Park is right on Lake Monroe on the south side of town.

Three Island Nature Park is in the northeast section and offers walks through wooded trails.

Lake Butler Nature Park has a perfect spot for a kayak launch around the Lake Butler Chain of Lakes.

Deltona Community Gardens is where you can get the essence of the people in the community.

Coming soon is Lakeshore EcoVillage, a park with “Old Florida” charm and a natural theme park for those who love the outdoors.

There are 59 lakes in Deltona, so you’ve got so many places to fish, hike, hunt, kayak, and watch for wildlife (or watch out FOR wildlife).

There are several dive shops in town where you can take an adventure of diving in fresh water.

(Yes, saltwater too, but it is probably better to book that one at the beach).

Here’s the rub though — you’re going to get bored in Deltona if you don’t like those things I’ve mentioned above.

There isn’t a charming historic downtown or a big shopping mall filled with restaurants.

You’re going to have to go to Deland to get that. Orange City, just across I-4, has some cool historical places to check out in the aptly named Historic District.

Places to Avoid in Deltona

If you look at the layout of Deltona and draw a line from Thornby Park straight out toward Daytona Beach, those are the neighborhoods with the highest crime rates.

But again, we’re in a city with pretty low crime rates, so there’s no “bad neighborhood” you just have to avoid.

It’s not really about places to avoid in Deltona, it’s about a lack of places to go.

Review after review online from locals echoes this sentiment.

There’s little nightlife, hardly a booming food scene, and mostly just a residential area.

One person called it a “great pit stop to Orlando.”

After the sun goes down, if you’re looking for some fun, you might want to head to Deland.

I can’t speak about the crime in that area, but it is known as the more “fun” part of western Volusia County.

Don’t miss Main Street downtown.

Several years ago, it won the distinguished award as America’s #1 Main Street.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Deltona

  1. We’ve got a lot of outdoor rules and safety tips to get to, starting with getting a fishing license. You’ll need a freshwater fishing license from Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) and it’s easy to get it right on their website. There is a combo pass for freshwater/saltwater if you’re also going to be heading to the coast.
  2. There are alligators in Deltona… and everywhere in Florida. They live in freshwater and hunt between dusk and dawn. Don’t feed an alligator or get too close if you see one. There were only seven alligator attacks in all of Florida last year, but don’t add your name to this year’s list. If you are scared of alligators, stay away from the freshwater lake edges.
  3. “We should’ve gotten a bigger bottle of bug spray.” You’re going to need it in Deltona, especially in the summer. All these EcoParks are filled with so much beauty and every bug that can survive this climate. Floridians have nicknamed a stinging insect a “Noseeum”, as you don’t see it until after you’ve been swarmed on your ankle or back. The Noseeums leave nasty stings behind, much worse than a mosquito. Bug spray helps prevent this. Noseeums love to hunt near the water and when it’s cloudy outside.
  4. Are you wondering what the heck an EcoPark is? It’s an “amusement park of nature.” The ideal is to have an economic impact without disturbing the ecology of the environment. So, a park is designed with minimal human adjustments but to specially cater to the flora and fauna of a community. Deltona loves its EcoParks. So much so that you can download the EcoParks app and learn much more than this quick bullet point.
  5. Check the weather forecast before you head out into the wild. Especially in summer, a prediction of afternoon storms could change your plans. The storms in Florida bring torrential rains and wicked winds, not to mention lightning that earned the state the Lightning Capital of the United States title. You don’t want to be out on a kayak when a storm rolls in, says a person who was out in a kayak as a storm rolled in. The rain was so heavy I couldn’t even see to paddle my rear end out of there.
  6. If you plan on going to Disney World while visiting Deltona, as many do, the theme park is about an hour away. With the way Orlando traffic works, double that time if you are going during rush hour. The I-4 corridor is known for constantly being under construction. Go early and wait at the gates. It’s better than sitting in traffic with aggressive drivers.
  7. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of birds, you’ll like this one. The Scrub Jay is a bird that is only found in Florida and you can catch a glimpse of it in Lyonia Preserve. It’s not quite endangered, but getting closer as Florida continues to develop natural areas, forcing the birds out of their homes. However, there’s also going to be a place for them in bird-loving Deltona.
  8. Just because there’s a low crime rate and not a lot to do at night doesn’t mean you should throw safety caution to the wind. You should still lock your car doors and don’t leave personal belongings in plain sight inside the car. There are above 112 car break-ins on average and burglars go to the ones that are unlocked first.
  9. Download the SaferWatch crime app from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office so you can get safety alerts as needed. You can also report crimes if you see one happening. Well, call 911 if it’s a serious crime, but for example, if you see graffiti, use the app. Even if you see a suspicious gathering of people, the app is great for those things.
  10. There are many benefits to being in a community with 59 lakes and one big drawback — flooding. If you are staying in a place near water and it is about to rain a lot, check with the city to see if you are in a floodplain. Severe thunderstorms can bring that torrential rain that flash floods or a hurricane on the coast with a high storm surge could have ripple effects on the water supply.

So... How Safe Is Deltona Really?

As I researched this article, I can tell you — it’s safer than the average American city, in some categories, by a lot.

What I can also tell you is some crazy crime stuff happens here.

There was the man caught on police body cams with his pants down looking in a woman’s window.

The granddaughter was accused of stealing nearly $200,000 from her grandfather over three years.

The verbal political fight turned into an actual fight and left one man shot in the leg.

The middle school employee who was busted smoking pot with a 14-year-old student at 1:30 a.m.

The nurse was accused of molesting a dementia-ridden patient.

The list just goes on.

Yet, despite oddities like those, there’s just a one in 343 chance of being a victim of a violent crime.

How Does Deltona Compare?

CitySafety Index
Deltona82
New York City67
Detroit56
San Diego67
Miami55
Honolulu65
Chicago65
Cordoba (Argentina)61
Toronto (Canada)81
Melbourne (Australia)80
Montreal (Canada)81
Sydney (Australia)80
Santiago de Chile (Chile)71

Useful Information

Visas

Visas

You'll handle Visa stuff at the airport or port of entry and don't need any other ID in Deltona unless you plan on going fishing. Then you'll need that license we talked about.

Currency

Currency

You'll use the U.S. Dollar. The fish will take whatever bait currency you've got. Seriously, you can use a major credit card for most purchases and there's little reason to carry around a lot of cash. It's safer that way too.

Weather

Weather

This is Central Florida, so it's not as hot as the southern parts. Highs go from the 70s in winter to the 90s in summer and the lows in winter get into the 40s, so pack a jacket and jeans. You won't need those in the summer because the lows only get into the 70s. Remember, it's still going to be humid so pack some extra clothes in case you sweat through yours quickly and don't have access to laundry.

Airports

Airports

Orlando International Airport is about an hour away. That's the biggest one nearby and your best bet. The Daytona Beach airport is about 30 minutes away.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance

Too many things can go wrong with the weather here. You need travel insurance to protect your trip.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Deltona Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 15° C
Feb 17° C
Mar 19° C
Apr 22° C
May 25° C
Jun 28° C
Jul 28° C
Aug 28° C
Sep 27° C
Oct 24° C
Nov 20° C
Dec 17° C
Choose Temperature Unit

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High
°C
212325283133333332292523
Low
°C
91013151822232322191411
High
°F
707377828891919190847773
Low
°F
485055596472737372665752

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

Where to Next?

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