Is Flint Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Flint, also known as Vehicle City, is a Mid-Michigan city that has made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Is Flint still a dangerous place, and is the Flint water unsafe to drink?

We’ll explore the truth, facts, and context of crime data and community challenges, with some safety advice for visitors along the way.

Flint was once a booming vehicle industry, having first earned the title Vehicle City for making horse-drawn carriages.

Then General Motors was founded here. For decades, the city thrived.

Once the auto industry moved to other domestic and international locations, a giant gap was left.

With no major industries came growing poverty rates and unemployment.

A city that was once home to nearly 200,000 is now home to 81,000.

Those who stayed behind faced a bankrupt city and a major water crisis that pumped lead and bacteria right through the tap water.

Even since 2010, the population has decreased by 20%.

Flint regularly makes the list of the most dangerous cities in Michigan and America.

More than 35% of the city lives in poverty, and the remainder averages an annual income of just a few thousand over poverty limits.

I’m currently binging the Netflix show Flint Town, which is 2018 docuseries about police officers in Flint.

It doesn’t paint a good picture, leaving you rooting for the city to rebound.

Flint and surrounding Genesee County offer some great parks, museums, and places to visit.

You just need to know where to look, and we’ll tell you!

Warnings & Dangers in Flint

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium risk here, even with some encouraging news in the 2022 crime statistics. The city is still among the most dangerous in the state, but there is some light on the other side of the tunnel.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

MTA is the public bus system with local and regional routes, plus special routes during peak travel times. Taxis and rideshares are available throughout the city and county. Having a rental car is likely the safest option since you'll be able to control the routes and spend less money than relying on a cab.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

While it's not an overwhelming problem, you should treat this concern as a medium risk. In 2021, 13 pickpockets/purse snatchings were reported. In 2022, that number went up to 21. This is definitely not a town where you should carry a large designer bank or a wallet full of cash. Carry the bare minimum with you and keep your purse or wallet as hidden as possible.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Michigan is known for its intense winters, but it won't stop the locals from enjoying the community. It just might catch a warm-blooded tourist off guard. Snowstorms, blizzards, and ice storms can often happen; driving in snow is just part of life here. Spring can bring severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, plus there's a year-round risk of flooding. The Genesee County Sheriff's Office has an emergency management website with safety tips for each season.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

The risk is medium, but I'll give credit where it's due here - the robbery rate went down 28% between 2021 and 2022 and down a whipping 450% since 2011! While there isn't an outbreak of strangers being robbed on the street, as just 25% of robberies are highway robberies, it's still something to be aware of in this rather violent community. Criminals will not hesitate to take something from you by force, so give them nothing to notice about you as you walk around.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

International terrorism isn't a concern, but the terrorists of drug dealers and gang members are the big problem. While Flint is the type of town where you shouldn't go looking for trouble, you could also get stuck in a business robbery or caught in the crossfire. If you use street smarts and common sense, your risk will be much lower. You likely won't be in the parts of town where the most crimes happen.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

The major scams reported here are against businesses, as scammers try to use fake or stolen credit cards. You should always be wary of anyone who is pressuring you to give personal information or sell you something. The sad truth is that you can't trust anyone.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Flint has been ranked as one of the most dangerous cities for women. 2022 crime data shows the sexual assault rate is 450% higher than the national average. Police say the sexual assaults have gotten more brutal. The city did get a grant to help process rape kits, which led to identifying a serial rapist and a sex trafficker. Women should be very cautious in Flint - treat it with a medium risk. Stay off the streets at night, and don't walk around alone day or night. Avoid house parties or meeting someone in a private place.

TAP WATER RISK: MEDIUM

This feels like a trick question. Yes, Flint had a major water crisis in 2014, and there was a time the risk was "Don't Drink the Water." To make a very long (and scary) story short, the city says it has now met or exceeded state and federal standards for six years in a row. The report also shows that for six months in 2020, lead and copper tests weren't collected, which is concerning since lead was a main problem during the water crisis. However, the tests resumed for the second half of the year. I'd treat this city as a medium risk and review the Progress Report on Flint Water detailed on the city's website.

Safest Places to Visit in Flint

The tourism website for this region is titled “Explore Flint and Genesee,” meaning the city and the county amenities are included in one website.

You can download the visitor’s guide, explore sample itineraries, and review the Crim section if you’re coming for the annual Crim Festival of Races.

The Flint Downtown Development Authority also has a website detailing shops, restaurants, and events.

Downtown includes the University of Michigan – Flint and a walkway along the Flint River.

The Flint Farmer’s Market is open throughout the year, three days a week.

This indoor market also offers cooking demos, arts & crafts, and a rooftop terrace.

Museum, history, and art lovers need to head to the intersection of Crapo and Kearsley Streets.

Here you’ll find several attractions, including:

• Sloan Museum of Discovery: Several galleries celebrate history, automobiles, science, and children’s imaginations.
• Longway Planetarium: Shows include exploring Michigan’s night sky, a 4k show set to Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd), and Secrets of the Universe in IMAX.
• Flint Institute of Arts: Exhibits, discussions, and demonstrations round out the things to do at this modern masterpiece.
• Applewood Estate: This historic home was owned by the co-founder of General Motors and named after Charles Mott’s father – who owned the Mott’s apple juice and snack company.

The Stockton Center at Spring Grove is another historic property in Flint.

The Stockton family was influential in town and donated to many medical and educational facilities in town.

Tours are limited, but check the schedule on the website.

This is truly a treasure in the Flint community.

Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad transport you back to a simple time in the early 1900s.

Nearly three dozen historical buildings and interpretive guides bring this living museum to an immersive level of education and enjoyment.

The park also includes a steam-powered train engine ride and a paddlewheel riverboat.

Other Genesee County Parks include beaches, sledding hills, fishing docks, woods, wetlands, and unique waterfalls:

• Stepping Stone Falls: Concrete steps create a waterfall where Mott Lake meets the Flint River.
• Buttercup Beach/Bluebell Beach
• Hogbacks Area: “A line of hills with steep slopes on each side,” Hogbacks is also an off-leash dog park covering 2,000 acres.

Flint Children’s Museum is a wonderful family adventure to explore life through the eyes of a child.

Eight hands-on and interactive exhibits teach children about careers, nature, and art.

Birch Run Premium Outlets is 25 minutes north on the interstate.

Here you’ll find name-brand stores at discount prices with plenty of sit-down or drive-through restaurants.

Across the interstate is Wilderness Trails Zoo, which is open seasonally.

You’ll find lions and tigers and bears; oh my, there’s even a parakeet encounter.

Places to Avoid in Flint

If you look at a wide view of the city map, avoid anywhere north/west of the Flint River.

It’s not even a case that going further north or west will get you to a safe suburb.

From downtown to the I-75/I-475 interchange (12 miles), there’s a wide patch of impoverished communities where crime runs rampant.

Should you be turned around, you’ll be able to tell a potentially dangerous neighborhood by the blight.

The north side also has an issue of large parking lots in abandoned strip malls being gathering places for teenagers.

This also leads to more crime as fights often break out.

The police have started a summer initiative to focus on these hot spots, leading to dozens of arrests.

Avoid being an aggressive driver or prone to road rage in Flint.

A community Traffic Taming Task Force is trying to stop the excessive number of speeders going 2-3 times the speed limit in neighborhoods.

They claim the police aren’t holding speeders accountable.

However, when it comes to responding to a shooting – which already can take at least 30 minutes for the understaffed police force – or stopping a speeder, police have a higher priority call in the shooting.

Do your part to keep the streets safe and stick to the speed limit, obey traffic signs, and keep your mouth shut with your middle finger down if an aggressive driver passes you.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Flint

So... How Safe Is Flint Really?

No matter how you look at it, Flint is not really safe.

Sure, there are safer parts of town and some really cool things to see and do, but you can’t ignore the violence here.

You can avoid it by following the safety guidance provided above.

What is truly inspirational is the community members, like the Traffic Taming Task Force, who say, “Enough is Enough” and take action.

What’s truly disappointing is that city leaders either can’t or won’t give the assets needed to support the community and fight crime.

“We know from current trends that if we have X amount of police officers, we can expect X amount of crime, and we’re not doing anything to sway those in great numbers,” Councilman Dennis Pfeiffer said in Spring 2022.

“So as a community, I think we can expect high murder rates for the given future until we can come up with a budget that escalates more enforcement, more boots on the ground, more investigators, the whole thing.”

The police department, understaffed and underpaid, must use strategic policing and community groups to help stop crime while preventing crime before it happens when possible.

“It’s important to understand that we have to be aggressive and intentional about the way that we fight crime here in the city of Flint,” Mayor Sheldon Neeley said.

As a visitor, you should know that in 2021 67% of violent crimes happened in homes, and just 15% happened against strangers.

New data from 2022 shows the following comparison from 2021:

• Homicide: Down 41%
• Sexual Assault: Up 55%
• Robbery: Down 28%
• Larceny (Overall): Down 14%
• Car Break-ins: Up 3%

Flint is less scary and sadder, especially when you know the dynamic city it once was.

Seeing blight, foundations of homes and businesses in ruins, and dead trees just makes you painfully aware of how bad planning and infrastructure can destroy a city.

Hope is on the horizon as General Motors announced in early 2023 it will bring manufacturing for the V-8 engine to Flint with a $579 million investment.

In addition, the former Buick City site is on track to re-open as an industrial space, potentially bringing up to 3,000 jobs to the city.

The mayor made it clear in his State of the City speech that everyone wants to move past the water crisis reputation and rebuild a city everyone can once again be proud of.

Still, a lot of trust-building and community support is needed to make that happen.

How Does Flint Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

You'll need a passport that doesn't expire within six months and a visa to enter the country. A travel visa takes the longest, so start planning now. Review the State Department's 2023 update to find out how you can potentially expedite the process.

Currency

The U.S. Dollar is the only currency used here. Exchange currency before you arrive to pay the lowest fees. Don't carry cash on you or use public ATMs. Credit cards offer better fraud protection, even if they get stolen.

Weather

Dress warmly in winter and casually in the summer, as this region gets the best and worst of all four seasons. Spring and fall can have fluctuating temperatures day by day, so bring layers to have the best options. You'll want comfortable walking shoes and bug spray. Don't skimp on winter clothing.

Airports

Flint Bishop Airport is just seven miles from downtown. For those flying in or out of Detroit, plan for an hour on the road.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance just makes sense in an area so prone to severe winter weather. Even storms out West can have a ripple effect on Michigan airports. Check your rental car insurance to see if you should supplement it since the drivers are so aggressive here.

Flint Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Michigan - Safety by City