F
98%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
125%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
93%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleBurlington/100k peopleNorth Carolina/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime2,770n/a (estimate)4,6112,4692,324
Murder4n/a6.78.16.3
Rape33n/a54.930.540.0
Robbery64n/a106.554.966.1
Assault399n/a664.2311.6268.2
Violent crime500n/a (estimate)832405370
Burglary342n/a569.3370.8269.8
Theft1,703n/a2,835.11,494.01,401.9
Vehicle theft225n/a374.6199.3282.7
Property crime2,270n/a (estimate)3,7792,0641,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Burlington, NC

Crime is typically categorized into two main types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. Based on the most recent report, the Burlington crime rate is higher than the national average by 98.4%. Specifically, there were 500 violent crimes in Burlington, equivalent to 832 per 100,000 individuals, higher than the national average by 125.1%. Furthermore, Burlington recorded 2270 property crimes, amounting to 3779 per 100,000 residents, which was higher than the average by 93.4%.

With a crime rate of 4611 per 100,000 residents, Burlington has a crime rate that is 98.41% higher than the national average. This results in one of the highest total crime rates in the entire country. This does not necessarily mean that the entire city is unsafe. As with any area, there are some pockets in Burlington that are much safer than others. A little research will go a long way in determining which areas could potentially offer a safer living environment.

Burlington is one of the most dangerous cities in America with a violent crime rate of 832 per 100,000 people - this ranks in the bottom 10% of all U.S. cities that reported crime. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Burlington is 1 in 121.

Burlington reports one of the nation's highest property crime rates, with 3779 incidents per 100,000 people, positioning it among the worst 10% of American cities reporting crime. This unfortunate statistic translates to a 1 in 27 chance of falling victim to property crime in Burlington, significantly surpassing the national average. These figures underscore the city's challenges in combating property-related offenses, necessitating a concerted effort to enhance security and community safety.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Burlington?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Burlington residents. Out of the respondents (52 in total), 52% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Burlington were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 48% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Burlington a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Burlington is a place to live may not always yield a simple answer, given the city's varying safety levels across different areas. Nonetheless, comprehending the city's overall crime rate can be a valuable asset. In broad terms, Burlington has an overall crime rate that is 98% higher than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 7.59 daily occurrences, comprising 1.37 violent crimes and 6.22 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Burlington as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Burlington Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Burlington has decreased by 11.8% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Burlington is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. Crime rates are categorized by violent and property crime. Year-over-year violent crime has increased by 1.4%, while property crime has decreased by 14.2%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Burlington.

Potential Causes for Crime in Burlington

If employment opportunities are limited or if many jobs offer low wages, it can lead to higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, which could lead to an increase in Burlington crime rates. Areas where individuals struggle with unemployment or low wages, may be more susceptible to an increase in criminal activities as a result of financial insecurity. While lower rates of unemployment or a surplus of job opportunities could lead to a decrease in crime as their basic needs are being met. Burlington has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, compared to a national average of 4.7%.

Escalating cost of living expenses, encompassing exorbitant housing costs, grocery and healthcare expenditures, can induce financial strain on individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. Such economic stress may propel individuals towards criminal activities, including theft or burglary, as a means of addressing their financial hardships. Conversely, cities characterized by a lower cost of living may alleviate economic pressures, potentially resulting in a reduced crime rate. In Burlington, the cost of living is 12.86% lower than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

In Burlington, the median home price stands at $137,000, diverging from the national average of $184,700. Elevated housing costs often induce financial strain among residents. When individuals grapple with the challenges of affording housing, they may find themselves compelled to resort to criminal activities as a means of addressing their financial hardships, including acts like theft or fraud. This predicament is particularly pronounced in areas where housing affordability poses a persistent issue, giving rise to heightened concerns regarding crime. In such instances, some individuals and families may find themselves constrained to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, exacerbating stress levels and potentially fostering domestic disputes and associated criminal incidents.

Burlington crime map



The Burlington crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Burlington as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Burlington crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Burlington crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Burlington crime rates are 98% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Burlington are 125% higher than the national average
      • In Burlington you have a 1 in 22 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Burlington is safer than 5% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Burlington has decreased by 18%

      Burlington, NC Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Burlington (per 100,000 people)

        The bar chart above reveals the rate of daily crimes in Burlington for every 100,000 residents. The Burlington total amount of daily crime is 1.87 times more than the North Carolina average and 1.98 times more than than that of the nation. As for violent crimes, the daily average in Burlington, is 2.05 times more than the North Carolina average, and it is 2.25 times more than the national average. The statistics for property crimes show that Burlington has a daily crime average that is 1.83 times more than the North Carolina average and 1.93 times more than the daily national rate.

        How Safe is Burlington (higher is better)

        What are the odds that you'll be safer in Burlington, North Carolina compared to other areas of North Carolina, as well as the rest of America? When it comes down to it, is Burlington safe? In the graphs above, it shows that Burlington is safer than 12% of North Carolina cities, and 5% compared to all other cities across America. These statistics are calculated by taking a closer look at each city's crime rate in North Carolina, as well as the rest of the US. It is then determined which cities see less crime than Burlington. At this time, Burlington sees a below average rate of crime in comparison to other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Burlington

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Burlington is 1 in 121
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Burlington is 1 in 27
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Burlington is 1 in 22
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Burlington? In Burlington, you have a 1 in 121 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, such as rape, robbery, assault, or even murder. In terms of property crime, your chances of being a victim are 1 in 27. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Burlington, NC is 1 in 22.

        Year Over Year Crime In Burlington (per 100,000 people)

        The year over year change in crime per 100,000 people helps to understand whether crime in Burlington, NC is on the rise or declining. The violent crime rate in Burlington has decreased by 5%, while the property crime rate in Burlington has decreased by 20% year over year. Summing up the numbers, Burlington has decreased by 18% with regards to total crimes year over year.

        Burlington police department

        Item Burlington North Carolina National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)16714,511558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents3.24.83.3
        There are a total of 167 Burlington police officers. This results in 3.2 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 32% less than the North Carolina average and 0.1% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in North Carolina

        State Total offenders North Carolina /100K National /100K
        North Carolina26,293320266
        There are a total of 26,293 sex offenders in North Carolina. This yields a total of 320 sex offenders in North Carolina per 100,000 residents which is 20% greater than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Swepsonville, NC2,254116591707
        Elon, NC11,94188625712
        Saxapahaw, NC1,340160818978
        McLeansville, NC9251768951,070
        Alamance, NC1,2801809151,094
        Glen Raven, NC3,6971859441,129
        Gibsonville, NC7,2321999391,138
        Burlington, NC54,5348323,7794,611

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Anderson, IN54,4764862,9003,386
        Westchester, FL54,4702311,3941,625
        Albany, OR54,4421882,7642,951
        West Haven, CT54,6661222,0712,193
        Normal, IL54,6992281,3491,576
        Burlington, NC54,5348323,7794,611
        Source: The Burlington, NC crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.