Top 10 most dangerous cities in Vermont

Vermont, known for its picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. From the charming small towns to the scenic beauty of the Green Mountains, Vermont provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Vermont faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Vermont are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Vermont's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Vermont involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Vermont. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Vermont's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Bennington Population: 8,539 608 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.67 chance of being a victim: 1 in 165 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,712

Bennington, VT holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Vermont with 608 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (536), robbery (46), rape (13) and homicide (13) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 174% higher than the Vermont average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

St. Albans Population: 6,796 570 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.56 chance of being a victim: 1 in 176 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,230

The second most dangerous city is St. Albans. With a population of 6,796 and a violent crime rate that is 157% higher than the Vermont average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in St. Albans are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 570 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 176 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Winooski Population: 7,320 544 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 184 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,510

Home to 7,320 residents, Winooski, VT ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Vermont. Unfortunately for residents of Winooski, crime is widespread, with more than 544 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.49 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 145% higher than the Vermont violent crime rate.

Barre Population: 8,590 533 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.46 chance of being a victim: 1 in 188 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,125

With a violent crime rate that is 140% higher than the Vermont average, it's not hard to see why Barre made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (24), assault (308), rape (201) and homicide (0). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Barre more vulnerable to high crime.

Brattleboro Population: 6,429 490 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.34 chance of being a victim: 1 in 204 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,585

The ongoing battle with crime in Brattleboro, VT, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 490 and a 1 in 204 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Brattleboro has a violent crime rate that is 121% higher than the Vermont average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Brattleboro.

Rutland Population: 15,207 479 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.31 chance of being a victim: 1 in 209 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,335

Rutland, VT comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 479 per 100,000 people, which is 116% higher than the Vermont average. Rutland has a population of 15,207, which translates to 1.31 crimes per day and 1 in 209 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Rutland which are much safer than others.

Burlington Population: 42,645 409 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 244 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,536

A 1 in 244 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.12 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Burlington makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 409 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 85% higher than the Vermont average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (340), robbery (27), rape (31) and homicide (11).

St. Johnsbury Population: 5,815 351 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 285 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,025

St. Johnsbury, VT is another one of the most dangerous cities in Vermont and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 5,815 and a violent crime rate of 351 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 284 counts of assault, 41 counts of robbery, 27 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the St. Johnsbury violent crime rate is 58% higher than the Vermont average.

Montpelier Population: 7,434 325 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 308 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,164

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Montpelier, VT comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Vermont with a violent crime rate of 325 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.89 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 308 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

South Burlington Population: 19,359 295 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 338 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,284

Rounding out our list at #10 is South Burlington, VT. With a population of 19,359 and a violent crime rate of 295 per 100,000 people (33% higher than the Vermont average), some parts of South Burlington are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 227 counts of assault, 20 counts of robbery, 44 counts of rape and 5 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 338 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Vermont

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Bennington	8,539	608	3,712
2	St. Albans	6,796	570	4,230
3	Winooski	7,320	544	4,510
4	Barre	8,590	533	3,125
5	Brattleboro	6,429	490	6,585
6	Rutland	15,207	479	5,335
7	Burlington	42,645	409	5,536
8	St. Johnsbury	5,815	351	4,025
9	Montpelier	7,434	325	2,164
10	South Burlington	19,359	295	4,284
11	Middlebury	6,929	155	1,040
12	Shelburne	6,008	63	1,721

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Vermont is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Vermont cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.