Property Crime Rates by State in USA: 2025 Overview

Property Crime Rates by U.S. State

Rank	Region Name	Property related Crimes (per 100,000 inhabitants)
1	District of Columbia	3,500
2	New Mexico	2,650
3	Colorado	2,500
4	Washington	2,450
5	Louisiana	2,400
6	California	2,350
7	Oregon	2,300
8	Alaska	2,250
9	Nevada	2,200
10	Arizona	2,150
11	Texas	2,100
12	New Jersey	1,950
13	New York	1,900
14	Maryland	1,850
15	Illinois	1,800
16	Florida	1,750
17	Tennessee	1,700
18	Missouri	1,650
19	Oklahoma	1,600
20	Georgia	1,550
21	Ohio	1,500
22	Michigan	1,450
23	Indiana	1,400
24	Alabama	1,350
25	Mississippi	1,300
26	Pennsylvania	1,250
27	South Carolina	1,200
28	North Carolina	1,150
29	Arkansas	1,100
30	Virginia	1,050
31	Kentucky	1,000
32	West Virginia	950
33	Utah	900
34	Kansas	850
35	Delaware	800
36	Hawaii	750
37	Minnesota	700
38	Wisconsin	650
39	Iowa	600
40	Nebraska	550
41	Connecticut	500
42	Rhode Island	450
43	Massachusetts	400
44	New Hampshire	350
45	Maine	300
46	Montana	1,100
47	North Dakota	950
48	South Dakota	900
49	Idaho	800
50	Vermont	700
51	Wyoming	650

In-depth Analysis

Property crime, encompassing burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft, affects millions of Americans annually. In 2025, the national rate is approximately 1,700 incidents per 100,000 residents, marking a significant decrease from 1,916 in 2023 and 1,760 in 2024.

The table ranks all 50 states along with the District of Columbia according to these rates, utilizing FBI data and projections from ongoing declines. Elevated rates are concentrated in the West and Southwest, with New Mexico at 2,650 and Colorado at 2,500, while New England states like Maine at 300 are at the top of the safest list.

Factors such as urban density, economic pressures, and policing strategies contribute to these variations. This analysis delves into the reasons why certain areas experience ongoing waves of theft while others prosper, uncovering patterns that policymakers overlook at their own risk.

Urban Areas are more affected than Rural

The property crime landscape in America is sharply divided along geographic boundaries. The Western states lead the rankings, with five of the ten highest crime rates.

New Mexico is at the forefront with a staggering 2,650 incidents per 100,000 residents, closely followed by Colorado and Washington. Each of these states faces distinct challenges: New Mexico struggles with an 18.2% poverty rate, the second-highest in the nation, which is closely linked to theft as individuals in desperate situations target easy opportunities like car break-ins.

In 2024, Albuquerque alone recorded over 10,000 larcenies, driven by property crimes associated with opioid addiction.

Colorado’s rate of 2,500 is connected to the rapid growth of Denver’s population; the city has seen an influx of 20,000 new residents annually from 2020 to 2024, which has put pressure on police resources and created anonymous urban areas that are vulnerable to smash-and-grab incidents.

In stark contrast, the Northeast experiences significantly lower crime rates, dropping below 1,000. Maine’s figure of 300 illustrates the effects of rural isolation: a low population density results in fewer targets and faster community detection of crime.

Vermont and New Hampshire reflect similar trends, with rates below 700, attributed to strong social networks that discourage opportunistic theft. According to FBI statistics, rural regions across the country report 40% fewer property crimes compared to urban areas, as neighbors tend to keep a close watch on each other’s properties.

However, even in these areas, tourism can lead to increased theft; for instance, Maine’s coastal towns experienced a 15% rise in vehicle thefts during the peak summer months of 2024.

The South embodies a blend of vulnerability and resilience. Louisiana’s crime rate of 2,400 is largely due to the recovery gaps in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, where numerous vacant homes have become targets for burglaries—over 5,000 reported in 2024.

In contrast, Texas maintains a steady rate of 2,100, thanks to robust vehicle recovery initiatives that have reduced thefts by 20% in Houston alone. On average, Southern states report 1,500 incidents, which is lower than the Western average of 2,200, as the warmer climate promotes outdoor activities and informal surveillance.

Economic recovery also influences these figures; for instance, Atlanta in Georgia managed to decrease its rates by 12% from 2023 to 2025 through job programs aimed at reducing theft driven by unemployment.

In the Midwest, states like Illinois, with a rate of 1,800, are affected by the urban challenges of Chicago, where larceny constitutes 70% of all reported incidents.

The total number of cases in the city for 2024 exceeded 50,000, a situation exacerbated by transit hubs such as the L train that facilitate pickpocketing. However, the average for the state is mitigated by the performance of surrounding suburbs.

Iowa, with a notably low rate of 600, showcases the effectiveness of rural policing: state troopers patrol extensive areas using data-driven strategies, resulting in a 25% higher capture rate of thieves compared to their urban counterparts.

Poor states affected the most with property theft

Poverty is responsible for 60% of property crimes, according to models from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. States with crime rates exceeding 2,000 often surpass 15% poverty levels—New Mexico, Louisiana, and Mississippi are prime examples.

In these regions, families are ensnared by low-wage employment and high housing costs, leading some to resort to quick cash through stolen items.

Although Mississippi’s crime rate of 1,300 is considered mid-range, it conceals the reality of Jackson’s crime hotspots, where 2024 recorded 3,000 burglaries amidst a 20% unemployment rate in Black communities.

In contrast, wealthier states manage this issue more effectively. Massachusetts, with a crime rate of 400, corresponds with a 9.4% poverty rate and strong social services; Boston’s initiatives to address homelessness have reduced thefts related to encampments by 30% since 2022.

Education plays a crucial role as well: Connecticut, with a crime rate of 500, boasts high school graduation rates above 90%, which are linked to an 18% decrease in larcenies, as improved skills facilitate stable job opportunities.

On a national scale, a 1% reduction in poverty correlates with a 5% decrease in crime, a trend that was particularly evident during the pandemic spike in 2020—when unemployment soared to 14.7%, thefts increased by 7%—and continues into the recovery phase of 2025.

Inflation remains a significant factor. In 2024, a 3% increase in prices has disproportionately affected essential goods in high-crime states like California (2,350), where San Francisco’s shoplifting crisis has cost retailers $1 billion.

Organized crime rings take advantage of Prop 47’s misdemeanor limits for thefts under $950, although reforms planned for 2025 aim to address this issue.

More Policing can reduce property related crimes significantly

Successful strategies illustrate positive outcomes. In Washington, the crime rate of 2,450 saw a 13% improvement in 2024 due to license plate readers that helped recover 4,000 stolen vehicles.

Community applications in Colorado, such as Denver’s Neighbors program, enhance reporting and deterrence, leading to a 22% reduction in burglaries. On a federal level, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act has funded 5,000 officers since 2022, focusing on theft rings and resulting in a 15% decrease nationally.

Rural successes stem from fundamental approaches: Idaho’s crime rate of 800 benefits from volunteer sheriffs effectively covering 83 million acres.

In contrast, urban setbacks, exemplified by Oregon’s 2,300 rate, are linked to the defunding movements of 2020; Portland experienced a loss of 200 officers, resulting in a 25% increase in thefts. Restoring officer numbers has begun to reverse this trend by mid-2025.

Technology plays a crucial role. AI surveillance in Nevada (2,200) identified 40% more suspects in 2024. However, disparities in equity remain: low-income neighborhoods have fewer cameras, which continues the cycle of crime. Private initiatives also contribute; trials of Ring doorbells have led to a 55% reduction in neighborhood thefts.

How can we improve current situation

Forecasts for 2025 indicate ongoing reductions, with property crime possibly reaching unprecedented lows of 1,650 nationwide if current trends persist.

The 15% decrease in murder rates since 2023 has a ripple effect, as fewer individuals engaged in violent crime shift towards theft. However, challenges remain: climate-induced migration may put pressure on resources in the West, and the surge in e-commerce has led to a 20% increase in porch thefts in Florida.

Successful communities integrate law enforcement with supportive measures. Virginia’s rate of 1,050 demonstrates that job training can reduce recidivism by 35%.

It is essential for policymakers to focus on this approach rather than reactive legislation; research indicates that prevention efforts yield a return of $7 for every $1 invested. As urbanization continues in America, fair investments will help maintain declining crime rates, transforming vulnerability into proactive vigilance.

Source

• Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2025). Crime data explorer: 2024 estimates. https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov