In 2022, New Mexico recorded the nation’s highest violent crime rate, while Washington had the highest property crime rate. Maine had the lowest violent crime rate, and Idaho held the lowest property crime rate.
The US crime rate has trended downward for decades, and recent data confirms this pattern. However, while the national violent crime rate decreased by 1.6% in 2022 compared to 2021, the property crime rate rose by 6.7%. Rates vary by region due to factors including urbanization levels, economic conditions, and law enforcement effectiveness.
What are violent and property crimes?
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program classifies violent crimes as those involving force or the threat of force. Violent crime encompasses four specific offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
The UCR Program defines property crime as taking money or property without force or threat against the victims. Property crime includes burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. Arson is also categorized as a property crime due to its nature of property destruction, although it may involve force against victims. However, the FBI does not include arson as a property crime through its National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), so this article does not include arson under aggregated property crimes.
States with the highest and lowest crime rates
New Mexico had the highest violent crime rate of any state at 780.5 incidences per 100,000 residents, followed by Alaska (758.9), Arkansas (645.3), Louisiana (628.6), and Tennessee (621.6). The lowest-ranked states for violent crimes were Maine (103.3), New Hampshire (125.6), Connecticut (150.0), Rhode Island (172.3), and Wyoming (201.9).
That same year, Washington had the highest property crime rate at 3,356.4 crimes per 100,000 residents, followed by Colorado (3,147.6), New Mexico (2,984.0), Oregon (2,935.3), and Louisiana (2,748.2). The lowest property crime rates were in Idaho (926.9), New Hampshire (1,010.9), Massachusetts (1,070.1), Maine (1,213.5), and West Virginia (1,230.1).
You can read the full article at USA Facts.