When people talk about "crime rates," they often treat crime as a single number. But the distinction between violent crime and property crime is critical — both for personal safety decisions and for understanding what is actually happening in a county.
Nationally, property crime accounts for roughly 83% of all reported crime, with an average rate of 1312 per 100,000. Violent crime makes up the remaining 17%, averaging 272 per 100,000. But these ratios vary dramatically by county.
Defining Violent Crime vs. Property Crime
The FBI classifies crimes into two broad categories based on whether force is used against a person:
- Violent crime: Murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. These involve direct harm or threat of harm to individuals.
- Property crime: Burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. These involve the taking or destruction of property without direct force against a person.
Counties with the Highest Violent Crime Concentration
Some counties have an unusually high proportion of violent crime relative to property crime. These tend to be areas with specific socioeconomic challenges, gang activity, or drug-related violence.
| County | State | Violent Rate | Property Rate | Violent % | Safety Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nome Census Area | AK | 719 | 190 | 79% | 60.6 |
| Bethel Census Area | AK | 534 | 221 | 71% | 67.7 |
| Edwards County | KS | 702 | 351 | 67% | 53.5 |
| Madison Parish | LA | 977 | 519 | 65% | 35.6 |
| Northwest Arctic Borough | AK | 599 | 404 | 60% | 56.4 |
| East Carroll Parish | LA | 611 | 421 | 59% | 54.5 |
| Phillips County | MT | 732 | 543 | 57% | 43.4 |
| North Slope Borough | AK | 742 | 604 | 55% | 40.8 |
| Boise County | ID | 487 | 397 | 55% | 61.7 |
| Wetzel County | WV | 347 | 284 | 55% | 73.6 |
Counties with the Highest Property Crime Concentration
Other counties have high crime rates driven almost entirely by property crime — particularly theft and burglary. These counties may feel relatively safe in terms of personal safety but have high rates of property loss.
| County | State | Violent Rate | Property Rate | Property % | Safety Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somervell County | TX | 11 | 825 | 99% | 64.1 |
| Itawamba County | MS | 8 | 548 | 98% | 76.7 |
| Washington County | CO | 21 | 1349 | 98% | 39.7 |
| Klickitat County | WA | 18 | 869 | 98% | 61.6 |
| Hot Springs County | WY | 22 | 867 | 98% | 61.5 |
| Audubon County | IA | 18 | 690 | 97% | 69.9 |
| Cass County | IN | 29 | 1089 | 97% | 50.3 |
| Cochran County | TX | 40 | 1463 | 97% | 35.3 |
| Knox County | IN | 33 | 1220 | 97% | 44.2 |
| Sandusky County | OH | 26 | 892 | 97% | 60.1 |
Why the Distinction Matters
For families evaluating where to live, violent crime is typically the more important metric. A county with a high property crime rate but low violent crime rate may be a place where you lock your car doors but do not fear for your personal safety. Conversely, a county with lower total crime but a high violent crime concentration poses a different kind of risk.
Insurance companies, real estate markets, and municipal budgets all treat these categories differently. Property crime drives up insurance premiums and affects property values, while violent crime influences school enrollment decisions, business investment, and population migration patterns.
Regional Patterns
The violent-to-property crime ratio varies significantly by region:
- Southern states tend to have higher violent crime ratios, driven by higher rates of aggravated assault.
- Western states often show higher property crime ratios, particularly vehicle theft and larceny in urban areas.
- Midwest and Plains states generally have the lowest rates of both categories.
- Tourist-heavy counties often show elevated property crime (especially theft) but relatively low violent crime rates.
Methodology
All crime data comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program (2022 data year). Crime rates are per 100,000 residents. Violent crime includes murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Property crime includes burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. Counties with total crime rates below 500 per 100,000 were excluded from ratio analysis to avoid statistical noise from small numbers.
Data sources: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program (2022), County Health Rankings (2024). All figures are estimates and may differ from other published analyses due to methodology differences.