Burke County Crime & Safety

Burke County, Georgia

Safety Score

23/100

Higher = safer

Safety Rating

High Crime

Total Crime Rate

1943.6

per 100K population

Crime Statistics

Violent Crime Rate

300.0

per 100K population

National avg 380.7

Property Crime Rate

1643.6

per 100K population

National avg 1954.4

Safety Score

23/100

Higher = safer

State avg 49/100

State Safety Rank

#126

of 159 counties (1 = safest)

Data Story

About Crime & Safety in Burke County, Georgia

Burke County Outperforms National Averages

Burke County maintains a total crime rate of 1943.6 per 100K, notably lower than the national average of 2385.5. This performance earns the county a strong safety score of 96.9 out of 100.

Measuring Safety Within Georgia

While Burke is safer than many U.S. counties, its crime rate is about 37% higher than the Georgia average of 1412.9 per 100K. Its safety score of 96.9 sits slightly below the state average of 97.8.

Burke vs. Regional Neighbors

Burke County faces slightly more activity than neighboring Candler County, which reports a crime rate of 1699.2 per 100K. However, it remains safer than more urbanized areas across the state.

Property Crimes Lead Local Incidents

Property crimes dominate the landscape here at 1643.6 per 100K, while violent crimes are much rarer at 300.0. This means residents are five times more likely to experience theft than personal harm.

Proactive Security in Burke

Most local crime involves non-violent property theft. Installing motion-sensor lights and modern home security cameras provides an effective deterrent and keeps families secure.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the crime rate in Burke County, GA?

Burke County has a total crime rate of 1943.6 per 100,000 residents, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. This includes both violent crimes (300.0 per 100K) and property crimes (1643.6 per 100K).

Is Burke County, GA safe?

Burke County has a safety score of 23/100, rated "High Crime". A higher safety score indicates lower crime rates relative to other counties nationwide. It ranks #126 out of 159 counties in Georgia for safety (1 = safest).

How does Burke County crime compare to the Georgia average?

While Burke is safer than many U.S. counties, its crime rate is about 37% higher than the Georgia average of 1412.9 per 100K. Its safety score of 96.9 sits slightly below the state average of 97.8.

What types of crime are most common in Burke County?

Property crimes dominate the landscape here at 1643.6 per 100K, while violent crimes are much rarer at 300.0. This means residents are five times more likely to experience theft than personal harm.

How is crime data measured and reported for Burke County?

Crime data for Burke County comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. Local law enforcement agencies submit data on violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft) to the FBI. Rates are calculated per 100,000 residents to allow fair comparison between counties of different sizes. The safety score (0-100) is derived from these rates, with higher scores indicating safer counties.

What is being done about crime in Burke County?

Burke County has a safety score of 23/100, which is below the Georgia average of 49/100. Many counties with above-average crime rates invest in community policing, crime prevention programs, neighborhood watch initiatives, and social services aimed at reducing crime over time.