Howard County Crime & Safety

Howard County, Maryland

Safety Score

35/100

Higher = safer

Safety Rating

High Crime

Total Crime Rate

1520.1

per 100K population

Crime Statistics

Violent Crime Rate

151.2

per 100K population

National avg 380.7

Property Crime Rate

1368.9

per 100K population

National avg 1954.4

Safety Score

35/100

Higher = safer

State avg 38/100

State Safety Rank

#13

of 24 counties (1 = safest)

Data Story

About Crime & Safety in Howard County, Maryland

Howard County Beats National Averages

Howard County maintains a safety score of 97.6, performing better than the typical American county. Its total crime rate of 1520.1 per 100,000 is much lower than the national average of 2,385.5.

Higher Safety Than the State Average

With a safety score of 97.6, Howard County is slightly safer than the Maryland average of 97.4. Its crime rate of 1520.1 per 100,000 is lower than the statewide figure of 1638.3.

Safer than Neighbors to the South

Howard County is safer than Montgomery County, which reports 1653.8 crimes per 100,000. However, it experiences more property-related activity than Frederick County, which sits at 1197.9.

Property Incidents Drive Local Statistics

Property crime accounts for 1368.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, the primary driver of local totals. Conversely, the violent crime rate of 151.2 is less than half the state average of 311.8.

Keep Your Howard County Home Secure

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the crime rate in Howard County, MD?

Howard County has a total crime rate of 1520.1 per 100,000 residents, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. This includes both violent crimes (151.2 per 100K) and property crimes (1368.9 per 100K).

Is Howard County, MD safe?

Howard County has a safety score of 35/100, rated "High Crime". A higher safety score indicates lower crime rates relative to other counties nationwide. It ranks #13 out of 24 counties in Maryland for safety (1 = safest).

How does Howard County crime compare to the Maryland average?

With a safety score of 97.6, Howard County is slightly safer than the Maryland average of 97.4. Its crime rate of 1520.1 per 100,000 is lower than the statewide figure of 1638.3.

What types of crime are most common in Howard County?

Property crime accounts for 1368.9 incidents per 100,000 residents, the primary driver of local totals. Conversely, the violent crime rate of 151.2 is less than half the state average of 311.8.

How is crime data measured and reported for Howard County?

Crime data for Howard 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 Howard County?

Howard County has a safety score of 35/100, which is below the Maryland average of 38/100. 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.