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D-

Is Burlington, North Carolina Safe?

Population 61,496 · Safer than 15% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Burlington has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D- safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 274.3 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,733 per 100K.

Burlington Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBurlingtonNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate313.0317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2429.92053.51,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate229.0--268.2
Theft Rate1733.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate553.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD-

274.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

313/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2430/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Burlington

Violent crime in Burlington is close to the national average. The rate of 313.0 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2429.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,733 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Burlington Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault229
085% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery59
093% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary298
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,733
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft553
01.7x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Burlington Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Burlington
313.0
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Burlington
2429.9
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Burlington Safety

Is Burlington safe?
Not especially. Burlington earns a D- with a crime rate of 274.3 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Burlington?
274.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 313.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2429.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Burlington safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Burlington's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,733 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Burlington?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Burlington generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Burlington police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Burlington?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Burlington's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D- grade overall.
How does Burlington compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Burlington ranks behind about 85% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Burlington to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Burlington?
Bad. A D- grade and 274.3 per-thousand rate put Burlington below 85% of US cities. Violent crime at 313 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Burlington?
313.0 per 100,000, which is 14% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (229), robbery (59), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

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View all North Carolina city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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