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C-

Is Burien, Washington Safe?

Population 51,859 · Safer than 28% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

A C- grade for Burien means there's room for concern. The 232.7 per-thousand crime rate and violent crime close to the national average tell the story. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,600 per 100K.

Burien Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBurienWashington AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate404.4318.6363.8
Property Crime Rate1922.32054.41,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate309.0--268.2
Theft Rate1600.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate205.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

232.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

404/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1922/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Burien

Violent crime in Burien is close to the national average. The rate of 404.4 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1922.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,600 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 309 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Burien Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault309
01.2x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery48
076% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary357
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,600
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft205
064% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Burien Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Burien
404.4
State
318.6
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Burien
1922.3
State
2054.4
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Burien Safety

Is Burien safe?
Not especially. Burien earns a C- with a crime rate of 232.7 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 Burien?
232.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 404.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1922.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Burien safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Burien's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,600 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Burien?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Burien generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Burien police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Burien?
No. Crime in Burien has been trending down, which is good news for the C--rated city.
How does Burien compare to other cities in Washington?
Below average for the state. Burien ranks behind about 75% of Washington cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Burien to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Burien?
Bad. A C- grade and 232.7 per-thousand rate put Burien below 72% of US cities. Violent crime at 404 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Burien?
404.4 per 100,000, which is 11% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (309), robbery (48), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

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View all Washington 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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