Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Van Buren, AR has a Safety Score of 28/100 — higher crime than 72% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,519.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,139 of 2,971 US cities and #15 of 38 in Arkansas.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Van Buren, Arkansas Safe?
Van Buren, Arkansas, a city of around 25,000 in Crawford County, sits on the Arkansas River's north bank. It's known for its historic downtown, a well-preserved example of 19th-century architecture.
Van Buren has a safety score of 28/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,519.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Van Buren ranks #15 out of 38 cities in Arkansas and #2139 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 28th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 72% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Van Buren is burglary, at 580.9 per 100K — 2.0x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Van Buren's total crime rate decreased by 20.6%, with violent crime rising 39%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Van Buren Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 116 | 474.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 12 | 49.1 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 16.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 100 | 409.1 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 500 | 2,045.3 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 142 | 580.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 333 | 1,362.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 25 | 102.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Van Buren vs Arkansas Average
How does Van Buren's crime rate compare to the Arkansas state average?
| Metric | Van Buren | Arkansas Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 474.5 | 777.0 | -38.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,045.3 | 2,849.3 | -28.2% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 10.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,519.8 | 3,626.3 | -30.5% |
Van Buren Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Van Buren, Arkansas.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24,446 | 2,519.8 | 474.5 | 2,045.3 |
| 2023 | 24,017 | 3,172.8 | 341.4 | 2,831.3 |
| 2022 | 23,533 | 3,616.2 | 458.9 | 3,157.3 |
| 2021 | 23,912 | 3,241.1 | 430.8 | 2,810.3 |
| 2020 | 23,779 | 3,524.1 | 542.5 | 2,981.6 |
| 2019 | 23,800 | 3,651.3 | 491.6 | 3,159.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Van Buren, Arkansas safe?
Van Buren has a safety score of 28/100, meaning it has less crime than about 28% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,519.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Van Buren is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Van Buren, Arkansas?
According to FBI data for 2024, Van Buren has a violent crime rate of 474.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,045.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Van Buren compare to the national average?
Van Buren's total crime rate of 2,519.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 24,446 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Van Buren?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Van Buren include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Van Buren safe to visit?
Like any city, Van Buren has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 28/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.