Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Burlington, IA has a Safety Score of 34/100 — higher crime than 66% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,239.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,959 of 2,971 US cities and #28 of 38 in Iowa.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Burlington, Iowa Safe?
Burlington, Iowa, a historic Mississippi River town, was once the state's first capital. Located in Des Moines County, its population is approximately 23,000.
Burlington has a safety score of 34/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,239.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Burlington ranks #28 out of 38 cities in Iowa and #1959 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 34th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 66% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Burlington is murder, at 8.5 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Burlington's total crime rate decreased by 20.7%, with violent crime declining 24.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Burlington Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 97 | 413.8 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 8.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 9 | 38.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 17.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 82 | 349.8 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 428 | 1,825.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 64 | 273.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 318 | 1,356.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 46 | 196.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Burlington vs Iowa Average
How does Burlington's crime rate compare to the Iowa state average?
| Metric | Burlington | Iowa Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 413.8 | 350.8 | +18.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,825.6 | 2,046.4 | -10.8% |
| Murder Rate | 8.5 | 2.5 | +239.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,239.4 | 2,397.2 | -6.6% |
Burlington Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Burlington, Iowa.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23,444 | 2,239.4 | 413.8 | 1,825.6 |
| 2023 | 23,455 | 2,822.4 | 550.0 | 2,272.4 |
| 2022 | 23,497 | 4,277.1 | 587.3 | 3,689.8 |
| 2021 | 24,417 | 3,726.9 | 581.6 | 3,145.4 |
| 2020 | 24,622 | 4,037.0 | 519.9 | 3,517.2 |
| 2019 | 24,751 | 4,513.0 | 654.5 | 3,858.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burlington, Iowa safe?
Burlington has a safety score of 34/100, meaning it has less crime than about 34% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,239.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Burlington is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Burlington, Iowa?
According to FBI data for 2024, Burlington has a violent crime rate of 413.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,825.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Burlington compare to the national average?
Burlington's total crime rate of 2,239.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 23,444 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Burlington?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Burlington include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Burlington safe to visit?
Like any city, Burlington has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 34/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.