Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Burlington, VT has a Safety Score of 4/100 — higher crime than 96% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,768.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,847 of 2,971 US cities and #10 of 10 in Vermont.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Burlington, Vermont Safe?
Burlington, Vermont, a city on Lake Champlain, is home to the Ben & Jerry's original ice cream shop. Its population is approximately 45,000, with a significant student presence.
Burlington has a safety score of 4/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,768.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Burlington ranks #10 out of 10 cities in Vermont and #2847 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 4th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 96% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Burlington is larceny-theft, at 3,716.0 per 100K — 2.3x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Burlington's total crime rate decreased by 31.8%, with violent crime rising 16.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Burlington Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 213 | 479.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 2.3 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 9 | 20.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 24 | 54.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 179 | 402.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,907 | 4,289.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 171 | 384.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,652 | 3,716.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 84 | 189.0 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Burlington vs Vermont Average
How does Burlington's crime rate compare to the Vermont state average?
| Metric | Burlington | Vermont Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 479.1 | 334.2 | +43.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,289.6 | 3,120.7 | +37.5% |
| Murder Rate | 2.3 | 1.7 | +34.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,768.8 | 3,454.9 | +38.0% |
Burlington Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Burlington, Vermont.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 44,456 | 4,768.8 | 479.1 | 4,289.6 |
| 2023 | 44,522 | 6,994.3 | 411.0 | 6,583.3 |
| 2022 | 44,689 | 5,585.3 | 422.9 | 5,162.3 |
| 2021 | 42,946 | 3,911.9 | 356.3 | 3,555.6 |
| 2020 | 42,862 | 2,799.7 | 375.6 | 2,424.1 |
| 2019 | 42,958 | 2,989.0 | 405.1 | 2,583.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burlington, Vermont safe?
Burlington has a safety score of 4/100, meaning it has less crime than about 4% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,768.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Burlington is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Burlington, Vermont?
According to FBI data for 2024, Burlington has a violent crime rate of 479.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,289.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Burlington compare to the national average?
Burlington's total crime rate of 4,768.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 44,456 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 4/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.