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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Burien, WA has a Safety Score of 10/100 — higher crime than 90% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,819.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,680 of 2,971 US cities and #68 of 87 in Washington.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Burien, Washington Safe?
Burien, a Puget Sound city, was once nicknamed "Booburb" for its growth. It's home to a diverse population, with a significant Hispanic community, and offers views of the Olympic Mountains.
Burien has a safety score of 10/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,819.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Burien ranks #68 out of 87 cities in Washington and #2680 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 10th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 90% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Burien is motor vehicle theft, at 1,065.2 per 100K — 3.0x the national average. Conversely, aggravated assault is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, Burien's total crime rate decreased by 10.7%, with violent crime declining 7.5%.
Burien Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 214 | 425.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 4.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 33 | 65.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 82 | 163.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 97 | 192.8 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,708 | 3,394.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 290 | 576.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 882 | 1,752.9 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 536 | 1,065.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Burien vs Washington Average
How does Burien's crime rate compare to the Washington state average?
| Metric | Burien | Washington Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 425.3 | 439.5 | -3.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,394.4 | 3,428.6 | -1.0% |
| Murder Rate | 4.0 | 4.7 | -15.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,819.7 | 3,868.1 | -1.3% |
Burien Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Burien, Washington.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 50,318 | 3,819.7 | 425.3 | 3,394.4 |
| 2023 | 50,227 | 4,278.6 | 459.9 | 3,818.7 |
| 2022 | 50,159 | 4,619.3 | 502.4 | 4,116.9 |
| 2021 | 51,584 | 5,280.7 | 511.8 | 4,768.9 |
| 2020 | 51,879 | 4,682.1 | 456.8 | 4,225.2 |
| 2019 | 52,388 | 3,672.6 | 343.6 | 3,329.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burien, Washington safe?
Burien has a safety score of 10/100, meaning it has less crime than about 10% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,819.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Burien is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Burien, Washington?
According to FBI data for 2024, Burien has a violent crime rate of 425.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,394.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Burien compare to the national average?
Burien's total crime rate of 3,819.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 50,318 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Burien?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Burien include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Burien safe to visit?
Like any city, Burien has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 10/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.