Published April 7, 2026 · Updated annually
Property Crime vs Violent Crime: What's the Difference?
Crime statistics are divided into two major categories: violent crime and property crime. Understanding the difference is essential for interpreting safety data. Violent crime involves force or threat of force against a person. Property crime involves the taking or destruction of property without force. A city can rank well in one category and poorly in the other — which is why looking at both matters.
What Is Violent Crime?
The FBI defines violent crime as offenses that involve force or the threat of force. The four categories tracked in the Uniform Crime Report are:
- Murder and non-negligent manslaughter — National rate: 5.7 per 100,000
- Robbery — Taking property by force or threat. National rate: 73 per 100,000
- Aggravated assault — Attack with a weapon or intent to cause serious injury. National rate: 246.4 per 100,000
- Rape — Tracked under revised definition since 2013
The combined national violent crime rate is 363.8 per 100,000 residents. Aggravated assault accounts for the majority of violent crime — roughly two-thirds of all violent offenses nationally.
What Is Property Crime?
Property crime involves taking or destroying someone's property without force or threat against a person. The FBI tracks three main categories:
- Burglary — Unlawful entry to commit a crime. National rate: 269.8 per 100,000
- Larceny-theft — Taking property without force (shoplifting, pickpocketing, etc.). National rate: 1,401.9 per 100,000
- Motor vehicle theft — National rate: 318.3 per 100,000
The combined national property crime rate is 1832.3 per 100,000. Larceny-theft is by far the most common crime in America, making up about 75% of all property crime.
Cities with the Lowest Violent Crime Rates
| Rank | City | State | Violent Rate | Property Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pueblo | CO | 172.8 | 1218.5 |
| 2 | Pasadena | CA | 172.8 | 1566.6 |
| 3 | Vallejo | CA | 172.8 | 1914.8 |
| 4 | Visalia | CA | 172.8 | 1914.8 |
| 5 | Wilmington | NC | 183.2 | 1253.3 |
| 6 | Burlington | VT | 187.1 | 1199.2 |
| 7 | Modesto | CA | 191.0 | 1346.7 |
| 8 | Birmingham | AL | 191.0 | 1731.5 |
| 9 | Omaha | NE | 191.0 | 2116.3 |
| 10 | Jackson | MS | 193.5 | 1636.2 |
Cities with the Lowest Property Crime Rates
| Rank | City | State | Property Rate | Violent Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuscaloosa | AL | 1183.7 | 460.8 |
| 2 | Burlington | VT | 1199.2 | 187.1 |
| 3 | Pueblo | CO | 1218.5 | 172.8 |
| 4 | Chattanooga | TN | 1218.5 | 276.5 |
| 5 | Garden Grove | CA | 1218.5 | 587.5 |
| 6 | Pearland | TX | 1218.5 | 483.9 |
| 7 | Santa Rosa | CA | 1218.5 | 483.9 |
| 8 | Columbia | SC | 1235.9 | 281.7 |
| 9 | Wilmington | NC | 1253.3 | 183.2 |
| 10 | Springfield | MO | 1253.3 | 597.9 |
Why Both Categories Matter
A city can be safe from violent crime but have elevated property crime — or vice versa. For example, some tourist-heavy cities have high larceny-theft rates (pickpocketing, car break-ins) but relatively low violent crime. Conversely, some smaller cities may have low property crime but higher per-capita assault rates.
Our Safety Context Score accounts for both categories, weighting violent crime more heavily (40% vs 30%) because it has a greater impact on personal safety. But property crime still matters — high property crime rates affect quality of life, insurance costs, and community well-being.
Motor Vehicle Theft: A Growing Concern
Motor vehicle theft has been one of the few crime categories to see increases in recent years. The national rate of 318.3 per 100,000 represents a notable uptick from pre-pandemic levels. This increase has been linked to the proliferation of keyless entry systems that are easier to exploit, organized theft rings, and pandemic-era enforcement gaps.
Explore vehicle theft data on our vehicle theft ranking page, or see how any city compares on violent and property crime on its individual profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Violent crime involves force or the threat of force against a person (murder, robbery, aggravated assault, rape). Property crime involves taking or destroying property without force against a person (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft). The FBI tracks both categories separately in the Uniform Crime Report.
Property crime is far more common. The national property crime rate is 1832 per 100,000 residents, compared to a violent crime rate of 364 per 100,000. Larceny-theft alone accounts for more incidents than all violent crime categories combined.
Yes, and it is common. Tourist destinations, for example, often have elevated larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft rates but relatively low violent crime. Similarly, some college towns have higher property crime due to population density and transient residents, but maintain low violent crime rates. Always look at both categories when evaluating a city.
No. Overall property crime rates have declined dramatically — from 5,140 per 100,000 in 1991 to approximately 1,832 today. However, motor vehicle theft has increased in recent years, and retail theft has received significant media attention. The overall trend remains strongly downward.
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