States With the Most Break-Ins
January 31, 2019 by Douglas A. McIntyreThere were 1.4 million burglaries in the United States in 2017, according to the latest FBI data. Burglary is the second most common crime after larceny, also known as theft. Break-ins cost Americans roughly $3.4 billion in 2017 in property losses.
Burglary rates vary widely across the country and are much more common in some states than others. According to data from the FBI’s 2017 Crime in the United States report, the burglary rate ranges from less than 200 break-ins per 100,000 residents a year in some states to more than 800 per 100,000 in others.
Generally, burglary rates are much higher in the South and Southwest, and lowest in the Northeast and Midwest. The majority of break-ins happen during warm months, so the warmer climates in the South and West may help explain the higher rates in those regions.
Like overall violent and nonviolent crime rates, burglary rates are dropping across the United States. In 1998, there were 2.3 million burglaries nationwide. That figure is down 40% in less than two decades.
These are the 50 states ranked by burglary rates per 100,000 people. Burglary figures came from the FBI’s 2017 Crime in the United States report. Median home value data came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and is for 2017. The 2017 annual unemployment rate came from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Population figures came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Population Estimates and are as of July 1, 2017.
Click here to see the states with the most break-ins.
50. New York
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 176
> Total burglaries in 2017: 35,002 (12th highest)
> Population: 19,849,399 (4th highest)
> Median home value: $314,500 (8th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.7% (14th highest)
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49. New Hampshire
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 192
> Total burglaries in 2017: 2,574 (3rd lowest)
> Population: 1,342,795 (10th lowest)
> Median home value: $263,600 (14th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 2.7% (3rd lowest)
48. Virginia
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 218
> Total burglaries in 2017: 18,468 (23rd lowest)
> Population: 8,470,020 (12th highest)
> Median home value: $273,400 (11th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.8% (20th lowest)
47. Connecticut
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 248
> Total burglaries in 2017: 8,890 (15th lowest)
> Population: 3,588,184 (22nd lowest)
> Median home value: $273,100 (12th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.7% (14th highest)
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46. Massachusetts
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 249
> Total burglaries in 2017: 17,089 (19th lowest)
> Population: 6,859,819 (15th highest)
> Median home value: $385,400 (3rd highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.7% (18th lowest)
45. Maine
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 250
> Total burglaries in 2017: 3,334 (7th lowest)
> Population: 1,335,907 (9th lowest)
> Median home value: $191,200 (24th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.3% (12th lowest)
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44. Pennsylvania
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 250
> Total burglaries in 2017: 32,057 (14th highest)
> Population: 12,805,537 (5th highest)
> Median home value: $181,200 (23rd lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.9% (9th highest)
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43. New Jersey
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 265
> Total burglaries in 2017: 23,891 (21st highest)
> Population: 9,005,644 (11th highest)
> Median home value: $334,900 (6th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.6% (17th highest)
42. Wyoming
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 275
> Total burglaries in 2017: 1,593 (the lowest)
> Population: 579,315 (the lowest)
> Median home value: $214,300 (22nd highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.2% (25th lowest)
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41. Vermont
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 297
> Total burglaries in 2017: 1,854 (2nd lowest)
> Population: 623,657 (2nd lowest)
> Median home value: $226,300 (19th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.0% (6th lowest)
40. Rhode Island
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 304
> Total burglaries in 2017: 3,217 (6th lowest)
> Population: 1,059,639 (8th lowest)
> Median home value: $257,800 (16th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.5% (21st highest)
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39. Wisconsin
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 304
> Total burglaries in 2017: 17,599 (20th lowest)
> Population: 5,795,483 (20th highest)
> Median home value: $178,900 (22nd lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.3% (12th lowest)
38. South Dakota
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 311
> Total burglaries in 2017: 2,707 (4th lowest)
> Population: 869,666 (5th lowest)
> Median home value: $167,600 (17th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.3% (12th lowest)
37. Idaho
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 329
> Total burglaries in 2017: 5,655 (12th lowest)
> Population: 1,716,943 (12th lowest)
> Median home value: $207,100 (24th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.2% (9th lowest)
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36. Minnesota
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 337
> Total burglaries in 2017: 18,787 (24th lowest)
> Population: 5,576,606 (22nd highest)
> Median home value: $224,000 (20th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.5% (14th lowest)
35. Nebraska
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 337
> Total burglaries in 2017: 6,472 (13th lowest)
> Population: 1,920,076 (14th lowest)
> Median home value: $155,800 (12th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 2.9% (5th lowest)
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34. Illinois
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 339
> Total burglaries in 2017: 43,459 (8th highest)
> Population: 12,802,023 (6th highest)
> Median home value: $195,300 (25th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 5.0% (6th highest)
33. Montana
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 344
> Total burglaries in 2017: 3,615 (8th lowest)
> Population: 1,050,493 (7th lowest)
> Median home value: $231,300 (18th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.0% (21st lowest)
32. Michigan
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 358
> Total burglaries in 2017: 35,641 (11th highest)
> Population: 9,962,311 (10th highest)
> Median home value: $155,700 (11th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.6% (17th highest)
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31. Utah
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 381
> Total burglaries in 2017: 11,817 (16th lowest)
> Population: 3,101,833 (20th lowest)
> Median home value: $275,100 (10th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.2% (9th lowest)
30. Maryland
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 388
> Total burglaries in 2017: 23,508 (22nd highest)
> Population: 6,052,177 (19th highest)
> Median home value: $312,500 (9th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.1% (23rd lowest)
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29. Hawaii
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 389
> Total burglaries in 2017: 5,549 (11th lowest)
> Population: 1,427,538 (11th lowest)
> Median home value: $617,400 (the highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 2.4% (the lowest)
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28. North Dakota
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 389
> Total burglaries in 2017: 2,942 (5th lowest)
> Population: 755,393 (4th lowest)
> Median home value: $194,700 (25th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 2.6% (2nd lowest)
27. Colorado
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 407
> Total burglaries in 2017: 22,813 (23rd highest)
> Population: 5,607,154 (21st highest)
> Median home value: $348,900 (4th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 2.8% (4th lowest)
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26. Delaware
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 413
> Total burglaries in 2017: 3,970 (9th lowest)
> Population: 961,939 (6th lowest)
> Median home value: $252,800 (17th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.6% (17th highest)
25. West Virginia
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 420
> Total burglaries in 2017: 7,628 (14th lowest)
> Population: 1,815,857 (13th lowest)
> Median home value: $119,800 (the lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 5.2% (3rd highest)
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24. Florida
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 423
> Total burglaries in 2017: 88,853 (3rd highest)
> Population: 20,984,400 (3rd highest)
> Median home value: $214,000 (23rd highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.2% (25th lowest)
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23. Oregon
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 427
> Total burglaries in 2017: 17,705 (21st lowest)
> Population: 4,142,776 (24th lowest)
> Median home value: $319,200 (7th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.1% (23rd lowest)
22. California
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 447
> Total burglaries in 2017: 176,690 (the highest)
> Population: 39,536,653 (the highest)
> Median home value: $509,400 (2nd highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.8% (12th highest)
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21. Indiana
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 452
> Total burglaries in 2017: 30,140 (17th highest)
> Population: 6,666,818 (17th highest)
> Median home value: $141,100 (6th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.5% (14th lowest)
20. Kentucky
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 453
> Total burglaries in 2017: 20,195 (25th highest)
> Population: 4,454,189 (25th lowest)
> Median home value: $141,000 (5th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.9% (9th highest)
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19. Texas
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 474
> Total burglaries in 2017: 134,066 (2nd highest)
> Population: 28,304,596 (2nd highest)
> Median home value: $172,200 (20th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.3% (23rd highest)
18. Kansas
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 478
> Total burglaries in 2017: 13,931 (17th lowest)
> Population: 2,913,123 (16th lowest)
> Median home value: $150,600 (10th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.6% (15th lowest)
17. Iowa
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 479
> Total burglaries in 2017: 15,078 (18th lowest)
> Population: 3,145,711 (21st lowest)
> Median home value: $149,100 (9th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.1% (7th lowest)
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16. Missouri
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 492
> Total burglaries in 2017: 30,081 (18th highest)
> Population: 6,113,532 (18th highest)
> Median home value: $156,700 (13th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.8% (20th lowest)
15. Ohio
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 502
> Total burglaries in 2017: 58,573 (5th highest)
> Population: 11,658,609 (7th highest)
> Median home value: $144,200 (8th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 5.0% (6th highest)
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14. Georgia
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 531
> Total burglaries in 2017: 55,374 (6th highest)
> Population: 10,429,379 (8th highest)
> Median home value: $173,700 (21st lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.7% (14th highest)
13. Arizona
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 536
> Total burglaries in 2017: 37,627 (10th highest)
> Population: 7,016,270 (14th highest)
> Median home value: $223,400 (21st highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.9% (9th highest)
12. Alaska
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 564
> Total burglaries in 2017: 4,171 (10th lowest)
> Population: 739,795 (3rd lowest)
> Median home value: $273,100 (12th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 7.2% (the highest)
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11. Tennessee
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 576
> Total burglaries in 2017: 38,716 (9th highest)
> Population: 6,715,984 (16th highest)
> Median home value: $167,500 (16th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.7% (18th lowest)
10. Washington
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 590
> Total burglaries in 2017: 43,720 (7th highest)
> Population: 7,405,743 (13th highest)
> Median home value: $339,000 (5th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.8% (12th highest)
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9. South Carolina
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 623
> Total burglaries in 2017: 31,306 (16th highest)
> Population: 5,024,369 (23rd highest)
> Median home value: $161,800 (14th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.3% (23rd highest)
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8. North Carolina
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 631
> Total burglaries in 2017: 64,786 (4th highest)
> Population: 10,273,419 (9th highest)
> Median home value: $171,200 (18th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.6% (17th highest)
7. Alabama
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 646
> Total burglaries in 2017: 31,477 (15th highest)
> Population: 4,874,747 (24th highest)
> Median home value: $141,300 (7th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.4% (22nd highest)
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6. Nevada
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 669
> Total burglaries in 2017: 20,049 (25th lowest)
> Population: 2,998,039 (18th lowest)
> Median home value: $258,200 (15th highest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 5.0% (6th highest)
5. Arkansas
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 728
> Total burglaries in 2017: 21,862 (24th highest)
> Population: 3,004,279 (19th lowest)
> Median home value: $128,500 (3rd lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 3.7% (18th lowest)
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4. Oklahoma
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 728
> Total burglaries in 2017: 28,608 (19th highest)
> Population: 3,930,864 (23rd lowest)
> Median home value: $137,400 (4th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 4.3% (23rd highest)
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3. Louisiana
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 731
> Total burglaries in 2017: 34,265 (13th highest)
> Population: 4,684,333 (25th highest)
> Median home value: $162,500 (15th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 5.1% (4th highest)
2. Mississippi
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 828
> Total burglaries in 2017: 24,710 (20th highest)
> Population: 2,984,100 (17th lowest)
> Median home value: $120,200 (2nd lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 5.1% (4th highest)
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1. New Mexico
> Burglaries per 100,000 people: 858
> Total burglaries in 2017: 17,917 (22nd lowest)
> Population: 2,088,070 (15th lowest)
> Median home value: $171,300 (19th lowest)
> 2017 unemployment rate: 6.2% (2nd highest)
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