Burglary — defined as the unlawful entry of a structure, such as a home or business, to commit a theft or felony — is the most serious nonviolent offense tracked by the FBI. There were just over 1 million burglaries reported in the United States in 2020, the largest share of which were committed in residential properties, more often during the day than at night.
Burglaries are typically carried out for monetary gain, and each year, these crimes result in billions of dollars in stolen property. Not only do victims of burglaries typically suffer material loss, but they can also be impacted psychologically. Many burglary victims have reported heightened anxiety, difficulty sleeping, feelings of vulnerability, and even post-traumatic stress disorder in some cases.Â
While burglaries can happen anywhere in the United States, in some parts of the country, they are far more common than others.Â
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the towns with the most break ins in every state. Towns — defined as places with populations between 2,500 and 25,000 — are ranked by the number of burglaries reported for every 100,000 people. In Hawaii, there are no qualifying towns with available crime data.Â
Though each of the towns on this list ranks as having the highest burglary rate in its respective state, burglary rates in these places vary considerably, from 191 incidents per 100,000 people to 4,327 per 100,000. Still, in nearly every town on this list, burglary rates exceed the statewide rate as well as the national rate of 314 per 100,000.
Burglary, along with larceny and motor vehicle theft, is one of three criminal offenses that make up the property crime category. Due in large part to higher than average burglary rates, in every town on this list, the overall property crime rate exceeds the comparable statewide rate. Here is a look at the city with the most property crimes in every state.
Click here to see the town with the most break-ins in every state
Click here to see our detailed methodology
Source: alabama_extension / Flickr
Alabama: Eufaula
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 821.2 (Alabama: 399.5)
> Total burglaries: 95 (Alabama: 19,660)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,941.9 (Alabama: 2,136.8)
> Total property crimes: 456 (Alabama: 105,161)
> Population: 12,065
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Source: earleliason / iStock via Getty Images
Alaska: Petersburg
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 368.2 (Alaska: 379.5)
> Total burglaries: 12 (Alaska: 2,775)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,577.5 (Alaska: 2,260.5)
> Total property crimes: 84 (Alaska: 16,528)
> Population: 3,136
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Arizona: Tolleson
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 2,677.4 (Arizona: 330.0)
> Total burglaries: 200 (Arizona: 24,488)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 12,168.7 (Arizona: 2,227.7)
> Total property crimes: 909 (Arizona: 165,323)
> Population: 7,246
Source: dlewis33 / iStock via Getty Images
Arkansas: El Dorado
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 2,071.6 (Arkansas: 523.1)
> Total burglaries: 363 (Arkansas: 15,854)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,531.2 (Arkansas: 2,613.4)
> Total property crimes: 794 (Arkansas: 79,200)
> Population: 17,982
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Source: bennymarty / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
California: Barstow
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,443.4 (California: 369.7)
> Total burglaries: 347 (California: 145,529)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,860.1 (California: 2,138.9)
> Total property crimes: 928 (California: 842,054)
> Population: 23,899
Source: exit78 / Flickr
Colorado: La Junta
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 816.4 (Colorado: 400.3)
> Total burglaries: 56 (Colorado: 23,246)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,023.9 (Colorado: 2,833.8)
> Total property crimes: 276 (Colorado: 164,582)
> Population: 6,893
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Connecticut: Derby
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 382.7 (Connecticut: 187.1)
> Total burglaries: 47 (Connecticut: 6,656)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,004.6 (Connecticut: 1,565.1)
> Total property crimes: 369 (Connecticut: 55,670)
> Population: 12,485
Delaware: Laurel
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 947.9 (Delaware: 254.2)
> Total burglaries: 42 (Delaware: 2,508)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,972.0 (Delaware: 1,961.4)
> Total property crimes: 176 (Delaware: 19,355)
> Population: 4,179
Source: MoreISO / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Florida: Perry
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 2,170.4 (Florida: 240.6)
> Total burglaries: 149 (Florida: 52,293)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,996.4 (Florida: 1,769.4)
> Total property crimes: 343 (Florida: 384,556)
> Population: 6,896
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Georgia: Blackshear
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,159.8 (Georgia: 290.7)
> Total burglaries: 41 (Georgia: 31,139)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,734.1 (Georgia: 2,007.4)
> Total property crimes: 132 (Georgia: 214,988)
> Population: 3,489
Source: Adam-Springer / Getty Images
Hawaii: No eligible towns
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: N/A (Hawaii: 329.1)
> Total burglaries: N/A (Hawaii: 4,630)
> Property crimes per 100K people: N/A (Hawaii: 2,411.4)
> Total property crimes: N/A (Hawaii: 33,928)
> Population: N/A
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Idaho: Gooding
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 583.3 (Idaho: 204.2)
> Total burglaries: 20 (Idaho: 3,731)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,633.1 (Idaho: 1,111.9)
> Total property crimes: 56 (Idaho: 20,313)
> Population: 3,465
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Illinois: Centralia
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,064.1 (Illinois: 246.4)
> Total burglaries: 129 (Illinois: 31,020)
> Property crimes per 100K people: N/A (Illinois: 1,559.4)
> Total property crimes: N/A (Illinois: 196,287)
> Population: 12,356
Indiana: Rensselaer
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 515.0 (Indiana: 280.4)
> Total burglaries: 30 (Indiana: 18,938)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,660.9 (Indiana: 1,783.2)
> Total property crimes: 155 (Indiana: 120,453)
> Population: 6,324
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Iowa: Ottumwa
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 757.4 (Iowa: 371.1)
> Total burglaries: 184 (Iowa: 11,739)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,906.5 (Iowa: 1,698.2)
> Total property crimes: 949 (Iowa: 53,725)
> Population: 24,545
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Kansas: Baxter Springs
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,021.7 (Kansas: 331.4)
> Total burglaries: 40 (Kansas: 9,655)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,473.8 (Kansas: 2,199.1)
> Total property crimes: 136 (Kansas: 64,077)
> Population: 3,983
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Kentucky: Campbellsville
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,159.3 (Kentucky: 344.1)
> Total burglaries: 134 (Kentucky: 15,407)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,002.0 (Kentucky: 1,779.5)
> Total property crimes: 347 (Kentucky: 79,673)
> Population: 11,419
Louisiana: Opelousas
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 2,060.7 (Louisiana: 510.1)
> Total burglaries: 326 (Louisiana: 23,698)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 6,574.0 (Louisiana: 2,884.4)
> Total property crimes: 1,040 (Louisiana: 133,989)
> Population: 16,234
Maine: Mexico
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 571.6 (Maine: 148.8)
> Total burglaries: 15 (Maine: 2,009)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,039.6 (Maine: 1,156.2)
> Total property crimes: 106 (Maine: 15,610)
> Population: 1,701
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Maryland: Takoma Park
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 190.7 (Maryland: 252.0)
> Total burglaries: 34 (Maryland: 15,261)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,630.3 (Maryland: 1,609.8)
> Total property crimes: 469 (Maryland: 97,487)
> Population: 17,672
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Massachusetts: North Adams
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 546.8 (Massachusetts: 149.7)
> Total burglaries: 69 (Massachusetts: 10,323)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,432.6 (Massachusetts: 1,053.2)
> Total property crimes: 307 (Massachusetts: 72,602)
> Population: 12,959
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Source: ShriramPatki / iStock via Getty Images
Michigan: Three Rivers
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 789.1 (Michigan: 233.1)
> Total burglaries: 60 (Michigan: 23,231)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,721.7 (Michigan: 1,360.9)
> Total property crimes: 283 (Michigan: 135,633)
> Population: 7,659
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Minnesota: Eveleth
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 844.4 (Minnesota: 307.0)
> Total burglaries: 30 (Minnesota: 17,370)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,870.8 (Minnesota: 2,124.9)
> Total property crimes: 102 (Minnesota: 120,212)
> Population: 3,609
Mississippi: Corinth
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,867.1 (Mississippi: 488.3)
> Total burglaries: 270 (Mississippi: 14,488)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,515.6 (Mississippi: 2,101.6)
> Total property crimes: 653 (Mississippi: 62,351)
> Population: 14,562
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Missouri: Potosi
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,440.8 (Missouri: 378.8)
> Total burglaries: 37 (Missouri: 23,300)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 9,852.0 (Missouri: 2,531.0)
> Total property crimes: 253 (Missouri: 155,698)
> Population: 2,608
Source: lucentius / iStock via Getty Images
Montana: Wolf Point
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 437.3 (Montana: 270.1)
> Total burglaries: 12 (Montana: 2,919)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,931.5 (Montana: 2,120.8)
> Total property crimes: 53 (Montana: 22,917)
> Population: 2,774
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Source: LIKE HE / iStock via Getty Images
Nebraska: Gering
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 754.4 (Nebraska: 229.9)
> Total burglaries: 61 (Nebraska: 4,455)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,620.1 (Nebraska: 1,909.2)
> Total property crimes: 131 (Nebraska: 36,991)
> Population: 8,254
Nevada: Winnemucca
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 796.3 (Nevada: 368.8)
> Total burglaries: 62 (Nevada: 11,574)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,697.1 (Nevada: 1,926.6)
> Total property crimes: 210 (Nevada: 60,462)
> Population: 7,762
New Hampshire: Tilton
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 394.8 (New Hampshire: 103.3)
> Total burglaries: 14 (New Hampshire: 1,412)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,963.3 (New Hampshire: 1,098.9)
> Total property crimes: 176 (New Hampshire: 15,014)
> Population: 3,551
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New Jersey: Salem
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,137.1 (New Jersey: 146.2)
> Total burglaries: 53 (New Jersey: 12,983)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,389.8 (New Jersey: 1,158.2)
> Total property crimes: 158 (New Jersey: 102,875)
> Population: 4,781
Source: miroslav_1 / iStock via Getty Images
New Mexico: Taos
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 895.7 (New Mexico: 648.8)
> Total burglaries: 53 (New Mexico: 13,665)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,884.2 (New Mexico: 2,841.9)
> Total property crimes: 289 (New Mexico: 59,859)
> Population: 5,967
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Source: Robin Zeigler / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
New York: Corning
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 649.5 (New York: 165.5)
> Total burglaries: 68 (New York: 32,003)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,607.7 (New York: 1,410.7)
> Total property crimes: 273 (New York: 272,788)
> Population: 10,696
North Carolina: Red Springs
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 4,326.6 (North Carolina: 471.2)
> Total burglaries: 142 (North Carolina: 49,952)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 8,409.5 (North Carolina: 2,226.5)
> Total property crimes: 276 (North Carolina: 236,026)
> Population: 3,378
North Dakota: Mandan
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 913.0 (North Dakota: 417.6)
> Total burglaries: 212 (North Dakota: 3,196)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,220.3 (North Dakota: 2,124.1)
> Total property crimes: 980 (North Dakota: 16,256)
> Population: 22,301
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Ohio: Mount Healthy
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,114.6 (Ohio: 318.8)
> Total burglaries: 75 (Ohio: 37,279)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,819.3 (Ohio: 1,850.3)
> Total property crimes: 257 (Ohio: 216,363)
> Population: 6,767
Oklahoma: Atoka
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,821.8 (Oklahoma: 613.3)
> Total burglaries: 55 (Oklahoma: 24,415)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,604.2 (Oklahoma: 2,705.6)
> Total property crimes: 139 (Oklahoma: 107,705)
> Population: 2,973
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Source: Ifistand / iStock via Getty Images
Oregon: Coos Bay
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,115.6 (Oregon: 339.2)
> Total burglaries: 183 (Oregon: 14,386)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,779.6 (Oregon: 2,659.0)
> Total property crimes: 784 (Oregon: 112,782)
> Population: 16,229
Pennsylvania: Kittanning
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 812.6 (Pennsylvania: 248.6)
> Total burglaries: 30 (Pennsylvania: 31,774)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,927.4 (Pennsylvania: 1,644.1)
> Total property crimes: 145 (Pennsylvania: 210,167)
> Population: 3,789
Source: Joshua McDonough / Getty Images
Rhode Island: Newport
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 206.6 (Rhode Island: 166.8)
> Total burglaries: 50 (Rhode Island: 1,763)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,528.8 (Rhode Island: 1,245.5)
> Total property crimes: 370 (Rhode Island: 13,166)
> Population: 24,663
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South Carolina: Orangeburg
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,468.6 (South Carolina: 448.0)
> Total burglaries: 184 (South Carolina: 23,377)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 6,560.8 (South Carolina: 2,721.1)
> Total property crimes: 822 (South Carolina: 141,987)
> Population: 12,861
Source: gnagel / iStock via Getty Images
South Dakota: Sturgis
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 546.4 (South Dakota: 340.1)
> Total burglaries: 38 (South Dakota: 3,036)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,660.0 (South Dakota: 1,956.7)
> Total property crimes: 185 (South Dakota: 17,468)
> Population: 6,796
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Tennessee: Dyersburg
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,171.0 (Tennessee: 384.5)
> Total burglaries: 190 (Tennessee: 26,479)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 6,797.7 (Tennessee: 2,492.8)
> Total property crimes: 1,103 (Tennessee: 171,675)
> Population: 16,476
Source: milehightraveler / iStock via Getty Images
Texas: Olney
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,980.5 (Texas: 370.7)
> Total burglaries: 61 (Texas: 108,851)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,792.2 (Texas: 2,245.0)
> Total property crimes: 86 (Texas: 659,160)
> Population: 3,117
Utah: Roosevelt
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 407.7 (Utah: 290.6)
> Total burglaries: 30 (Utah: 9,444)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 4,389.2 (Utah: 2,464.4)
> Total property crimes: 323 (Utah: 80,091)
> Population: 7,041
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Vermont: Vergennes
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,591.0 (Vermont: 154.2)
> Total burglaries: 41 (Vermont: 961)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,793.9 (Vermont: 1,217.0)
> Total property crimes: 72 (Vermont: 7,586)
> Population: 2,596
Virginia: Pearisburg
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,565.5 (Virginia: 133.5)
> Total burglaries: 41 (Virginia: 11,465)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,894.6 (Virginia: 1,456.4)
> Total property crimes: 102 (Virginia: 125,114)
> Population: 2,652
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Washington: Toppenish
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 1,524.1 (Washington: 522.1)
> Total burglaries: 134 (Washington: 40,167)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,516.4 (Washington: 2,732.4)
> Total property crimes: 485 (Washington: 210,223)
> Population: 8,873
Source: hkim39 / Getty Images
West Virginia: Beckley
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 945.3 (West Virginia: 273.3)
> Total burglaries: 149 (West Virginia: 4,877)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 5,741.7 (West Virginia: 1,399.4)
> Total property crimes: 905 (West Virginia: 24,976)
> Population: 16,452
Wisconsin: West Milwaukee
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 980.2 (Wisconsin: 218.5)
> Total burglaries: 40 (Wisconsin: 12,744)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 22,004.4 (Wisconsin: 1,485.7)
> Total property crimes: 898 (Wisconsin: 86,654)
> Population: 4,146
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Wyoming: Wheatland
> 2020 burglaries per 100K people: 638.6 (Wyoming: 210.4)
> Total burglaries: 22 (Wyoming: 1,225)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,322.2 (Wyoming: 1,610.6)
> Total property crimes: 80 (Wyoming: 9,379)
> Population: 3,558
To determine the town with the highest burglary rate in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed burglary figures from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report.
We defined towns based on population thresholds — having at least 2,500 people and less than 25,000 people — using five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. Limited data was available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though these states were not excluded from analysis.
Data for property crime — a category that includes larceny-theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft — also came from the 2020 FBI UCR. Population figures are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. However, these estimates were not used to calculate crime rates. Crime rates per 100,000 people were calculated using population figures provided by the FBI in the 2020 UCR.
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