Motor vehicle theft, one of the most serious offenses tracked by the FBI, is on the rise in the United States. There were a total of 810,400 motor vehicle thefts nationwide in 2020, the most in over a decade.
Motor vehicle theft can be either the theft or attempted theft of a vehicle, such as a car, truck, ATV, or motorcycle. Some experts attribute the rising rates of vehicle theft to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to vehicles sitting unattended and unused for longer than usual. Additionally, vehicle theft is often committed for monetary gain, and the pandemic sent unemployment soaring and left many Americans struggling financially.
While motorists nationwide now face a greater risk of vehicle theft than they have in many years, in some parts of the country, car owners are far less likely to be victims of car theft than in others. Here is a look at the 10 most stolen cars in America.
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the metro area where your car is least likely to be stolen in every state. Metropolitan areas are ranked by the number of motor vehicle thefts reported for every 100,000 people.
It is important to note that in eight states, there is only one eligible metro area with available data. In each of these cases, which are noted, the metro area listed ranks as having the lowest motor vehicle theft rate by default only. In two states — Alabama and Pennsylvania — there are no qualifying metro areas with available crime data.
Though each of the metro areas on this list ranks as having the lowest motor vehicle rate in its respective state, vehicle theft rates in these places vary considerably, from 31 incidents per 100,000 people to 394 per 100,000. Still, in the majority of the metro areas on this list, vehicle theft rates are lower than the statewide rate as well as the national rate of 246 per 100,000.
Motor vehicle theft — along with larceny and burglary — is one of three criminal offenses that make up the property crime category. Due in large part to lower than average vehicle theft rates, in most metro areas on this list, the overall property crime rate is lower than the comparable statewide rate. Here is a look at the city with the fewest property crimes in every state.
Click here to see the metro where your car is least likely to be stolen in every state
Click here to read our detailed methodology
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Alabama: No eligible metros
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: N/A (Alabama: 222.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: N/A (Alabama: 10,926)
> Property crimes per 100K people: N/A (Alabama: 2,136.8)
> Total property crimes: N/A (Alabama: 105,161)
> Population: N/A
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Alaska: Anchorage
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 393.8 (Alaska: 269.3)
> Total vehicle thefts: 1,202 (Alaska: 1,969)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 3,404.7 (Alaska: 2,260.5)
> Total property crimes: 10,393 (Alaska: 16,528)
> Population: 396,317
Source: equigini / iStock via Getty Images
Arizona: Prescott Valley-Prescott
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 94.1 (Arizona: 241.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 225 (Arizona: 17,937)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,216.8 (Arizona: 2,227.7)
> Total property crimes: 2,910 (Arizona: 165,323)
> Population: 235,099
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Arkansas: Jonesboro
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 243.8 (Arkansas: 261.8)
> Total vehicle thefts: 330 (Arkansas: 7,933)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,928.1 (Arkansas: 2,613.4)
> Total property crimes: 3,964 (Arkansas: 79,200)
> Population: 133,860
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California: San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 128.1 (California: 427.6)
> Total vehicle thefts: 361 (California: 168,323)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,636.0 (California: 2,138.9)
> Total property crimes: 4,610 (California: 842,054)
> Population: 283,111
Colorado: Boulder
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 303.6 (Colorado: 524.3)
> Total vehicle thefts: 995 (Colorado: 30,452)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,760.1 (Colorado: 2,833.8)
> Total property crimes: 9,046 (Colorado: 164,582)
> Population: 326,196
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Connecticut: Norwich-New London
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 157.1 (Connecticut: 236.8)
> Total vehicle thefts: 273 (Connecticut: 8,422)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,271.6 (Connecticut: 1,565.1)
> Total property crimes: 2,210 (Connecticut: 55,670)
> Population: 265,206
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Source: benkrut / iStock via Getty Images
Delaware: Dover
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 110.5 (Delaware: 168.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 203 (Delaware: 1,665)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,853.3 (Delaware: 1,961.4)
> Total property crimes: 3,404 (Delaware: 19,355)
> Population: 180,786
*Because Dover is the only eligible metro in Delaware, it is the metro where your car is least likely to be stolen by default.
Source: choicegraphx / iStock via Getty Images
Florida: Punta Gorda
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 66.7 (Florida: 176.1)
> Total vehicle thefts: 128 (Florida: 38,271)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 860.4 (Florida: 1,769.4)
> Total property crimes: 1,651 (Florida: 384,556)
> Population: 188,910
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Georgia: Gainesville
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 125.1 (Georgia: 238.2)
> Total vehicle thefts: 259 (Georgia: 25,506)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,270.9 (Georgia: 2,007.4)
> Total property crimes: 2,631 (Georgia: 214,988)
> Population: 204,441
Source: unclegene / iStock via Getty Images
Hawaii: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 256.6 (Hawaii: 379.8)
> Total vehicle thefts: 429 (Hawaii: 5,344)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,115.7 (Hawaii: 2,411.4)
> Total property crimes: 3,537 (Hawaii: 33,928)
> Population: 167,488
*Because Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina is the only eligible metro in Hawaii, it is the metro where your car is least likely to be stolen by default.
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Source: tristanbnz / iStock via Getty Images
Idaho: Coeur d’Alene
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 56.4 (Idaho: 96.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 96 (Idaho: 1,767)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,061.5 (Idaho: 1,111.9)
> Total property crimes: 1,807 (Idaho: 20,313)
> Population: 165,697
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Source: benkrut / iStock via Getty Images
Illinois: Bloomington
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 75.5 (Illinois: 169.5)
> Total vehicle thefts: 129 (Illinois: 21,332)
> Property crimes per 100K people: N/A (Illinois: 1,559.4)
> Total property crimes: N/A (Illinois: 196,287)
> Population: 171,517
Indiana: Kokomo
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 126.1 (Indiana: 228.5)
> Total vehicle thefts: 104 (Indiana: 15,435)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,592.6 (Indiana: 1,783.2)
> Total property crimes: 1,313 (Indiana: 120,453)
> Population: 82,544
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Iowa: Dubuque
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 94.3 (Iowa: 197.1)
> Total vehicle thefts: 92 (Iowa: 6,235)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,397.2 (Iowa: 1,698.2)
> Total property crimes: 1,363 (Iowa: 53,725)
> Population: 97,311
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Kansas: Manhattan
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 125.1 (Kansas: 248.1)
> Total vehicle thefts: 163 (Kansas: 7,229)
> Property crimes per 100K people: N/A (Kansas: 2,199.1)
> Total property crimes: N/A (Kansas: 64,077)
> Population: 130,285
*Because Manhattan is the only eligible metro in Kansas, it is the metro where your car is least likely to be stolen by default.
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Kentucky: Elizabethtown-Fort Knox
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 110.9 (Kentucky: 256.8)
> Total vehicle thefts: 171 (Kentucky: 11,497)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 833.8 (Kentucky: 1,779.5)
> Total property crimes: 1,286 (Kentucky: 79,673)
> Population: 154,713
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Louisiana: Lafayette
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 208.4 (Louisiana: 266.9)
> Total vehicle thefts: 1,021 (Louisiana: 12,400)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,487.4 (Louisiana: 2,884.4)
> Total property crimes: 12,188 (Louisiana: 133,989)
> Population: 489,207
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Maine: Portland-South Portland
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 55.4 (Maine: 63.8)
> Total vehicle thefts: 301 (Maine: 862)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,017.5 (Maine: 1,156.2)
> Total property crimes: 5,524 (Maine: 15,610)
> Population: 538,500
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Maryland: California-Lexington Park
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 76.3 (Maryland: 172.9)
> Total vehicle thefts: 87 (Maryland: 10,469)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,364.5 (Maryland: 1,609.8)
> Total property crimes: 1,556 (Maryland: 97,487)
> Population: 113,510
*Because California-Lexington Park is the only eligible metro in Maryland, it is the metro where your car is least likely to be stolen by default.
Source: Courtesy of the Town of Barnstable via Facebook
Massachusetts: Barnstable Town
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 32.1 (Massachusetts: 99.2)
> Total vehicle thefts: 68 (Massachusetts: 6,835)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 817.8 (Massachusetts: 1,053.2)
> Total property crimes: 1,730 (Massachusetts: 72,602)
> Population: 212,990
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Source: ShriramPatki / iStock via Getty Images
Michigan: Midland
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 31.4 (Michigan: 184.5)
> Total vehicle thefts: 26 (Michigan: 18,385)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 700.3 (Michigan: 1,360.9)
> Total property crimes: 580 (Michigan: 135,633)
> Population: 83,156
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Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
Minnesota: Mankato
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 94.0 (Minnesota: 250.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 96 (Minnesota: 14,146)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,448.1 (Minnesota: 2,124.9)
> Total property crimes: 1,479 (Minnesota: 120,212)
> Population: 101,927
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Mississippi: Hattiesburg
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 188.2 (Mississippi: 205.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 318 (Mississippi: 6,083)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,215.6 (Mississippi: 2,101.6)
> Total property crimes: 3,743 (Mississippi: 62,351)
> Population: 168,469
*Because Hattiesburg is the only eligible metro in Mississippi, it is the metro where your car is least likely to be stolen by default.
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Missouri: Jefferson City
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 167.9 (Missouri: 393.2)
> Total vehicle thefts: 254 (Missouri: 24,189)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,629.2 (Missouri: 2,531.0)
> Total property crimes: 2,465 (Missouri: 155,698)
> Population: 151,418
Source: Jon Bilous / iStock via Getty Images
Montana: Missoula
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 176.8 (Montana: 247.6)
> Total vehicle thefts: 214 (Montana: 2,676)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,544.5 (Montana: 2,120.8)
> Total property crimes: 3,080 (Montana: 22,917)
> Population: 119,600
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Source: Cheri Alguire / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Nebraska: Grand Island
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 151.0 (Nebraska: 260.5)
> Total vehicle thefts: 114 (Nebraska: 5,048)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,832.2 (Nebraska: 1,909.2)
> Total property crimes: 1,383 (Nebraska: 36,991)
> Population: 75,553
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Nevada: Carson City
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 145.8 (Nevada: 336.4)
> Total vehicle thefts: 82 (Nevada: 10,556)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,143.1 (Nevada: 1,926.6)
> Total property crimes: 643 (Nevada: 60,462)
> Population: 55,916
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
New Hampshire: Manchester-Nashua
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 77.7 (New Hampshire: 76.4)
> Total vehicle thefts: 326 (New Hampshire: 1,044)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,138.0 (New Hampshire: 1,098.9)
> Total property crimes: 4,772 (New Hampshire: 15,014)
> Population: 417,025
*Because Manchester-Nashua is the only eligible metro in New Hampshire, it is the metro where your car is least likely to be stolen by default.
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Source: Aneese / iStock via Getty Images
New Jersey: Ocean City
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 65.7 (New Jersey: 115.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 60 (New Jersey: 10,278)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,031.0 (New Jersey: 1,158.2)
> Total property crimes: 1,856 (New Jersey: 102,875)
> Population: 92,039
Source: KaraGrubis / iStock via Getty Images
New Mexico: Farmington
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 166.7 (New Mexico: 427.6)
> Total vehicle thefts: 206 (New Mexico: 9,006)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,639.1 (New Mexico: 2,841.9)
> Total property crimes: 2,026 (New Mexico: 59,859)
> Population: 123,958
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Source: Ashley Freiheit / iStock via Getty Images
New York: Glens Falls
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 31.5 (New York: 101.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 39 (New York: 19,656)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 737.5 (New York: 1,410.7)
> Total property crimes: 914 (New York: 272,788)
> Population: 125,148
North Carolina: Jacksonville
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 97.9 (North Carolina: 193.6)
> Total vehicle thefts: 195 (North Carolina: 20,520)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,581.6 (North Carolina: 2,226.5)
> Total property crimes: 3,151 (North Carolina: 236,026)
> Population: 197,938
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
North Dakota: Grand Forks
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 149.7 (North Dakota: 271.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 150 (North Dakota: 2,074)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,758.7 (North Dakota: 2,124.1)
> Total property crimes: 1,762 (North Dakota: 16,256)
> Population: 100,815
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Ohio: Cincinnati
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 163.5 (Ohio: 171.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 3,643 (Ohio: 20,077)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,658.8 (Ohio: 1,850.3)
> Total property crimes: 36,953 (Ohio: 216,363)
> Population: 2,219,750
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Oklahoma: Enid
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 175.1 (Oklahoma: 378.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 107 (Oklahoma: 15,047)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,579.7 (Oklahoma: 2,705.6)
> Total property crimes: 1,576 (Oklahoma: 107,705)
> Population: 61,056
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Source: AlbertPego / iStock via Getty Images
Oregon: Bend
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 172.5 (Oregon: 391.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 348 (Oregon: 16,585)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,816.5 (Oregon: 2,659.0)
> Total property crimes: 3,664 (Oregon: 112,782)
> Population: 197,692
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Pennsylvania: No eligible metros
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: N/A (Pennsylvania: 121.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: N/A (Pennsylvania: 15,474)
> Property crimes per 100K people: N/A (Pennsylvania: 1,644.1)
> Total property crimes: N/A (Pennsylvania: 210,167)
> Population: N/A
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 126.6 (Rhode Island: 142.7)
> Total vehicle thefts: 2,053 (Rhode Island: 1,509)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,160.2 (Rhode Island: 1,245.5)
> Total property crimes: 18,808 (Rhode Island: 13,166)
> Population: 1,624,578
*Because Providence-Warwick is the only eligible metro in Rhode Island, it is the metro where your car is least likely to be stolen by default.
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
South Carolina: Hilton Head Island-Bluffton
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 113.8 (South Carolina: 282.1)
> Total vehicle thefts: 258 (South Carolina: 14,718)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,479.8 (South Carolina: 2,721.1)
> Total property crimes: 3,354 (South Carolina: 141,987)
> Population: 222,195
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
South Dakota: Sioux Falls
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 381.0 (South Dakota: 259.3)
> Total vehicle thefts: 1,040 (South Dakota: 2,315)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,524.2 (South Dakota: 1,956.7)
> Total property crimes: 6,891 (South Dakota: 17,468)
> Population: 268,833
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Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
Tennessee: Clarksville
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 202.0 (Tennessee: 306.4)
> Total vehicle thefts: 630 (Tennessee: 21,098)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,852.5 (Tennessee: 2,492.8)
> Total property crimes: 5,777 (Tennessee: 171,675)
> Population: 311,073
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Texas: El Paso
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 62.9 (Texas: 287.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 532 (Texas: 84,276)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,148.2 (Texas: 2,245.0)
> Total property crimes: 9,708 (Texas: 659,160)
> Population: 843,725
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Utah: Logan
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 82.7 (Utah: 316.6)
> Total vehicle thefts: 119 (Utah: 10,288)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 798.2 (Utah: 2,464.4)
> Total property crimes: 1,148 (Utah: 80,091)
> Population: 141,760
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Vermont: Burlington-South Burlington
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 37.5 (Vermont: 42.4)
> Total vehicle thefts: 83 (Vermont: 264)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,609.5 (Vermont: 1,217.0)
> Total property crimes: 3,561 (Vermont: 7,586)
> Population: 219,433
*Because Burlington-South Burlington is the only eligible metro in Vermont, it is the metro where your car is least likely to be stolen by default.
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Virginia: Harrisonburg
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 68.4 (Virginia: 126.3)
> Total vehicle thefts: 93 (Virginia: 10,853)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 981.9 (Virginia: 1,456.4)
> Total property crimes: 1,335 (Virginia: 125,114)
> Population: 134,964
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Source: Erhoman / iStock via Getty Images
Washington: Wenatchee
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 102.2 (Washington: 356.1)
> Total vehicle thefts: 124 (Washington: 27,399)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,147.4 (Washington: 2,732.4)
> Total property crimes: 1,392 (Washington: 210,223)
> Population: 120,629
Source: DavidByronKeener / iStock via Getty Images
West Virginia: Wheeling
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 68.9 (West Virginia: 127.2)
> Total vehicle thefts: 95 (West Virginia: 2,271)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,032.2 (West Virginia: 1,399.4)
> Total property crimes: 1,423 (West Virginia: 24,976)
> Population: 138,948
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Wisconsin: Fond du Lac
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 52.2 (Wisconsin: 161.0)
> Total vehicle thefts: 54 (Wisconsin: 9,393)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 1,146.7 (Wisconsin: 1,485.7)
> Total property crimes: 1,187 (Wisconsin: 86,654)
> Population: 103,403
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Wyoming: Casper
> 2020 vehicle thefts per 100K people: 264.2 (Wyoming: 165.5)
> Total vehicle thefts: 213 (Wyoming: 964)
> Property crimes per 100K people: 2,423.6 (Wyoming: 1,610.6)
> Total property crimes: 1,954 (Wyoming: 9,379)
> Population: 79,858
Methodology
To determine the metro area where your car is least likely to be stolen in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed motor vehicle theft figures from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report.
Limited data was available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though metro areas in these states were not excluded from analysis. Only metro areas for which the boundaries defined by the FBI match the boundaries as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau were considered.
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 one-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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