Communities and police departments across the United States are grappling with rising rates of deadly violence, as the U.S. murder rate reached its highest level in nearly two and a half decades in 2020. Despite the recent surge in homicides, however, most Americans face a far higher risk of being the victim of crimes that do not involve violence.
Property crimes, a broad category of theft-related offenses, are by far the most commonly reported of all major crimes in the United States, accounting for over 80% of the most serious offenses tracked and reported by the FBI. Property crimes fall into one of three categories: larceny, burglary, and vehicle theft.
Larceny is defined as the unlawful taking of property — pickpocketing and shoplifting being two common examples — and is the most common form of property crime in the United States. Burglary, defined as the illegal entry of a structure to commit a crime, such as theft, is the most severe form of property crime tracked by the FBI. Vehicle-theft, meanwhile, is a crime that can be either the theft, or the attempted theft, of a vehicle, such a car, motorcycle, or ATV.
There were a total 6.5 million property crimes reported in the U.S. in 2020, resulting in the theft of tens of billions of dollars worth of property — only a fraction of which has been recovered. In some U.S. towns, property crime is a particularly serious problem.
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the towns with the highest property crime rates. Towns are ranked by the number of property crimes reported for every 100,000 people. We defined towns based on population thresholds, having at least 2,500 people and less than 25,000 people.
In every town on this list, property crime rates are more than triple the national rate of 1,958 incidents per 100,000 people. The largest share of towns on this list are in the South, though no state has more towns on this list than Missouri, which is home to seven of the 50 towns with the highest property crime rates.
Click here to see the towns with the most property crimes
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Signal Hill, California
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,435.9
> Total property crimes: 738 — 84th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 502 — 120th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 103 — 144th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 133 — 21st highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 11,512
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49. Pembroke, North Carolina
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,462.6
> Total property crimes: 190 — 1,153rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 116 — 1,388th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 60 — 391st highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 14 — 1,171st highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 3,002
48. Shenandoah, Texas
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,488.1
> Total property crimes: 201 — 1,089th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 169 — 972nd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 11 — 1,438th lowest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 21 — 793rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 2,887
47. Cheraw, South Carolina
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,547.3
> Total property crimes: 362 — 489th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 311 — 404th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 33 — 948th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 18 — 925th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 5,657
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46. Poplar Bluff, Missouri
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,551.7
> Total property crimes: 1,109 — 12th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 745 — 28th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 206 — 18th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total vehicle thefts: 158 — 14th highest of 3,625 towns
> Population: 17,023
45. Orangeburg, South Carolina
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,560.8
> Total property crimes: 822 — 61st highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 573 — 81st highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 184 — 28th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 65 — 126th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 12,861
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44. Opelousas, Louisiana
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,574.0
> Total property crimes: 1,040 — 21st highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 681 — 42nd highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 326 — 4th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total vehicle thefts: 33 — 436th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 16,234
43. Moraine, Ohio
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,607.0
> Total property crimes: 428 — 369th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 346 — 329th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 51 — 527th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 31 — 481st highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 6,486
42. Seaside Heights, New Jersey
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,650.7
> Total property crimes: 194 — 1,132nd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 165 — 1,007th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 22 — 1,367th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 7 — 1,567th lowest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 2,892
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41. Hiram, Georgia
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,672.9
> Total property crimes: 287 — 690th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 263 — 527th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 11 — 1,438th lowest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 13 — 1,245th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 4,001
40. Hayti, Missouri
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,712.8
> Total property crimes: 165 — 1,305th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 117 — 1,378th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 35 — 879th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 13 — 1,245th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 2,652
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39. Wildwood, New Jersey
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,723.7
> Total property crimes: 330 — 559th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 281 — 485th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 44 — 658th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 5 — 1,212th lowest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 5,042
38. Lake Park, Florida
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,769.6
> Total property crimes: 583 — 163rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 524 — 105th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 22 — 1,367th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 37 — 365th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 8,508
37. Dyersburg, Tennessee
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,797.7
> Total property crimes: 1,103 — 13th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 857 — 15th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 190 — 25th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 56 — 165th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 16,476
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36. Webster, Texas
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,808.1
> Total property crimes: 786 — 72nd highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 609 — 70th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 89 — 197th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 88 — 57th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 11,222
35. Edgewater, Colorado
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,912.0
> Total property crimes: 370 — 472nd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 279 — 490th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 35 — 879th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 56 — 165th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 5,328
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34. Walterboro, South Carolina
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,924.1
> Total property crimes: 373 — 469th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 333 — 357th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 22 — 1,367th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 18 — 925th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 5,477
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33. Wadesboro, North Carolina
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 6,991.0
> Total property crimes: 365 — 481st highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 225 — 666th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 118 — 101st highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 22 — 748th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 5,305
32. Bridgeton, Missouri
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 7,039.3
> Total property crimes: 811 — 64th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 663 — 48th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 54 — 483rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 94 — 52nd highest of 3,625 towns
> Population: 11,606
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31. Newport, Tennessee
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 7,180.2
> Total property crimes: 494 — 266th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 382 — 272nd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 57 — 433rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 55 — 173rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 6,848
30. Bemidji, Minnesota
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 7,329.6
> Total property crimes: 1,141 — 10th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 988 — 9th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 87 — 210th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 66 — 120th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 15,132
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29. Waynesville, North Carolina
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 7,450.4
> Total property crimes: 758 — 78th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 594 — 74th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 131 — 77th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total vehicle thefts: 33 — 436th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 9,965
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28. Morrow, Georgia
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 7,492.8
> Total property crimes: 549 — 200th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 481 — 135th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 21 — 1,415th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 47 — 235th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 6,965
27. Lone Tree, Colorado
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 7,531.8
> Total property crimes: 1,011 — 28th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 866 — 14th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 90 — 187th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 55 — 173rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 12,923
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26. West Monroe, Louisiana
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 7,540.8
> Total property crimes: 915 — 42nd highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 673 — 45th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 190 — 25th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 52 — 193rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 12,583
25. Dunn, North Carolina
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 7,671.8
> Total property crimes: 749 — 82nd highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 393 — 256th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 325 — 5th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total vehicle thefts: 31 — 481st highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 9,664
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24. West St. Paul, Minnesota
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 7,792.3
> Total property crimes: 1,559 — 2nd highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,359 — 2nd highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 87 — 210th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 113 — 33rd highest of 3,625 towns
> Population: 19,779
23. Branson, Missouri
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 7,952.3
> Total property crimes: 934 — 38th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 758 — 26th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 111 — 122nd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 65 — 126th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 11,416
22. Gallipolis, Ohio
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 7,952.6
> Total property crimes: 282 — 706th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 252 — 557th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 18 — 1,577th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 12 — 1,327th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 3,710
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21. West Columbia, South Carolina
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 8,014.1
> Total property crimes: 1,454 — 3rd highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,211 — 3rd highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 121 — 96th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 122 — 28th highest of 3,625 towns
> Population: 17,641
20. Humble, Texas
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 8,351.7
> Total property crimes: 1,328 — 6th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,039 — 6th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 88 — 206th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 201 — 7th highest of 3,625 towns
> Population: 15,864
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19. Red Springs, North Carolina
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 8,409.5
> Total property crimes: 276 — 727th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 119 — 1,357th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 142 — 63rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 15 — 1,095th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 3,378
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18. Commerce, California
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 8,456.6
> Total property crimes: 1,069 — 18th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 555 — 90th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 156 — 50th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total vehicle thefts: 358 — 2nd highest of 3,625 towns
> Population: 12,830
17. Fife, Washington
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 8,746.7
> Total property crimes: 901 — 50th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 539 — 96th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 78 — 260th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 284 — 3rd highest of 3,625 towns
> Population: 10,096
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16. Cassville, Missouri
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 8,776.2
> Total property crimes: 289 — 682nd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 243 — 590th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 31 — 1,018th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 15 — 1,095th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 3,267
15. Lake Delton, Wisconsin
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 8,884.4
> Total property crimes: 266 — 773rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 248 — 572nd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 6 — 863rd lowest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 12 — 1,327th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 2,989
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14. Manning, South Carolina
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 9,278.9
> Total property crimes: 359 — 492nd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 303 — 421st highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 43 — 684th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 13 — 1,245th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 3,943
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13. Gonzales, Louisiana
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 9,790.8
> Total property crimes: 1,086 — 17th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,003 — 8th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 46 — 612th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 37 — 365th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 10,789
12. Potosi, Missouri
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 9,852.0
> Total property crimes: 253 — 821st highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 196 — 810th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 37 — 816th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 20 — 829th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 2,608
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11. Sheridan, Colorado
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 10,102.5
> Total property crimes: 631 — 131st highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 459 — 149th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 47 — 593rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 125 — 25th highest of 3,625 towns
> Population: 6,089
10. Waite Park, Minnesota
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 10,112.6
> Total property crimes: 790 — 70th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 720 — 31st highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 44 — 658th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 26 — 618th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 7,692
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9. Pineville, North Carolina
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 10,353.8
> Total property crimes: 954 — 34th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 760 — 25th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 129 — 79th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 65 — 126th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 8,749
8. North Kansas City, Missouri
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 10,725.9
> Total property crimes: 495 — 263rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 361 — 307th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 24 — 1,275th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 110 — 36th highest of 3,625 towns
> Population: 4,477
7. South Tucson, Arizona
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 11,619.8
> Total property crimes: 665 — 115th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 515 — 113th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 108 — 129th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 42 — 295th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 5,667
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6. Emeryville, California
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 11,753.7
> Total property crimes: 1,449 — 4th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 1,117 — 4th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 161 — 46th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total vehicle thefts: 171 — 11th highest of 3,625 towns
> Population: 11,899
5. Tolleson, Arizona
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 12,168.7
> Total property crimes: 909 — 44th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 612 — 66th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 200 — 20th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 97 — 49th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 7,246
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4. South Padre Island, Texas
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 13,492.1
> Total property crimes: 374 — 464th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total larceny-thefts: 337 — 349th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 25 — 1,228th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 12 — 1,327th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 2,818
3. Tukwila, Washington
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 14,416.8
> Total property crimes: 2,953 — the highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 2,201 — the highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 222 — 16th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total vehicle thefts: 530 — the highest of 3,625 towns
> Population: 20,196
2. Glendale, Colorado
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 17,242.0
> Total property crimes: 904 — 46th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 720 — 31st highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total burglaries: 34 — 916th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 150 — 16th highest of 3,625 towns
> Population: 5,177
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1. West Milwaukee, Wisconsin
> 2020 property crimes per 100K people: 22,004.4
> Total property crimes: 898 — 51st highest of 3,625 towns
> Total larceny-thefts: 821 — 20th highest of 3,625 towns
> Total burglaries: 40 — 743rd highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Total vehicle thefts: 37 — 365th highest of 3,625 towns (tied)
> Population: 4,146
Methodology
To determine the town with the most property crime, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed property crime figures from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report. Property crime includes larceny-theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.
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 were available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though towns in these states were not excluded from analysis.
All property crime figures 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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