F
98%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
34%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
110%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleBurien/100k peopleWashington/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime2,312n/a (estimate)4,6093,7322,324
Murder2n/a4.05.06.3
Rape30n/a59.839.240.0
Robbery78n/a155.586.866.1
Assault139n/a277.1244.7268.2
Violent crime249n/a (estimate)496376370
Burglary416n/a829.4563.0269.8
Theft1,037n/a2,067.42,154.01,401.9
Vehicle theft610n/a1,216.1639.3282.7
Property crime2,063n/a (estimate)4,1133,3561,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Burien, WA

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Burien is 98.3% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 249 violent crimes reported in Burien, equivalent to 496 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 34.2%. Additionally, Burien recorded 2063 property crimes, amounting to 4113 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 110.4%.

In Burien, the crime rate stands at 4609 per 100,000 residents, surpassing the national average by 98.32%. This places the city among those with some of the highest total crime rates nationwide. However, it's important to recognize that this doesn't imply that the entire city is unsafe. As with any urban area, there are neighborhoods in Burien that exhibit varying levels of safety, emphasizing the need for localized crime prevention efforts and community involvement to create a safe environment across the entire city.

Every year, one in 25 people fall victim to a property crime in Burien - which is high compared to the national average. With a property crime rate of 4113 per 100,000 people, Burien has one of the highest property crime rates in the country. In fact, the city ranks among the worst 10% of all cities that reported crime last year.

The surge in vehicle thefts is a concerning trend across the United States, and Burien is no exception, experiencing one of the nation's highest vehicle theft rates. Last year, Burien reported a total of 610 vehicle thefts, resulting in 1216 stolen vehicles per 100,000 people. This places the city in the lowest 10% tier among all cities, indicating that 90% of cities have less stolen vehicles. The probability of a vehicle being stolen stands at 1 in 83, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance and security measures.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Burien?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Burien residents. Out of the respondents (68 in total), 18% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Burien were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 82% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Burien a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Burien is a place to live may not always yield a simple answer, given the city's varying safety levels across different areas. Nonetheless, comprehending the city's overall crime rate can be a valuable asset. In broad terms, Burien has an overall crime rate that is 98% higher than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 6.33 daily occurrences, comprising 0.68 violent crimes and 5.65 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Burien as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Burien Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Burien has decreased by 14.7% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Burien is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. Crime rates are categorized by violent and property crime. Year-over-year violent crime has decreased by 3.5%, while property crime has decreased by 15.9%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Burien.

Potential Causes for Crime in Burien

The economic well-being of a city's residents plays a significant role in crime rates. High poverty rates and income inequality can lead to increased crime stats as individuals may resort to illegal activities to meet their basic needs. While lower rates could lead to a lower Burien crime rate. The poverty level in Burien is 12.2%, while the national average is 15.1%.

In Burien, the current unemployment rate stands at 3.8%, diverging from the national average of 4.7%. The availability of job opportunities is a pivotal factor influencing unemployment and underemployment rates. Communities where individuals contend with limited employment prospects or a preponderance of low-wage positions may witness elevated rates of joblessness and income inadequacy, which can contribute to heightened crime levels driven by financial insecurity. Conversely, areas characterized by robust employment rates often experience a reduction in overall Burien crime rates.

In Burien, the average rental rates are $1,365 per month, compared to the national average of $949. Rapid increases in rental costs can lead to neighborhood instability as residents are forced to move frequently in search of more affordable housing. This transience can weaken community bonds and hinder the establishment of social support networks, which can indirectly contribute to crime. While affordable rent and areas with higher income per capita, allow for long term renters and community bonds to the formed, therefore reducing crime rates on the long term.

Burien crime map



The Burien crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Burien as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Burien crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Burien crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
New Real Estate Listings in Burien Area
Search Homes for Sale in Burien, WA

Compare Burien, WA Crime

      vs

      Crime Quick Facts

      • Burien crime rates are 98% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Burien are 34% higher than the national average
      • In Burien you have a 1 in 22 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Burien is safer than 11% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Burien has decreased by 12%

      Burien, WA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Burien

        See all the best places to live around Burien
        How would you rate the amount of crime in Burien?
        Write a review to give others more information about this area.
        Do you feel safe walking alone at night in Burien?
        Write a review to give others more information about this area.
        See all Burien poll results

        Daily Crime In Burien (per 100,000 people)

        The bar chart above reveals the rate of daily crimes in Burien for every 100,000 residents. The Burien total amount of daily crime is 1.24 times more than the Washington average and 1.98 times more than than that of the nation. As for violent crimes, the daily average in Burien, is 1.32 times more than the Washington average, and it is 1.34 times more than the national average. The statistics for property crimes show that Burien has a daily crime average that is 1.23 times more than the Washington average and 2.10 times more than the daily national rate.

        How Safe is Burien (higher is better)

        When comparing the safety of Burien to every other city in Washington, as well as the entirety of the United States, is Burien safe? The gauges above illustrate that Burien is safer than 15% of every city located within Washington along with 11% of the all the cities located in the United States. The results of these graphs are created after analyzing each of the cities in Washington and in the United States as a whole. As a result, Burien, WA is ranked below average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Burien

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Burien is 1 in 202
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Burien is 1 in 25
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Burien is 1 in 22
        How likely are you to become a victim of crime? In Burien, Washington you have a 1 in 202 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 25 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 22 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Burien.

        Year Over Year Crime In Burien (per 100,000 people)

        The year over year change in crime per 100,000 people helps to understand whether crime in Burien, WA is on the rise or declining. The violent crime rate in Burien has decreased by 1%, while the property crime rate in Burien has decreased by 14% year over year. Summing up the numbers, Burien has decreased by 12% with regards to total crimes year over year.

        Burien police department

        Item Burien Washington National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)678,169558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.02.23.3
        There are a total of 67 Burien police officers. This results in 2.0 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 9.9% less than the Washington average and 39.9% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Washington

        State Total offenders Washington /100K National /100K
        Washington6,688107266
        There are a total of 6,688 sex offenders in Washington. This yields a total of 107 sex offenders in Washington per 100,000 residents which is 60% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Yarrow Point, WA1,35353471524
        Browns Point, WA96153471524
        Clyde Hill, WA3,36072639711
        Canterwood, WA3,07072639711
        Shadow Lake, WA2,38585762847
        Lake Holm, WA3,33289798887
        Sammamish, WA65,26559917977
        Burien, WA51,5884964,1134,609

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Perth Amboy, NJ51,5893301,4631,793
        La Crosse, WI51,5433053,0953,401
        Coeur d'Alene, ID51,4913081,0161,325
        Kentwood, MI51,7804462,2292,675
        Levittown, NY51,2664091,6432,053
        Burien, WA51,5884964,1134,609
        Source: The Burien, WA crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.