Ellensburg, WA Crime Rates: Stats & Map

C

27%

Total crime NAT. AVG.

32%

Violent crime NAT. AVG.

38%

Property crime NAT. AVG.

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.

Statistic	Reported_incidents	_{/100k people}	Ellensburg_{/100k people}	Washington_{/100k people}	National_{/100k people}
Total crime	583	n/a (estimate)	2,941	3,732	2,324
Murder	2	n/a	10.1	5.0	6.3
Rape	9	n/a	45.4	39.2	40.0
Robbery	9	n/a	45.4	86.8	66.1
Assault	30	n/a	151.3	244.7	268.2
Violent crime	50	n/a (estimate)	252	376	370
Burglary	71	n/a	358.2	563.0	269.8
Theft	425	n/a	2,144.1	2,154.0	1,401.9
Vehicle theft	37	n/a	186.7	639.3	282.7
Property crime	533	n/a (estimate)	2,689	3,356	1,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Ellensburg, 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 Ellensburg is 26.6% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 50 violent crimes reported in Ellensburg, equivalent to 252 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average by 31.8%. Additionally, Ellensburg recorded 533 property crimes, amounting to 2689 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 37.6%.

While murder rates in the United States have generally declined since 1990, recent years have seen an unfortunate uptick. Ellensburg stands out with one of the nation's highest murder rates among cities reporting crime data. In Ellensburg, a total of 2 murders were reported, equating to 10 murders per 100,000 residents. This statistic underscores the challenges facing the area in terms of severe violent crime and the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance safety and security within the community.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Ellensburg?

AreaVibes surveyed 29 local residents in Ellensburg to gauge the safety of the area. Based on the results, 66% of people answered that there was very little crime in Ellensburg and that they felt very comfortable walking alone at night. Another 34% of people responded that there was far too much crime and they would be hesitant to walk the streets alone at night. Keep in mind that the opinions of residents may vary depending on which area they live in.

Is Ellensburg a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Ellensburg, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Ellensburg presents a total crime rate that is 27% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Ellensburg experiences an average of 1.6 daily crimes, comprising 0.14 violent incidents and 1.46 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in Ellensburg Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Ellensburg has decreased by 15.1% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Ellensburg 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 9.1%, while property crime has decreased by 15.7%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Ellensburg.

Potential Causes for Crime in Ellensburg

The educational level within a community can have an influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of education are associated with reduced crime rates, as they offer individuals improved employment prospects and alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, lower educational attainment tends to correspond with higher crime rates. In Ellensburg, 85.2% of residents have achieved at least a high school diploma, which differs from the national average of 83%.

Rising cost of living expenses, including increased housing costs, grocery, utility and healthcare expenditures, can induce financial strain on individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. Such economic stress may propel individuals towards crime, including theft or burglary, as a means of addressing their financial hardships. Conversely, cities characterized by a lower cost of living may alleviate economic pressures, potentially resulting in a reduced crime rate. In Ellensburg, the cost of living is 1.57% higher than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

Elevated rental costs can generate economic strain for both individuals and families, particularly those with restricted financial means. When a substantial proportion of one's income is allocated to housing costs, it often leaves limited resources for fulfilling other crucial necessities such as groceries, healthcare and education. This financial pressure can fuel desperation, potentially prompting individuals to resort to criminal actions, including theft or fraud, as a means of coping with their financial hardships. In Ellensburg, the average monthly rent stands at $1,052, while the national average is $949 per month.

Ellensburg crime map

The Ellensburg crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Ellensburg 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 Ellensburg crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Ellensburg 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.

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Crime Quick Facts

Ellensburg crime rates are 27% higher than the national average
Violent crimes in Ellensburg are 32% lower than the national average
In Ellensburg you have a 1 in 35 chance of becoming a victim of crime
Ellensburg is safer than 33% of the cities in the United States
Year over year crime in Ellensburg has decreased by 6%

Ellensburg, WA Crime Quiz

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Daily Crime In Ellensburg (per 100,000 people)

The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Ellensburg, Washington is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Ellensburg are 1.27 times less than the Washington average and 1.27 times more than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Ellensburg are 1.49 times less than than Washington and 1.47 times less than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Ellensburg are 1.25 times less than than Washington and 1.38 times more than the national average.

How Safe is Ellensburg (higher is better)

What are the odds that you'll be safer in Ellensburg, Washington compared to other areas of Washington, as well as the rest of America? When it comes down to it, is Ellensburg safe? In the graphs above, it shows that Ellensburg is safer than 42% of Washington cities, and 33% compared to all other cities across America. These statistics are calculated by taking a closer look at each city's crime rate in Washington, as well as the rest of the US. It is then determined which cities see less crime than Ellensburg. At this time, Ellensburg sees a below average rate of crime in comparison to other United States cities.

Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Ellensburg

The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Ellensburg is 1 in 397

The chance of being a victim of property crime in Ellensburg is 1 in 38

The chance of being a victim of crime in Ellensburg is 1 in 35

Are you at risk of becoming a victim of crime in Ellensburg, Washington? If you reside in Ellensburg, then there is a 1 in 397 chance that you will experience a violent crime. These types of crimes may include homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. Your risk of being a victim of property crime is 1 in 38. These types of crime include burglary, petty theft, and theft of motor vehicles. Altogether, there is a 1 in 35 risk that you will become a victim of crime in Ellensburg.

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

Determining whether Ellensburg is becoming less or more safe for its residents (per 100,000) is most easily done by comparing year-over-year crime rates. Ellensburg violent crime rates have not changed. At the same time, property crime has decreased by 7% year over year. Total crimes for Ellensburg has decreased by 6% in the same time frame.

Ellensburg police department

Item	Ellensburg	Washington	National
Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)	36	8,169	558,732
Police officers & civilians /1000 residents	1.9	2.2	3.3

There are a total of 36 Ellensburg police officers. This results in 1.9 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 10.9% less than the Washington average and 40.6% less than the National average.

Sex offenders in Washington

State	Total offenders	Washington_/100K	National_/100K
Washington	6,688	107	266

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}
Kittitas, WA	1,342	189	1,686	1,875
Thorp, WA	109	474	4,232	4,706
Ellensburg, WA	20,679	252	2,689	2,941

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
East Moline, IL	20,683	400	2,347	2,747
Universal City, TX	20,691	312	2,648	2,959
Secaucus, NJ	20,667	234	2,924	3,158
Palisades Park, NJ	20,693	70	730	800
Sidney, OH	20,698	300	2,295	2,595
Ellensburg, WA	20,679	252	2,689	2,941

Source: The Ellensburg, 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.