Top 10 most dangerous cities in Vermont

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Vermont, known for its picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. From the charming small towns to the scenic beauty of the Green Mountains, Vermont provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Vermont faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Vermont are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Vermont's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Vermont involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Vermont. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Vermont's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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St. Albans Population: 6,796 992 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 13,395

St. Albans, VT holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Vermont with 992 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (704), robbery (129), rape (158) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 353% higher than the Vermont average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Barre Population: 8,590 646 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 155 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,577

The second most dangerous city is Barre. With a population of 8,590 and a violent crime rate that is 195% higher than the Vermont average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Barre are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 646 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 155 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Brattleboro Population: 6,429 645 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 155 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,681

Home to 6,429 residents, Brattleboro, VT ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Vermont. Unfortunately for residents of Brattleboro, crime is widespread, with more than 645 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.77 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 194% higher than the Vermont violent crime rate.

Burlington Population: 42,645 479 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.31 chance of being a victim: 1 in 209 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,769

With a violent crime rate that is 119% higher than the Vermont average, it's not hard to see why Burlington made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (54), assault (403), rape (20) and homicide (2). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Burlington more vulnerable to high crime.

Rutland Population: 15,207 475 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 211 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,269

The ongoing battle with crime in Rutland, VT, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 475 and a 1 in 211 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Rutland has a violent crime rate that is 117% higher than the Vermont average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Rutland.

Bennington Population: 8,539 389 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 257 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,855

Bennington, VT comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 389 per 100,000 people, which is 78% higher than the Vermont average. Bennington has a population of 8,539, which translates to 1.07 crimes per day and 1 in 257 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Bennington which are much safer than others.

Winooski Population: 7,320 348 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.95 chance of being a victim: 1 in 287 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,944

A 1 in 287 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 0.95 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Winooski makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 348 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 59% higher than the Vermont average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (276), robbery (24), rape (48) and homicide (0).

Montpelier Population: 7,434 326 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 306 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,298

Montpelier, VT is another one of the most dangerous cities in Vermont and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 7,434 and a violent crime rate of 326 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 289 counts of assault, 13 counts of robbery, 25 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Montpelier violent crime rate is 49% higher than the Vermont average.

St. Johnsbury Population: 5,815 296 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 338 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,276

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, St. Johnsbury, VT comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Vermont with a violent crime rate of 296 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.81 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 338 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

South Burlington Population: 19,359 235 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 426 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,620

Rounding out our list at #10 is South Burlington, VT. With a population of 19,359 and a violent crime rate of 235 per 100,000 people (7% higher than the Vermont average), some parts of South Burlington are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 192 counts of assault, 28 counts of robbery, 14 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 426 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Vermont

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	St. Albans	6,796	992	13,395
2	Barre	8,590	646	3,577
3	Brattleboro	6,429	645	4,681
4	Burlington	42,645	479	4,769
5	Rutland	15,207	475	4,269
6	Bennington	8,539	389	2,855
7	Winooski	7,320	348	2,944
8	Montpelier	7,434	326	2,298
9	St. Johnsbury	5,815	296	2,276
10	South Burlington	19,359	235	4,620
11	Middlebury	6,929	142	1,472
12	Shelburne	6,008	63	1,389

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Vermont is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Vermont cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.