Overall there is no correlation between population and crime rate. The United States population has steadily risen while the crime rate has fluctuated. Crime rates for both property crimes and violent crimes peaked in the late 1900s and have decreased significantly since although neither has reached the lowest crime rates recorded in the mid 1900s. On a state level we also see that the most populous states are not the ones with the highest crime rates.
Population Maps Crime Rate MapsOur data classifies burglary, larceny and motor crimes as property crimes while murder, assult, rape and robbery are considered violent crimes. Violent crime rates peaked in the the 1990s and have somewhat decreased since then. Property crime rates peaked in the 1980s and have significantly decreased since then. Given more time Violent Crime Rates will probably also decrease in a similar fasion.
In the meanwhile, today there is a higher ratio of violent crime rates to property crime rates than ever before. Our overall crime rates are much lower than 10 or even 20 years ago, however to due to the greater ratio of violent crime to property crime and the news culture of the Age of information this may result in the impression of a very a violent age.
Violent and Property Crime Rates