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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a city known for its historical significance in the Manhattan Project, has experienced notable changes in property crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased significantly from 1,232 to 572, representing a 53.6% reduction. During this same period, the city's population grew from 37,438 to 39,831, a 6.4% increase.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a substantial decline over the years. In 2010, there were 365 burglaries, which dropped to 52 in 2022, marking an 85.8% decrease. When adjusted for population, the burglary rate fell from 9.75 per 1,000 residents in 2010 to 1.31 per 1,000 in 2022. The percentage of state burglaries attributed to the city fluctuated, starting at 0.84% in 2010, dropping to 0.39% by 2022. This dramatic reduction in burglaries suggests improved home security measures or more effective law enforcement strategies in the area.
Larceny-theft trends also showed a downward trajectory, though less pronounced than burglaries. The number of larceny-thefts decreased from 825 in 2010 to 481 in 2022, a 41.7% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents dropped from 22.04 to 12.08 over the same period. The city's contribution to state larceny-theft figures decreased slightly from 0.70% in 2010 to 0.63% in 2022, indicating that the reduction in larceny-theft was somewhat in line with state-wide trends.
Motor vehicle theft in the city demonstrated a more complex pattern. While there was an overall decrease from 42 thefts in 2010 to 39 in 2022, the trend wasn't linear. The rate per 1,000 residents decreased from 1.12 in 2010 to 0.98 in 2022. Interestingly, the city's percentage of state motor vehicle thefts decreased significantly from 0.40% in 2010 to 0.22% in 2022, suggesting that motor vehicle theft decreased more rapidly in the city compared to the state average.
Arson cases in the city remained relatively low throughout the period, with some fluctuation. The number of arsons decreased from 4 in 2010 to 2 in 2022. The rate per 1,000 residents dropped slightly from 0.11 to 0.05. The city's contribution to state arson cases varied, starting at 0.53% in 2010, peaking at 1.13% in 2019, and then decreasing to 0.37% by 2022.
Examining correlations between property crime trends and demographic factors reveals some interesting patterns. As the population density increased from 439 per square mile in 2010 to 467 in 2022, property crime rates decreased, suggesting that increased urbanization did not lead to higher crime rates in this case. There appears to be a correlation between rising median income and decreasing property crime rates. The median income increased from $63,017 in 2013 to $69,567 in 2022, coinciding with the overall reduction in property crimes.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029) suggests a continued decrease in overall property crime rates, albeit at a slower pace. Burglaries are expected to stabilize around 40-50 cases annually, while larceny-theft may settle in the range of 450-500 incidents per year. Motor vehicle theft is projected to remain relatively stable at 35-45 cases annually, and arson cases are likely to remain in the low single digits.
In conclusion, Oak Ridge has demonstrated a remarkable improvement in its property crime rates over the past decade, with significant reductions across all categories. This positive trend, coupled with population growth and rising median incomes, paints a picture of a city that has successfully addressed property crime issues while experiencing economic growth. As the city moves forward, maintaining these low crime rates while accommodating further population growth will be key to its continued success and safety.