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Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Boulder, Montana, a small community nestled in the state's picturesque landscape, has experienced notable fluctuations in property crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2020, the total number of property crimes decreased from 11 to 4, representing a 63.6% reduction. During this same period, the population declined from 1,866 in 2010 to 1,181 in 2020, a 36.7% decrease, before rebounding to 1,544 by 2022.
Burglary trends in the city have shown significant variability. In 2010, there were 3 reported burglaries, which decreased to 0 in 2012 and 2016, and rose again to 2 in 2015. The burglary rate per 1,000 people fluctuated accordingly, reaching a peak of 1.34 per 1,000 in 2015, compared to 1.61 per 1,000 in 2010. The city's contribution to state burglary statistics varied, from 0.16% in 2010 to 0% in some years, indicating a relatively small impact on overall state figures.
Larceny-theft has been the most prevalent property crime in the area. The number of incidents peaked at 19 in 2017, a significant increase from 7 in 2010. This translates to a rate of 16.58 per 1,000 people in 2017, compared to 3.75 per 1,000 in 2010. The city's share of state larceny-theft incidents increased from 0.06% in 2010 to 0.13% in 2017, suggesting a growing contribution to state totals despite the city's small size.
Motor vehicle theft remained relatively low throughout the period. The city reported 1 incident in most years, with some years reporting no thefts. The rate per 1,000 people ranged from 0 to 0.97, with the highest rate occurring in 2020. The city's contribution to state motor vehicle theft statistics varied between 0% and 0.13%, indicating a minimal impact on state figures.
Arson incidents were rare, with only one reported case in 2013. This single incident represented 1.52% of state arson cases that year, a surprisingly high percentage given the city's size. The rate was 0.67 per 1,000 people in 2013, an anomaly in an otherwise arson-free period.
There appears to be a moderate correlation between property crime rates and population density. As the population density decreased from 1,659 per square mile in 2010 to 1,050 in 2020, overall property crime rates also showed a general downward trend. However, this correlation is not consistent across all years, suggesting other factors may influence crime rates.
Applying predictive models to forecast property crime trends for the next five years (until 2029) suggests a potential stabilization or slight decrease in overall property crime rates. This prediction is based on the general downward trend observed from 2010 to 2020, coupled with the recent population increase. However, given the city's small size, even minor fluctuations in crime numbers can lead to significant percentage changes.
In summary, Boulder has experienced a general decrease in property crimes over the past decade, with larceny-theft remaining the most common offense. The city's contribution to state crime statistics remains relatively small, consistent with its population size. The relationship between population changes and crime rates suggests that community dynamics play a role in local crime trends. As the city continues to evolve, maintaining vigilance and community-oriented policing strategies will be crucial in sustaining the overall positive trend in property crime reduction.