Loading Content...
Property Crime Trends in Franklin, New Hampshire: A City with Declining Burglary Rates
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Property Crime
Percent Owner Occupied
Median Income
Population
Franklin, New Hampshire, presents an intriguing case study in property crime trends. From 2017 to 2022, the total number of property crimes decreased by 28.6%, from 133 to 95 incidents. During this same period, the population grew by 3.1%, from 8,484 to 8,746 residents, suggesting a notable improvement in overall safety despite population growth.
Burglary rates in the city have shown a significant downward trend. In 2017, there were 36 burglaries, which dropped to just 3 in 2022, representing a dramatic 91.7% decrease. When adjusted for population, this translates to a reduction from 4.24 burglaries per 1,000 residents in 2017 to 0.34 per 1,000 in 2022. The city's share of state burglaries also declined substantially, from 2.92% in 2017 to 0.54% in 2022. This sharp decrease suggests improved home security measures or more effective law enforcement strategies targeting burglaries.
Larceny theft, while fluctuating, has shown an overall decrease. In 2017, there were 92 incidents, which fell to 89 in 2022, a 3.3% reduction. However, when accounting for population growth, the rate per 1,000 residents actually decreased more significantly, from 10.84 in 2017 to 10.18 in 2022. Interestingly, despite this local decrease, the city's share of state larceny thefts increased from 1.2% to 1.3% over the same period, indicating that the reduction in Franklin outpaced the state average.
Motor vehicle theft in the city has remained relatively stable, with a slight decrease from 5 incidents in 2017 to 3 in 2022, a 40% reduction. The rate per 1,000 residents fell from 0.59 to 0.34. The city's share of state motor vehicle thefts decreased from 1.12% to 0.56%, suggesting that Franklin has been more successful in curbing this type of crime compared to the state average.
Arson incidents in Franklin have been consistently low, with only one reported case in 2018 and zero incidents in other years from 2017 to 2022. This stability indicates effective fire prevention and investigation measures in place.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a strong inverse relationship between property crime rates and median income. As the median income rose from $60,019 in 2017 to $66,021 in 2022, total property crimes decreased. Additionally, the percentage of owner-occupied housing increased from 60% in 2017 to 62% in 2022, which correlates with the decrease in property crimes, particularly burglaries. This suggests that higher income levels and increased home ownership may contribute to lower property crime rates.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, we can forecast that by 2029 (five years from now), Franklin may see further reductions in property crime. Burglaries could potentially decrease to near-zero levels, while larceny theft might stabilize around 80-85 incidents annually. Motor vehicle thefts are likely to remain low, possibly averaging 2-3 incidents per year. Arson is expected to continue its trend of rare to no occurrences.
In conclusion, Franklin has demonstrated a positive trend in reducing property crimes over the past six years, outpacing its population growth. The significant decreases in burglary and stable low rates of motor vehicle theft and arson, coupled with only a slight decrease in larceny theft, paint a picture of a city becoming safer. These trends, along with increasing median income and home ownership rates, suggest that Franklin is likely to continue experiencing improved safety and security in the coming years.
