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Violent Crime Trends in Twin Falls, Idaho: A Decade of Change in the Scenic City
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Twin Falls, Idaho, a city renowned for its scenic beauty and agricultural importance, has witnessed significant changes in violent crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes in Twin Falls increased by 67.6%, from 145 to 243 incidents. During this same period, the city's population grew by 22.4%, from 49,349 to 60,411 residents, indicating that crime rates have outpaced population growth.
Murder rates in Twin Falls have shown considerable fluctuation over the years. In 2010, there was 1 murder, representing 0.02 incidents per 1,000 people. This rate reached its peak in 2016 with 5 murders (0.09 per 1,000), before declining to 2 murders in 2022 (0.03 per 1,000). The city's percentage of state murders has varied, reaching a high of 19.23% in 2016 and falling to 6.9% in 2022. These fluctuations suggest localized factors influencing murder rates rather than a consistent trend.
Rape incidents have shown an overall increase, rising from 21 cases in 2010 to 36 in 2022, a 71.4% increase. When adjusted for population, the rate increased from 0.43 to 0.60 incidents per 1,000 people. The city's share of state rape cases has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 3.6% and 9.05% over the years. This trend indicates a growing concern for sexual violence in the community, outpacing population growth.
Robbery trends in Twin Falls have remained relatively stable, with 13 incidents in 2010 and 6 in 2022. The per capita rate decreased from 0.26 to 0.10 incidents per 1,000 people. The city's percentage of state robberies has fluctuated, peaking at 12.14% in 2014 and declining to 4.69% in 2022. This suggests that while robbery rates have decreased relative to population growth, the city's share of state robberies has also diminished.
Aggravated assault cases have seen a significant increase, rising from 110 in 2010 to 199 in 2022, an 80.9% increase. The per capita rate increased from 2.23 to 3.29 incidents per 1,000 people. The city's share of state aggravated assaults has grown from 5.99% in 2010 to 8.38% in 2022. This trend indicates that aggravated assault has become a more pressing issue in Twin Falls over time.
There appears to be a correlation between the increase in violent crime and population density. As the population density increased from 2,518 people per square mile in 2010 to 3,083 in 2022, violent crime rates also rose. Additionally, there's a notable correlation between the slight decrease in the white population percentage (from 82% in 2013 to 77% in 2022) and the increase in violent crime, particularly aggravated assaults.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, it's projected that by 2029, Twin Falls may see a stabilization of murder rates around 2-3 incidents per year, rape cases potentially reaching 45-50 annually, robbery cases remaining low at possibly 5-8 per year, and aggravated assaults potentially increasing to 230-250 cases annually.
In summary, Twin Falls has experienced a significant increase in violent crime over the past decade, particularly in aggravated assaults and rape cases. These trends have outpaced population growth, suggesting underlying factors beyond mere demographic changes. The city's evolving racial composition and increasing population density appear to correlate with these crime trends. As Twin Falls continues to grow, addressing these rising violent crime rates, especially aggravated assaults, will likely be a key priority for local law enforcement and community leaders.
