Violent crime
113 per 100,000 residents, per year
384 reported in the 12 months to Jul 2026
−7% vs. the previous 12 months
Data through July 2026, Howard County Police Department
Crime in Howard County, MD (County Police)
The violent crime rate in Howard County (County Police) is 113 per 100,000 residents per year over the 12 months to July 2026, 74% below the average of the 302 cities and county areas we cover. That is −7% compared with the previous 12 months.
The Howard County Police Department polices essentially all of Howard County: 340,315 residents by the FBI’s count, about the county’s whole population.
The numbers
12 months to Jul 2026Property crime
1,318 per 100,000 residents, per year
4,487 reported in the 12 months to Jul 2026
−18% vs. the previous 12 months
All reported
1,431 per 100,000 residents, per year
4,871 reported in the 12 months to Jul 2026
Annual rates: reported incidents over the last 12 months per 100,000 residents (the 340,315 residents the agency serves, per the FBI).
What counts as violent and property crime
Counted the FBI's way, the same for every police agency: violent crime is homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property crime is burglary, theft, vehicle theft and arson. Simple assault is not counted as violent. How we count
Where Howard County sits among covered places
violent, per 100k, per year113
Howard County (County Police) has the 276th-highest rate of the 302 cities and county areas on this site, higher than 26 of the other 301.
Carmel 51avg 437Detroit 1,632
The ring is Howard County (County Police); the tick is the average of all 302 cities and county areas.
| Place | Violent per 100k | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte County, FL (Sheriff) | 118 | 271 |
| St. Cloud, FL | 117 | 272 |
| Gilbert, AZ | 115 | 273 |
| Miramar, FL | 115 | 274 |
| Santa Rosa County, FL (Sheriff) | 114 | 275 |
| Howard County, MD (County Police) | 113 | 276 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 111 | 277 |
| Chandler, AZ | 111 | 278 |
| Palm Beach Gardens, FL | 104 | 279 |
| Boca Raton, FL | 103 | 280 |
| Frisco, TX | 102 | 281 |
The places closest to Howard County (County Police) in the ranking, highest rate first. See all 302 cities and county areas
Howard County crime map
cities around itThe FBI publishes area-wide totals from Howard County Police Department, not where each crime happened, so there is no street-level map of Howard County (County Police) on this page.
Of the 8 covered cities nearest Howard County (County Police), all 8 have a higher violent crime rate. The closest is Baltimore, MD, 11 miles away.
| Place | Violent per 100k | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Howard County, MD (County Police)County area, not drawn on the map | 113 | |
| Baltimore, MD | 1,302 | 11 mi |
| Gaithersburg, MD | 192 | 23 mi |
| Rockville, MD | 140 | 23 mi |
| Anne Arundel County, MD (County Police)County area, not drawn on the map | 255 | 24 mi |
| Montgomery County, MD (County Police)County area, not drawn on the map | 148 | 24 mi |
| Prince George's County, MD (County Police)County area, not drawn on the map | 220 | 27 mi |
| Washington, DC | 777 | 28 mi |
| Harford County, MD (Sheriff)County area, not drawn on the map | 151 | 33 mi |
About the colors and distances
Colors use the same scale as the rest of the site, from the lowest to the highest violent crime rate among the 302 cities and county areas we cover. City outlines from the U.S. Census Bureau. Distances are straight-line, between city centers.
Reported crime by type
12 months to Jul 2026- RobberyTaking property by force or threatViolent, 96 reported28−23% vs. a year ago
- HomicideViolent, 6 reported1.8−25% vs. a year ago
- TheftShoplifting, pickpocketing and other theft without force or entryProperty, 2,286 reported672−13% vs. a year ago
- Theft from vehiclesItems or parts taken from a vehicle, break-ins includedProperty, 1,087 reported319−18% vs. a year ago
- Vehicle theftProperty, 825 reported242−23% vs. a year ago
- BurglaryEntering a home or business to stealProperty, 280 reported82−36% vs. a year ago
See the table
| Offense | Reported | Per 100k | vs. previous month | vs. a year earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RobberyViolent | 96 | 28 | — | −23% |
| HomicideViolent | 6 | 1.8 | — | −25% |
| TheftProperty | 2,286 | 672 | — | −13% |
| Theft from vehiclesProperty | 1,087 | 319 | — | −18% |
| Vehicle theftProperty | 825 | 242 | — | −23% |
| BurglaryProperty | 280 | 82 | — | −36% |
About these categories
Homicide, robbery, burglary, theft and vehicle theft come from the same reports Howard County Police Department sends the FBI. Theft from vehicles is NIBRS codes 23F and 23G (items and parts taken from a vehicle) and theft is the rest of larceny. Robbery is part of violent crime and the others of property crime; assault and rape count in violent crime but are not listed separately, so the rows do not add up to the totals. Red means more than before, green means fewer. “Not yet” means the site does not have that month from a year earlier.
Against other places of 100,000+ residents: vehicle theft (76th highest rate of 155), robbery (117th highest rate of 152) and burglary (144th highest rate of 168).
Month by month
Aug 2025 to Jul 2026Violent crime −7%
| Month | Violent crimes | Month a year earlier | Violent crimes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | 44 | Aug 2024 | 34 |
| Sep 2025 | 38 | Sep 2024 | 46 |
| Oct 2025 | 33 | Oct 2024 | 35 |
| Nov 2025 | 27 | Nov 2024 | 51 |
| Dec 2025 | 40 | Dec 2024 | 31 |
| Jan 2026 | 24 | Jan 2025 | 35 |
| Feb 2026 | 26 | Feb 2025 | 29 |
| Mar 2026 | 38 | Mar 2025 | 26 |
| Apr 2026 | 27 | Apr 2025 | 35 |
| May 2026 | 32 | May 2025 | 33 |
| Jun 2026 | 31 | Jun 2025 | 35 |
| Jul 2026 | 24 | Jul 2025 | 21 |
Homicides 6 vs. 8
| Month | Homicides | Month a year earlier | Homicides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | 1 | Aug 2024 | 0 |
| Sep 2025 | 1 | Sep 2024 | 0 |
| Oct 2025 | 0 | Oct 2024 | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | 0 | Nov 2024 | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | 2 | Dec 2024 | 0 |
| Jan 2026 | 0 | Jan 2025 | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | 2 | Feb 2025 | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | 0 | Mar 2025 | 0 |
| Apr 2026 | 0 | Apr 2025 | 0 |
| May 2026 | 0 | May 2025 | 0 |
| Jun 2026 | 0 | Jun 2025 | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | 0 | Jul 2025 | 0 |
2 in 2026 through July, 6 in the same months of 2025. Compare with other places
Every month since Aug 2023
| Month | Violent | Property | Homicides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | 24 | 393 | 0 |
| Jun 2026 | 31 | 398 | 0 |
| May 2026 | 32 | 373 | 0 |
| Apr 2026 | 27 | 332 | 0 |
| Mar 2026 | 38 | 376 | 0 |
| Feb 2026 | 26 | 328 | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | 24 | 319 | 0 |
| Dec 2025 | 40 | 405 | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | 27 | 440 | 0 |
| Oct 2025 | 33 | 417 | 0 |
| Sep 2025 | 38 | 362 | 1 |
| Aug 2025 | 44 | 344 | 1 |
| Jul 2025 | 21 | 396 | 0 |
| Jun 2025 | 35 | 445 | 1 |
| May 2025 | 33 | 490 | 0 |
| Apr 2025 | 35 | 438 | 0 |
| Mar 2025 | 26 | 448 | 0 |
| Feb 2025 | 29 | 423 | 4 |
| Jan 2025 | 35 | 439 | 1 |
| Dec 2024 | 31 | 513 | 0 |
| Nov 2024 | 51 | 464 | 1 |
| Oct 2024 | 35 | 496 | 1 |
| Sep 2024 | 46 | 483 | 0 |
| Aug 2024 | 34 | 457 | 0 |
| Jul 2024 | 36 | 498 | 1 |
| Jun 2024 | 33 | 514 | 0 |
| May 2024 | 62 | 485 | 3 |
| Apr 2024 | 43 | 486 | 0 |
| Mar 2024 | 36 | 455 | 0 |
| Feb 2024 | 31 | 445 | 2 |
| Jan 2024 | 46 | 474 | 4 |
| Dec 2023 | 44 | 470 | 1 |
| Nov 2023 | 45 | 488 | 0 |
| Oct 2023 | 43 | 485 | 1 |
| Sep 2023 | 49 | 605 | 0 |
| Aug 2023 | 37 | 587 | 0 |
How Howard County (County Police) compares
per 100k, per yearSimilar size
| # | Place | Violent | Property | Residents | Data to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Stockton, CA | 968 | 2,240 | 325,985 | Sep 2026 |
| 83 | Riverside, CA | 568 | 2,056 | 325,858 | Aug 2026 |
| 87 | Anaheim, CA | 546 | 1,670 | 344,040 | Sep 2026 |
| 119 | Newark, NJ | 424 | 1,560 | 318,638 | Jul 2026 |
| 210 | Marion County, FL (Sheriff) | 235 | 597 | 355,347 | Aug 2026 |
| 226 | Lexington, KY | 216 | 2,035 | 330,994 | Jul 2026 |
| 232 | Henderson, NV | 206 | 1,400 | 358,366 | Jul 2026 |
| 276 | Howard County, MD (County Police) | 113 | 1,318 | 340,315 | Jul 2026 |
| 293 | Irvine, CA | 75 | 856 | 321,339 | Sep 2026 |
| 297 | St. Johns County, FL (Sheriff) | 65 | 245 | 322,319 | Oct 2026 |
The 10 places closest to Howard County (County Police) in population, Howard County (County Police) included, highest violent crime rate first.
Same state
| # | Place | Violent | Property | Residents | Data to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 225 | Prince George's County, MD (County Police) | 220 | 1,741 | 741,477 | Jun 2026 |
| 235 | Gaithersburg, MD | 192 | 1,011 | 70,993 | Jun 2026 |
| 242 | Washington County, MD (Sheriff) | 173 | 533 | 104,674 | Aug 2026 |
| 250 | Harford County, MD (Sheriff) | 151 | 556 | 221,056 | Jul 2026 |
| 252 | Montgomery County, MD (County Police) | 148 | 1,476 | 924,573 | Jun 2026 |
| 258 | Rockville, MD | 140 | 1,200 | 68,690 | Jun 2026 |
| 268 | Calvert County, MD (Sheriff) | 127 | 429 | 95,115 | Jul 2026 |
| 276 | Howard County, MD (County Police) | 113 | 1,318 | 340,315 | Jul 2026 |
| 285 | Frederick County, MD (Sheriff) | 95 | 533 | 193,550 | Aug 2026 |
| 288 | Cecil County, MD (Sheriff) | 89 | 347 | 79,043 | Jun 2026 |
The 10 of 14 places in Maryland closest to Howard County (County Police) in violent crime rate. All 14 in Maryland
Nearby
| # | Place | Violent | Property | Residents | Data to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | 1,302 | 4,037 | 562,811 | Jul 2026 |
| 42 | Washington, DC | 777 | 2,656 | 693,645 | Sep 2026 |
| 160 | Frederick, MD | 341 | 1,264 | 92,564 | Aug 2026 |
| 195 | Anne Arundel County, MD (County Police) | 255 | 1,572 | 562,033 | Jul 2026 |
| 225 | Prince George's County, MD (County Police) | 220 | 1,741 | 741,477 | Jun 2026 |
| 235 | Gaithersburg, MD | 192 | 1,011 | 70,993 | Jun 2026 |
| 250 | Harford County, MD (Sheriff) | 151 | 556 | 221,056 | Jul 2026 |
| 252 | Montgomery County, MD (County Police) | 148 | 1,476 | 924,573 | Jun 2026 |
| 258 | Rockville, MD | 140 | 1,200 | 68,690 | Jun 2026 |
| 276 | Howard County, MD (County Police) | 113 | 1,318 | 340,315 | Jul 2026 |
The 9 places on this site closest to Howard County (County Police) by distance, highest violent crime rate first.
| # | Place | Violent | Property | Residents | Data to |
|---|
Figures are what each agency reports to the FBI, over the last 12 months it has reported in full, so the months differ. See all 302 cities and county areas in the rankings
Compare Howard County (County Police) side by side with Baltimore, Anaheim or Lexington, or with any other place.
Other cities and county areas in Maryland
8 closest of 13Maryland as a whole has 336 violent crimes per 100,000 residents per year, as reported to the FBI over the 12 months to Jun 2026; Howard County (County Police)’s rate is 66% below the state’s.
BaltimoreGaithersburgRockvilleAnne Arundel County (County Police)Montgomery County (County Police)Prince George's County (County Police)Harford County (Sheriff)Frederick
Common questions
answered with the data aboveIs Howard County (County Police) safe?
By reported violent crime, Howard County (County Police) is well below the average of the 302 cities and county areas on this site: 113 violent crimes per 100,000 residents per year over the 12 months to July 2026, −7% versus the previous 12 months. Safety varies a lot by neighborhood, so the figure for the whole area is only a starting point.
Is there a crime map for Howard County?
This site does not have one for Howard County. The figures on this page come from the FBI, which receives city totals rather than locations, so CurrentCrimeMap shows how Howard County (County Police) compares with nearby places such as Baltimore, MD instead of a street-level map.
What is the crime rate in Howard County (County Police)?
113 violent and 1,318 property crimes per 100,000 residents per year, based on 4,871 incidents reported to Howard County Police Department over the 12 months to July 2026. Violent crime includes 96 robberies (property taken by force or threat); property crime includes 280 burglaries, 1,087 thefts from vehicles and 2,286 other thefts.
Is crime in Howard County (County Police) going up or down?
It is going down: violent crime −7% and property crime −18% over the last 12 months compared with the 12 months before.
How many homicides has Howard County (County Police) had in 2026?
Howard County Police Department reported 2 homicides from January to July 2026, the latest month it has reported in full, against 6 in the same months of 2025. Over the 12 months to Jul 2026 the count was 6, or 2 per 100,000 residents.
Where does the data come from?
From Howard County Police Department, via FBI Crime Data Explorer (dataset MD0140100). We count reported incidents by month and offense type and divide by the population the agency serves, as the FBI reports it. Reported crime undercounts actual crime; see the methodology page for what the numbers leave out.
Moving to or visiting Howard County (County Police)
12 months to July 2026- Violent crime was down 7% and property crime down 18% over the 12 months to July 2026, compared with the 12 months before.
- 6 homicides over the 12 months to July 2026, down 25% on the 12 months before.
| What most people ask about | Reported | Per 100k | vs. the 12 months before |
|---|---|---|---|
| RobberyTaking property by force or threat | 96 | 28 | −23% |
| BurglaryEntering a home or business to steal | 280 | 82 | −36% |
| Theft from vehiclesItems or parts taken from a vehicle, break-ins included | 1,087 | 319 | −18% |
| Vehicle theft | 825 | 242 | −23% |
What these numbers leave out: most crime never reaches the police. In the federal victim survey (BJS, 2024), about half of violent crimes and less than a third of property crimes were reported, and only a quarter of everyday thefts. Rates are per resident, so busy downtowns and tourist areas look worse than they are for the people who visit them.
The official source is FBI Crime Data Explorer. For what to look for, and what not to read into a rate, see how to read US crime numbers.
Source and dates
MD0140100- Source
- Howard County Police Department, via FBI Crime Data Explorer (dataset MD0140100)
- Latest complete month
- July 2026
- History on this site
- August 2023 to July 2026 (43 months)
- Update schedule
- Howard County Police Department reports monthly to the FBI under the national NIBRS standard. We refresh every morning and publish the most recent 12 months the agency has reported in full.
- Download
- Monthly counts by offense (JSON)