Austin Crime Trends 2026: What the Data Shows
A comprehensive statistical breakdown of crime in Austin, Texas — from murder to motor vehicle theft — with per capita rates, Texas comparisons, and what the trends mean for residents.
Austin Crime Statistics: The Full Picture
Austin's crime landscape in 2026 reflects the complexities of a rapidly growing city. With a population of 993,588, Austin has crossed the threshold where urban crime challenges become inevitable. The city's overall crime rate of 38 per 1,000 residents and crime index of 4 out of 100 place it higher in crime than 97% of Texas communities — a statistic that requires important context.
That 97% comparison is skewed by the fact that most Texas "communities" are small towns with populations under 10,000. When Austin is measured against peer cities of similar size nationally, it performs better than average. This is the fundamental tension in Austin crime statistics: worse than small-town Texas, better than big-city America.
Violent Crime Analysis
Austin recorded approximately 4,643 violent crimes in the latest reporting period, producing a violent crime rate of 4.67 per 1,000 residents. For any given Austin resident, that translates to roughly a 1 in 214 chance of being a violent crime victim in a year.
Violent Crime by Category
3.07 per 1,000 residents
65.7% of violent crime
0.86 per 1,000 residents
18.5% of violent crime
0.68 per 1,000 residents
14.4% of violent crime
0.065 per 1,000 residents
1.4% of violent crime
Austin's violent crime rate of 4.67 per 1,000 exceeds the Texas state average of 3.89 per 1,000 by about 20%. Aggravated assault is the dominant category, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all violent crime. The murder rate of 6.5 per 100,000 is moderate for a major U.S. city — substantially below national hotspots.
Property Crime: The Dominant Story
Property crime is the overwhelming driver of Austin's crime statistics. With 32,911 property crimes annually, the property crime rate of 33.12 per 1,000 is 62% higher than the Texas state average of 20.4 per 1,000. This gives residents approximately a 1 in 30 chance of experiencing property crime in any given year.
Property Crime by Category
22.67 per 1,000 residents
68.4% of property crime
5.96 per 1,000 residents
18.0% of property crime
4.49 per 1,000 residents
13.5% of property crime
Motor Vehicle Theft: A National Outlier
Austin's motor vehicle theft rate deserves special attention. With 5,926 vehicles stolen annually — a rate that gives residents about a 1 in 168 chance of losing their vehicle to theft — Austin ranks among the highest nationally for this crime category. That's roughly 16 cars stolen every single day.
Contributing factors include Austin's sprawling geography (cars are essential), a busy highway corridor that facilitates quick movement of stolen vehicles, and the city's rapid population growth outpacing law enforcement resources. See our property crime prevention guide for practical steps to protect your vehicle.
Austin vs. Texas: Crime Rate Comparison
What the Trends Mean for Austin Residents
The data tells a clear story: property crime is Austin's primary safety challenge, not violent crime. While both exceed state averages, the gap is most dramatic in property offenses — particularly theft and vehicle theft. For residents, the implications are practical:
- Lock your car, every time, even in your driveway. Never leave valuables visible.
- Invest in basic home security — even a visible camera deters opportunistic burglars.
- Choose your neighborhood carefully. Crime rates vary by 5-10x across Austin neighborhoods.
- Stay informed with real-time crime alerts for your specific area.
- Use the Austin crime map before signing a lease or buying a home.
Track Crime Trends in Your Neighborhood
See crime data specific to your street, not just city-wide averages.