This report presents statistics from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and examines victimization rates across the 22 most populous U.S. states and how reported and unreported crime levels vary across these states and over time. It analyzes selected state-level estimates of violent and property victimization for the 3-year aggregate periods of 2017–19 and 2020–22 in the 22 largest U.S. states. Findings are based on data from the NCVS, the nation’s primary source of data on criminal victimization. State-level data, available following an increase in the NCVS sample that began in 2016, can provide more detailed information than the national NCVS estimates and other NCVS estimates historically produced for BJS reports, such as regional estimates.
During 2020–22:
- The 22 most populous states represented 79% of the U.S. population age 12 or older and 77% of the violent victimizations captured by the NCVS.
- The rate of burglary victimization was higher than the U.S. rate in one state (Minnesota) and lower in eight states.
From the period of 2017–19 to 2020–22:
- The rate of violent victimization declined in three states and nationwide.
- The rate of property victimization declined in nine states and the United States overall and increased in one state (New York).