Property crime — burglary, theft, auto theft, and arson — affects how safe neighborhoods feel and can even impact property values. In 2024, Howard County’s property crime rate was 1,662 per 100,000 residents. The Maryland statewide rate is 2,050, meaning Howard County is meeting it's goal of keeping property crime rates below the state average.

This data is shaped by how crimes are reported. Since 2022, the FBI has required a new reporting system that counts multiple charges from a single incident instead of just the most serious one. That shift makes year-to-year comparisons from before 2022 tricky, but Howard County continues to stay well below state and national property crime levels.