4 Vermont Destinations Named Among The ‘Most Dangerous’ Towns In The US

A recent report has named four Vermont destinations among the ‘most dangerous’ towns in the US. While the label may seem alarming, it is essential to understand the data and context behind the report. This article will provide an overview of the four Vermont towns on the list and the crime statistics that led to their inclusion.

1. Rutland

Rutland is the largest city in Rutland County and the third-largest city in Vermont. According to the report, Rutland has a high crime rate compared to other cities in the state. In 2020, Rutland had a total of 1,149 reported crimes, including 113 violent crimes and 1,036 property crimes. The violent crime rate was 177.8 per 100,000 residents, and the property crime rate was 1,642.6 per 100,000 residents.

2. Burlington

Burlington is the largest city in Vermont and the county seat of Chittenden County. The report lists Burlington as having a high crime rate compared to other cities in the state. In 2020, Burlington had a total of 1,728 reported crimes, including 147 violent crimes and 1,581 property crimes. The violent crime rate was 247.7 per 100,000 residents, and the property crime rate was 2,281.7 per 100,000 residents.

3. Barre

Barre is the fourth-largest city in Vermont and the county seat of Washington County. The report lists Barre as having a high crime rate compared to other cities in the state. In 2020, Barre had a total of 571 reported crimes, including 50 violent crimes and 521 property crimes. The violent crime rate was 234.2 per 100,000 residents, and the property crime rate was 2,116.6 per 100,000 residents.

4. Winooski

Winooski is a city in Chittenden County and is part of the Burlington metropolitan area. The report lists Winooski as having a high crime rate compared to other cities in the state. In 2020, Winooski had a total of 313 reported crimes, including 21 violent crimes and 292 property crimes. The violent crime rate was 336.3 per 100,000 residents, and the property crime rate was 3,410.4 per 100,000 residents.

What Measures Are Being Taken to Improve Safety in Vermont

To improve safety in Vermont, several measures are being taken across various sectors.

Infrastructure: Vermont’s infrastructure received a ‘C’ grade in the 2021 Infrastructure Report Card, indicating the need for significant improvements. The report highlights the state’s aging infrastructure and substantial maintenance backlogs in several areas. To address these challenges, Vermont has allocated federal pandemic funds to the water, sewer, and wastewater sectors, expanded broadband infrastructure, and utilized the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create tangible improvements.

Specifically, safety upgrades have been made at the Burlington International Airport, including rehabilitation of the terminal and airfield access control system, perimeter fence installation at various state airports, and removal of obstructions at all airports.

Additionally, the number of poor condition bridges in Vermont has decreased to 2.4% of the inventory, upgrading the bridges to a ‘B-‘ grade. However, roads remain at a ‘C+’ grade, and there has been a surge in traffic deaths, doubling from 0.64 to 1.2 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles since the 2019 report card.

Flood Safety: In response to the devastating floods of 2023 and climate projections indicating worsening and more frequent future flooding, the Vermont Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Energy advanced S.213, the Flood Safety Act.

This bill aims to reduce the risk of future flooding and strengthen communities’ resilience by adopting policies that provide clean drinking water, support biodiversity, protect recreational opportunities, bolster the economy, and promote public health.

Safety Management: The Vermont Department of Labor’s Pillars of Safety Management provide employers, workers, and worker representatives with examples and information on how companies in Vermont are addressing safety and health issues in the workplace.

These pillars emphasize continuous improvement in safety and health, worker involvement, hazard identification and control, and program monitoring and evaluation.

Public Health Preparedness: The Vermont Department of Health provides resources to help residents stay safe during floods, highlighting the potential harm that flooding can cause to health and safety.

Traffic Safety: The Vermont Agency of Transportation has compiled resources into a single location to help improve road safety and reduce speeds, focusing on various tactics to enhance traffic safety.

Overall, these measures demonstrate a comprehensive approach to improving safety in Vermont, addressing infrastructure, flood risk, safety management, public health preparedness, and traffic safety.

Conclusion

While the label of ‘most dangerous’ may seem alarming, it is essential to understand the data and context behind the report. The four Vermont towns on the list have higher crime rates compared to other cities in the state, but their crime rates are still lower than many cities in the US. It is also important to note that crime rates can fluctuate year to year, and the data used in the report is from 2020.

Tourists and residents should not be deterred from visiting or living in these towns based solely on the report. Instead, they should take the same precautions they would in any city or town, such as locking their doors, being aware of their surroundings, and avoiding high-crime areas. By taking these precautions, visitors and residents can enjoy all that these Vermont towns have to offer without fear of crime.