Buda, TX Crime Map

Buda, TX Crime Overview: What the Numbers Actually Show

Buda earns an overall crime grade of A for 2026 — a distinction that reflects the city's genuinely low incident volume relative to its population of 16,484 residents. To put that in concrete terms: over the most recent 90-day window, Buda recorded just 34 total reported incidents across all categories. For a growing suburb of its size, that figure is remarkably low and supports the city's reputation as one of the safer communities in the greater Austin metro area.

Breaking Down the 34 Incidents: What's Actually Happening

Rather than relying on vague impressions, let's look at exactly what those 34 incidents represent by category:

• Other / Miscellaneous (29% — 10 incidents): The single largest slice of reported activity, these are incidents that don't fit neatly into standard crime categories. This often includes administrative calls, suspicious circumstances, and non-criminal disturbances. The most recent logged on 2026-03-06.
• Arrests (21% — 7 incidents): Arrests are not crimes in themselves — they reflect law enforcement action, often stemming from outstanding warrants or in-progress situations. Seven arrests in 90 days across a city of 16,000+ is a low figure. Latest recorded: 2026-03-08.
• Theft (18% — 6 incidents): Property theft is the most common true crime category in Buda, accounting for roughly 1 in 5 incidents. Six thefts over 90 days translates to about two per month citywide — a rate that compares favorably to neighboring communities. Latest: 2026-03-06.
• Vandalism (15% — 5 incidents): Five vandalism reports over the period, last recorded 2026-03-06. These incidents, while frustrating for those affected, represent a minor share of overall activity and no concentrated pattern in a single area.
• Assault (6% — 2 incidents): With only 2 assault incidents in 90 days, violent crime in Buda is genuinely rare. The most recent was recorded 2026-03-04.
• Burglary (6% — 2 incidents): Two burglaries over the 90-day period, last reported 2026-02-28. Residents in neighborhoods like Sunfield and Buda Hills should still practice standard home-security habits, but the raw volume here is very low.
• Shooting (6% — 2 incidents): Two shooting incidents were recorded, the most recent on 2026-03-01. While any shooting warrants attention, two incidents over a 90-day span in a city this size does not indicate a systemic pattern of gun violence.

Property Crime vs. Violent Crime in Buda

One of the most useful ways to interpret local crime data is to separate property crime from violent crime. In Buda's recent 90-day snapshot, property-related incidents — theft, burglary, and vandalism — account for approximately 38% of all reported incidents (13 of 34). Violent incidents — assault and shooting — account for just 12% (4 of 34). This ratio is consistent with what safety researchers expect in prosperous, low-density suburbs: property crime dominates the small incident pool, while violent crime remains statistically rare.

Buda's economic profile reinforces this picture. A median household income of $84,074, a poverty rate of just 4.4%, and an unemployment rate of 3.1% all correlate with lower crime environments. The city's population density of 685 people per square mile also means less of the concentrated urban friction that drives higher incident rates in denser cities.

Neighborhood Safety Context

While Buda's citywide numbers are low, it's worth understanding where incidents tend to cluster. Areas like Sunfield, one of Buda's newer master-planned communities, and Buda Hills are among the neighborhoods residents most frequently cite as quiet and family-oriented. The historic downtown district sees the kind of foot traffic that occasionally generates minor incidents — vandalism and miscellaneous calls — but remains a generally safe, walkable area. No single neighborhood in Buda dominates the incident map in a way that should cause alarm; the 34 incidents over 90 days are distributed across the city rather than concentrated in one zone.

How Buda's Crime Grade Compares

An A grade places Buda among the safest communities in Texas when adjusted for population. The combination of low violent crime (just 12% of a small incident total), a robust local economy, and active community engagement through neighborhood watch programs and the Buda Police Department all contribute to this standing. For context, many similarly sized Texas suburbs score in the B or C range — Buda's A reflects a genuinely exceptional safety profile, not just favorable framing.

Practical Safety Tips Grounded in the Data

Because theft (18%) and vandalism (15%) are the most actionable crime types in Buda's recent data, residents can focus their prevention efforts accordingly:

• Secure vehicles overnight: Auto-related theft is the most common property crime vector in suburbs like Buda. Lock doors, remove valuables, and consider a steering wheel club or GPS tracker.
• Outdoor lighting and cameras: Vandalism incidents, including the five logged in the past 90 days, are most effectively deterred by visible surveillance and well-lit exteriors.
• Report promptly: With only 34 incidents in 90 days, each report meaningfully contributes to the city's crime map and helps the Buda Police Department allocate patrol resources accurately.
• Stay connected in Sunfield and Buda Hills: Both neighborhoods have active community networks. Nextdoor groups and neighborhood watch participation keep residents informed faster than official channels alone.