For many people living in North Carolina, it's a quiet state filled with peaceful neighborhoods and stunning nature. However, the state can also be a very dangerous place for some to live. Three North Carolina cities recently made the list of the top 45 cities with the fastest-growing murder rates.
These concerning statistics don't necessarily mean every person in North Carolina is at risk, but it pays to be aware. When you know what crime rates are like in your region, it's easier to take steps to protect yourself. Keep reading to learn all the details about what crime rates in North Carolina are like.
An overview of crime rates in North Carolina
What is the crime rate in North Carolina? Each year, North Carolina residents report roughly 281,000 crimes in total. When you take the number of people in North Carolina into account, the state has a crime rate of 26.71 crimes per 1,000 residents.
This rate is just slightly above national averages, so people in North Carolina are statistically a little more at risk than people in other parts of the United States. Overall, if you live in North Carolina, you have a 1 in 232 chance of being a victim of violent crime and a 1 in 45 chance of being a victim of property crime.
The safest and most dangerous parts of North Carolina
Different parts of North Carolina tend to have different crime rates, so the crime rate in Charlotte, North Carolina, might be vastly higher than the crime rate in Boone. The following are the cities with the lowest and highest crime rates in North Carolina.
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What city in North Carolina has the lowest crime rate?
Most of the cities in North Carolina with low crime are mid-sized suburbs. If you're looking for a safe place to stay, Rolesville has the lowest crime rate in North Carolina. This city only has 4.5 crimes per 1,000 residents, and its crime rate is 83% lower than state averages. If you're living in Rolesville, your chance of being a victim of crime is just 1 in 182. Other cities with especially low crime rates include:
Elon
Winterville
Davidson
Pinehurst
Waxhaw
What city in North Carolina has the highest crime rate?
With a crime rate of 132 per 1,000 residents, Lumberton is the most dangerous city in North Carolina. Lumberton has a crime rate that is 435% higher than state averages. Other especially dangerous towns include Albemarle, Reidsville, and Rockingham.
What is the crime rate in Charlotte, North Carolina, and North Carolina’s other major cities? Charlotte has 40 crimes per 1,000 residents, while Raleigh has 27 crimes and Greensboro has 44 crimes. This puts them above state averages, but still lower than Lumberton.
To get a more detailed look at crime in North Carolina, it's helpful to break down crime statistics into smaller categories. Most crime in North Carolina falls into these classes.
Violent crime rates in North Carolina
Violent crimes occur whenever someone harms or attempts to harm another person. North Carolina has a violent crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 residents. In 2021, people committed 960 murders and 3,077 rapes. Even more common were aggravated assaults. Roughly 33,000 physical assaults occur in North Carolina each year.
Property crime rates in North Carolina
Another type of crime to look out for is property crime. Property crimes are any crime that involves someone taking or harming your belongings or home. North Carolina has 21.5 property crimes per 1,000 residents. In 2021, 42,089 people reported a burglary and 153,764 people reported being a victim of theft. There were also 1,361 arsons and 3,026 cases of vandalism reported in that year.
Vehicle theft rates in North Carolina
Motor vehicle theft is extremely common in North Carolina. The state had 17,024 motor vehicle thefts reported in 2021. The majority of these thefts were automobiles, but criminals also stole 1,892 trucks and 1,944 other vehicles. Motor vehicle thefts in North Carolina are on the rise. In the past decade, the number of cars stolen has increased.
When it comes to protecting your car, Car Guard is a must. This helpful device syncs with the Vivint app and Outdoor Camera Pro to notify you of suspicious activity. If someone lingers around your vehicle for too long, your outdoor camera system will shine a light and make a loud sound to let the perpetrator know they’ve been spotted. You can also use Car Guard to track your vehicle and recover it if someone does take it.
Discover the benefits of North Carolina home security systems
If you're concerned with protecting your home, Vivint is here to help. Our home automation and security systems help to keep you and your property safe.
Get alerts when your home isn't secure: Use our window sensors and smart locks to see whether or not your home is secure. If you forget to close a door or have a broken window, the Vivint app will alert you immediately. With smart locks, you can even lock your door remotely.
Have your property monitored 24/7: We offer complimentary monitoring, so a Vivint security expert will always be available if something goes wrong. Our team can let you know about security alerts and contact the police if you don't respond.
Deter crime: Vivint's outdoor cameras come equipped with proprietary Smart Deter technology. They'll identify suspicious behavior and play an alert tone to warn would-be criminals that they're on camera.
Enjoy comprehensive security: Vivint's home security packages make it easy to protect your home. We offer a broad range of products that all connect to the Vivint app and smart hub, so you can check on your home from a single, convenient system. At a glance, you can identify threats, check on your loved ones, and monitor your home.
Protect your North Carolina home with Vivint
Are you concerned about the crime rate in North Carolina? Though not all parts of the state are equally dangerous, the reality is that crime can happen anywhere. To reduce your risk of experiencing crime, it's a good idea to protect your home with a home security system. Vivint's security products make it easy to monitor your home and identify potential problems. If something does go wrong, we can help you contact the authorities so you can focus on getting yourself and your family to safety.
In addition to home security, Vivint also offers a broad range of different home automation products. We make it easy to check for leaks, adjust your temperatures, and more. To learn all about Vivint's great products, contact us today at 855.822.1220.
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