Chapel Hill, NC Crime Rates: Stats & Map

B

6%

Total crime NAT. AVG.

50%

Violent crime NAT. AVG.

2%

Property crime NAT. AVG.

Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.

Statistic	Reported_incidents	_{/100k people}	Chapel Hill_{/100k people}	North Carolina_{/100k people}	National_{/100k people}
Total crime	1,326	n/a (estimate)	2,174	2,469	2,324
Murder	2	n/a	3.3	8.1	6.3
Rape	9	n/a	14.8	30.5	40.0
Robbery	26	n/a	42.6	54.9	66.1
Assault	76	n/a	124.6	311.6	268.2
Violent crime	113	n/a (estimate)	185	405	370
Burglary	190	n/a	311.6	370.8	269.8
Theft	951	n/a	1,559.4	1,494.0	1,401.9
Vehicle theft	72	n/a	118.1	199.3	282.7
Property crime	1,213	n/a (estimate)	1,989	2,064	1,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Chapel Hill, NC

When we analyze the latest crime report, the Chapel Hill crime rate is 6.5% lower than the national average. These incidents are classified into two primary categories: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes include assault, robbery, rape and murder. Whereas property crimes encompass theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In the case of Chapel Hill, there were 113 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 185 per 100,000 individuals, 49.9% lower than the national average. Additionally, Chapel Hill recorded 1213 property crimes, amounting to 1989 per 100,000 residents, 1.8% higher than the U.S. average.

When assessing the overall crime rate in Chapel Hill per 100,000 people, it stands in the median range among all cities with reported crime data. Our analysis of total incidents, encompassing both violent and property crimes, underscores the close alignment of reported Chapel Hill crime rates with the national average as reported by other areas.

Chapel Hill exhibits a property crime rate closely aligned with the national average. There were 1989 reported property crimes, which closely matches the national average of 1954 per 100,000 people. Consequently, the area's safety profile mirrors that of an average city, neither notably safer nor more dangerous than the norm. This balance suggests that Chapel Hill maintains a consistent approach to property crime prevention in line with the broader national landscape.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Chapel Hill?

What is the prevailing sentiment among Chapel Hill residents regarding the state of crime? A comprehensive survey conducted by AreaVibes, involving 43 respondents, sheds light on this matter. The results were as follows: 65% of Chapel Hill residents expressed a notable sense of security, asserting that crime was virtually non-existent in their community, and they felt at ease strolling the streets after dark. While, 35% of those surveyed held a contrasting viewpoint, perceiving a higher incidence of crime, leading them to feel apprehensive about walking alone at night.

Is Chapel Hill a Safe Place to Live?

Is Chapel Hill a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Chapel Hill has a crime rate that is lower than the national average by 6%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 3.63 daily incidents, encompassing 0.31 violent crimes and 3.32 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Chapel Hill as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Chapel Hill Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Chapel Hill has decreased by 1.6% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Chapel Hill is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. Crime rates are categorized by violent and property crime. Year-over-year violent crime has increased by 2.7%, while property crime has decreased by 1.9%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Chapel Hill.

Potential Causes for Crime in Chapel Hill

The economic prosperity of a city's inhabitants exerts substantial influence on crime stats. Elevated poverty rates and income inequality can precipitate heightened criminal activity, as individuals may turn to illicit means to fulfill their fundamental requirements. While lower poverty rates could lead to lower Chapel Hill crime rates. In Chapel Hill, the poverty rate stands at 18.5%, diverging from the national average of 15.1%.

The impact of law enforcement and community policing efforts plays a crucial role in shaping crime rates in any city. A robust and cooperative bond between law enforcement and the community can serve as a deterrent to criminal activities, enhancing overall safety. In Chapel Hill, the ratio of police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents stands at 2.32, differing from the national average of 3.25. Effective law enforcement hinges not solely on officer numbers but also on the manner in which they interact and collaborate with the community. Building trust and cooperation are central tenets of community policing, amplifying its influence on crime prevention.

High rental costs can limit economic mobility, making it difficult for individuals to save money, invest in education, or access better job opportunities. This can perpetuate a cycle of poverty and increase the risk of involvement in criminal activities. In summary, high rental costs can create economic challenges, overcrowding, and neighborhood dynamics that may increase the likelihood of certain types of crime, particularly property crimes. In Chapel Hill, the average rental rates are $1,221 per month, compared to the national average of $949.

Chapel Hill crime map

The Chapel Hill crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Chapel Hill as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Chapel Hill crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Chapel Hill crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.

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Crime Quick Facts

Chapel Hill crime rates are 6% lower than the national average
Violent crimes in Chapel Hill are 50% lower than the national average
In Chapel Hill you have a 1 in 46 chance of becoming a victim of crime
Chapel Hill is safer than 47% of the cities in the United States
Year over year crime in Chapel Hill has increased by 4%

Chapel Hill, NC Crime Quiz

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Daily Crime In Chapel Hill (per 100,000 people)

The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in Chapel Hill, NC per 100,000 people. In Chapel Hill, the number of daily crimes is projected to be 1.14 times less than the North Carolina average and 1.07 times less than the national average. The average number of daily violent crimes in Chapel Hill is 2.19 times less than the North Carolina average and 2.00 times less than the daily national average. With regards to property crimes, Chapel Hill has a daily crime rate that is 1.04 times less than the North Carolina average and 1.02 times more than the overall daily national average.

How Safe is Chapel Hill (higher is better)

Compared to the other cities in North Carolina and all other cities across the US, is Chapel Hill safe? From the gauges displayed above, you will notice that Chapel Hill is safer than 66% of other cities in the state of North Carolina. In addition, Chapel Hill is safer than 47% of cities in the entire United States. To achieve these results, all North Carolina and United States cities were analyzed to determine how many locations had a lower crime rate than Chapel Hill. By studying this data, it was possible to determine that Chapel Hill is below average in safety when compared with other United States cities.

Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Chapel Hill

The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Chapel Hill is 1 in 540

The chance of being a victim of property crime in Chapel Hill is 1 in 51

The chance of being a victim of crime in Chapel Hill is 1 in 46

How likely are you to become a victim of crime? In Chapel Hill, North Carolina you have a 1 in 540 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 51 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 46 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Chapel Hill.

Year Over Year Crime In Chapel Hill (per 100,000 people)

An analysis of year to year crime rates in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (per 100,000 people) is a useful indicator of whether the area is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live. The amount of violent crime in Chapel Hill has increased by 8%, the amount of property crime in Chapel Hill has increased by 4%, and the total amount of crime in Chapel Hill has increased by 4% year over year.

Chapel Hill police department

Item	Chapel Hill	North Carolina	National
Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)	136	14,511	558,732
Police officers & civilians /1000 residents	2.3	4.8	3.3

There are a total of 136 Chapel Hill police officers. This results in 2.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 51.4% less than the North Carolina average and 28.6% less than the National average.

Sex offenders in North Carolina

State	Total offenders	North Carolina_/100K	National_/100K
North Carolina	26,293	320	266

There are a total of 26,293 sex offenders in North Carolina. This yields a total of 320 sex offenders in North Carolina per 100,000 residents which is 20% greater than the national average.

Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Fearrington Village, NC	2,692	64	324	387
Cary, NC	169,177	80	1,106	1,185
Apex, NC	55,220	55	1,144	1,198
Woodlawn, NC	843	320	1,629	1,949
Carrboro, NC	21,254	274	1,732	2,006
Pittsboro, NC	4,221	365	1,888	2,252
Morrisville, NC	27,582	120	2,144	2,264
Chapel Hill, NC	61,912	185	1,989	2,174

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Palm Harbor, FL	61,787	252	1,524	1,776
Moore, OK	61,683	240	2,045	2,285
Hamilton, OH	62,162	384	2,200	2,584
Grand Junction, CO	62,218	508	3,141	3,649
Burnsville, MN	61,536	279	2,473	2,752
Chapel Hill, NC	61,912	185	1,989	2,174

Source: The Chapel Hill, NC crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.