F
46%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
44%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
47%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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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.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleWilmington/100k peopleNorth Carolina/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime4,049n/a (estimate)3,3982,4692,324
Murder12n/a10.18.16.3
Rape77n/a64.630.540.0
Robbery111n/a93.254.966.1
Assault434n/a364.2311.6268.2
Violent crime634n/a (estimate)532405370
Burglary470n/a394.4370.8269.8
Theft2,675n/a2,244.91,494.01,401.9
Vehicle theft270n/a226.6199.3282.7
Property crime3,415n/a (estimate)2,8662,0641,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Wilmington, NC

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Wilmington is 46.2% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 634 violent crimes reported in Wilmington, equivalent to 532 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 43.9%. Additionally, Wilmington recorded 3415 property crimes, amounting to 2866 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 46.6%.

Although the murder rates in America have decreased steadily since 1990, over the last few years there has been an uptick. Wilmington has one of the highest murder rates in the country when compared to all other cities that reported crime in the U.S. There were a total of 12 murders in Wilmington, which is 10 murders per 100,000 people.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Wilmington?

What is the prevailing sentiment among Wilmington residents regarding the state of crime? A comprehensive survey conducted by AreaVibes, involving 203 respondents, sheds light on this matter. The results were as follows: 34% of Wilmington 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, 66% of those surveyed held a contrasting viewpoint, perceiving a higher incidence of crime, leading them to feel apprehensive about walking alone at night.

Is Wilmington a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Wilmington, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Wilmington presents a total crime rate that is 46% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Wilmington experiences an average of 11.09 daily crimes, comprising 1.74 violent incidents and 9.36 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in Wilmington Increased Since Last Year?

Examining year-over-year crime data provides insights into short-term trends with regards to the crime activity in Wilmington. This analysis involves comparing crime rates from one year to the next, enabling the identification of patterns and fluctuations in crime. Such information proves invaluable to residents seeking to make well-informed decisions about their choice of residence. In the most recent year, compared to the previous one, total crime in Wilmington has decreased by 3.2%. Specifically, violent crime has decreased by 3.2%, while property crime has decreased by 3.2%. This data empowers individuals with a clearer understanding of the evolving safety landscape in Wilmington.

Potential Causes for Crime in Wilmington

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 Wilmington crime rates. In Wilmington, the poverty rate stands at 19.2%, diverging from the national average of 15.1%.

Wilmington has a population density of 2376.5 people per square mile, contrasting with the national average of 90.6 people per square mile. High population density cities are often large urban hubs teeming with diverse economic opportunities. Within these environments, income disparities can become pronounced, leading to higher poverty levels. This economic divide may contribute to an uptick in property crimes and, occasionally, violent crimes. In contrast, areas characterized by low population density typically exhibit lower Wilmington crime rates.

The educational level achieved in any given city can influence crime rates significantly. Greater educational achievement is frequently associated with decreased crime rates, as it offers individuals improved job prospects and alternatives to engaging in crime related activities. Conversely, lower educational attainment rates tend to coincide with elevated crime rates. In Wilmington, 87.6% of residents have successfully graduated from high school, in contrast to the national average where 83% have achieved high school graduation.

Wilmington crime map



The Wilmington crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Wilmington 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 Wilmington crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Wilmington 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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Compare Wilmington, NC Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Wilmington crime rates are 46% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Wilmington are 44% higher than the national average
      • In Wilmington you have a 1 in 30 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Wilmington is safer than 14% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Wilmington has increased by 3%

      Wilmington, NC Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Wilmington (per 100,000 people)

        The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in Wilmington, NC per 100,000 people. In Wilmington, the number of daily crimes is projected to be 1.38 times more than the North Carolina average and 1.46 times more than the national average. The average number of daily violent crimes in Wilmington is 1.31 times more than the North Carolina average and 1.44 times more than the daily national average. With regards to property crimes, Wilmington has a daily crime rate that is 1.39 times more than the North Carolina average and 1.47 times more than the overall daily national average.

        How Safe is Wilmington (higher is better)

        Is Wilmington safe in comparison to other cities in the state of North Carolina as well as in comparison to the rest of the areas across the United States. Using the gauges above, which compare crime in Wilmington to other cities in the state and across the country, Wilmington is 30% safer than other cities of North Carolina and 14% safer than other cities in the nation. Wilmington has a ranks below average in comparison to other cities in the country.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Wilmington

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Wilmington is 1 in 188
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Wilmington is 1 in 35
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Wilmington is 1 in 30
        Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In Wilmington, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 188. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 35 chance of being the victim of a property crime such as vehicle theft, personal property theft, and burglary. Your overall risk of becoming a crime victim in Wilmington is 1 in 30.

        Year Over Year Crime In Wilmington (per 100,000 people)

        An ideal indicator of whether Wilmington is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live can be done by analyzing the year over year crime rates per 100,000 people. Year over year violent crime in Wilmington has increased by 3% and the rate of property crime in Wilmington has increased by 3%. The total crime rate in Wilmington has increased by 3% year to year.

        Wilmington police department

        Item Wilmington North Carolina National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)30414,511558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.84.83.3
        There are a total of 304 Wilmington police officers. This results in 2.8 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 41.8% less than the North Carolina average and 14.5% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in North Carolina

        State Total offenders North Carolina /100K National /100K
        North Carolina26,293320266
        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
        Sea Breeze, NC1,64697497594
        Bayshore, NC3,776121619740
        Porters Neck, NC7,693132671803
        Ogden, NC9,071138705844
        Skippers Corner, NC3,250145738883
        Belville, NC2,696147748895
        Northchase, NC4,9871879511,137
        Wilmington, NC122,1625322,8663,398

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Hartford, CT122,5495702,4783,048
        Odessa, TX122,6305202,0682,588
        Columbia, MO122,6594722,6153,086
        Victorville, CA122,9589401,8122,753
        Vallejo, CA121,2759744,2325,206
        Wilmington, NC122,1625322,8663,398
        Source: The Wilmington, 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.