Top 10 most dangerous cities in North Carolina

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North Carolina, known for its diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Charlotte to the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, North Carolina faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in North Carolina are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between North Carolina's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in North Carolina involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in North Carolina. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. North Carolina's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Wadesboro Population: 5,273 2,037 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.58 chance of being a victim: 1 in 49 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,391

Wadesboro, NC holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in North Carolina with 2,037 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,732), robbery (183), rape (61) and homicide (61) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 442% higher than the North Carolina average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Laurinburg Population: 15,118 1,894 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.19 chance of being a victim: 1 in 53 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,936

The second most dangerous city is Laurinburg. With a population of 15,118 and a violent crime rate that is 404% higher than the North Carolina average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Laurinburg are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,894 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 53 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Henderson Population: 15,127 1,792 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 56 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,592

Home to 15,127 residents, Henderson, NC ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in North Carolina. Unfortunately for residents of Henderson, crime is widespread, with more than 1,792 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 4.91 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 377% higher than the North Carolina violent crime rate.

Lumberton Population: 20,704 1,677 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 60 Total Crimes / 100k: 11,621

With a violent crime rate that is 346% higher than the North Carolina average, it's not hard to see why Lumberton made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (299), assault (1,252), rape (73) and homicide (52). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Lumberton more vulnerable to high crime.

Williamston Population: 5,251 1,161 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.18 chance of being a victim: 1 in 86 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,569

The ongoing battle with crime in Williamston, NC, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 1,161 and a 1 in 86 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Williamston has a violent crime rate that is 209% higher than the North Carolina average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Williamston.

Goldsboro Population: 34,610 1,076 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.95 chance of being a victim: 1 in 93 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,940

Goldsboro, NC comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,076 per 100,000 people, which is 186% higher than the North Carolina average. Goldsboro has a population of 34,610, which translates to 2.95 crimes per day and 1 in 93 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Goldsboro which are much safer than others.

Selma Population: 6,950 1,049 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.87 chance of being a victim: 1 in 95 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,437

A 1 in 95 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.87 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Selma makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,049 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 179% higher than the North Carolina average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (897), robbery (110), rape (41) and homicide (0).

Shelby Population: 20,046 1,044 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.86 chance of being a victim: 1 in 96 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,477

Shelby, NC is another one of the most dangerous cities in North Carolina and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 20,046 and a violent crime rate of 1,044 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 894 counts of assault, 77 counts of robbery, 50 counts of rape and 23 counts of homicide. All told, the Shelby violent crime rate is 178% higher than the North Carolina average.

Roxboro Population: 8,323 1,008 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 99 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,517

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Roxboro, NC comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in North Carolina with a violent crime rate of 1,008 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.76 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 99 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Salisbury Population: 33,961 960 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.63 chance of being a victim: 1 in 104 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,947

Rounding out our list at #10 is Salisbury, NC. With a population of 33,961 and a violent crime rate of 960 per 100,000 people (155% higher than the North Carolina average), some parts of Salisbury are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 727 counts of assault, 145 counts of robbery, 57 counts of rape and 30 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 104 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in North Carolina

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Wadesboro	5,273	2,037	9,391
2	Laurinburg	15,118	1,894	6,936
3	Henderson	15,127	1,792	7,592
4	Lumberton	20,704	1,677	11,621
5	Williamston	5,251	1,161	7,569
6	Goldsboro	34,610	1,076	6,940
7	Selma	6,950	1,049	3,437
8	Shelby	20,046	1,044	3,477
9	Roxboro	8,323	1,008	4,517
10	Salisbury	33,961	960	4,947
11	Kinston	20,173	959	5,923
12	Burlington	54,534	952	4,037
13	Greensboro	294,395	924	4,307
14	Dunn	9,738	904	6,012
15	Roanoke Rapids	14,562	897	4,277
16	Gastonia	76,635	849	4,364
17	Oxford	8,812	841	4,429
18	Winston-Salem	245,787	810	3,731
19	Asheville	92,328	796	4,691
20	Rocky Mount	54,330	765	4,745
21	Charlotte	873,570	733	4,439
22	Pineville	8,923	724	9,479
23	Tarboro	10,806	668	3,361
24	Fayetteville	211,201	660	3,755
25	Monroe	35,339	653	3,987
26	Kings Mountain	10,885	648	2,914
27	Durham	276,341	619	4,419
28	Rockingham	8,771	615	4,450
29	Reidsville	13,928	597	3,332
30	Wilson	49,310	579	2,982
31	Clinton	8,480	566	3,843
32	Spring Lake	12,093	541	3,918
33	Whiteville	5,348	537	8,509
34	Forest City	7,150	528	5,818
35	Washington	9,555	520	3,900
36	Waynesville	10,145	499	3,311
37	Smithfield	12,697	490	4,054
38	Raleigh	469,698	489	3,308
39	Wilmington	122,162	483	3,998
40	Siler City	8,159	479	2,628
41	Bessemer City	5,536	457	1,953
42	High Point	112,434	455	2,911
43	Greenville	92,826	453	3,367
44	Lexington	18,970	437	3,457
45	Erwin	5,104	436	2,785
46	Eden	14,986	412	2,946
47	Hickory	41,067	407	3,232
48	Newton	13,106	401	2,307
49	Belmont	12,292	383	3,216
50	Hillsborough	7,162	378	4,904

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in North Carolina is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included North Carolina cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.