F
118%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
218%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
99%
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 peopleWinston-Salem/100k peopleNorth Carolina/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime12,739n/a (estimate)5,0692,4692,324
Murder30n/a11.98.16.3
Rape87n/a34.630.540.0
Robbery282n/a112.254.966.1
Assault2,555n/a1,016.7311.6268.2
Violent crime2,954n/a (estimate)1,176405370
Burglary1,796n/a714.7370.8269.8
Theft7,070n/a2,813.41,494.01,401.9
Vehicle theft919n/a365.7199.3282.7
Property crime9,785n/a (estimate)3,8942,0641,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Winston-Salem, NC

The Winston-Salem crime rates are 118.1% higher than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 2954 violent crimes in Winston-Salem (1176 per 100,000 people), which is 217.9% higher than the national average and there were a total of 9785 property crimes (3894 per 100,000 residents) which is 99.2% higher than average.

In Winston-Salem, the crime rate stands at 5069 per 100,000 residents, surpassing the national average by 118.11%. This places the city among those with some of the highest total crime rates nationwide. However, it's important to recognize that this doesn't imply that the entire city is unsafe. As with any urban area, there are neighborhoods in Winston-Salem that exhibit varying levels of safety, emphasizing the need for localized crime prevention efforts and community involvement to create a safe environment across the entire city.

Winston-Salem ranks among the most perilous cities in the United States, bearing a violent crime rate of 1176 per 100,000 people, positioning it within the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities reporting crime statistics. The odds of falling victim to violent crime in Winston-Salem stand at 1 in every 86 residents, emphasizing the pressing need for enhanced safety measures and community engagement to address this significant concern.

Despite a steady decline in murder rates in the United States since 1990, recent years have witnessed an unfortunate uptick. Winston-Salem stands out with one of the nation's highest murder rates, surpassing other cities that reported crime. In Winston-Salem, there were a total of 30 murders, translating to 12 murders per 100,000 people, underscoring the pressing need for continued efforts to address and reduce severe violent crime in the area.

Winston-Salem reports one of the nation's highest property crime rates, with 3894 incidents per 100,000 people, positioning it among the worst 10% of American cities reporting crime. This unfortunate statistic translates to a 1 in 26 chance of falling victim to property crime in Winston-Salem, significantly surpassing the national average. These figures underscore the city's challenges in combating property-related offenses, necessitating a concerted effort to enhance security and community safety.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Winston-Salem?

AreaVibes surveyed 143 local residents in Winston-Salem to gauge the safety of the area. Based on the results, 49% of people answered that there was very little crime in Winston-Salem and that they felt very comfortable walking alone at night. Another 51% of people responded that there was far too much crime and they would be hesitant to walk the streets alone at night. Keep in mind that the opinions of residents may vary depending on which area they live in.

Is Winston-Salem a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if Winston-Salem is a safe place to live, let's take a look at the overall crime rate of the area, as well as the number of daily crimes. Winston-Salem has a total crime rate that is 118% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 34.9 daily crimes (8.09 violent daily crimes and 26.81 daily property crimes) in Winston-Salem.

Potential Causes for Crime in Winston-Salem

In Winston-Salem, 82.1% of residents have graduated from high school, whereas the national average stands at 83%. The educational makeup of a community can exert a significant influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of educational attainment are associated with reduced crime rates, as they furnish individuals with improved employment prospects and viable alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, communities characterized by lower educational achievement often grapple with higher crime rates, as limited opportunities may drive individuals towards criminal behavior.

Escalating cost of living expenses, encompassing exorbitant housing costs, grocery and healthcare expenditures, can induce financial strain on individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. Such economic stress may propel individuals towards criminal activities, including theft or burglary, as a means of addressing their financial hardships. Conversely, cities characterized by a lower cost of living may alleviate economic pressures, potentially resulting in a reduced crime rate. In Winston-Salem, the cost of living is 5.64% lower than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

The median home price in Winston-Salem is $152,000, compared to the national average of $184,700. High housing costs can lead to financial stress for residents. When individuals struggle to make ends meet due to expensive housing, they may be more inclined to engage in criminal activities to address their financial difficulties, such as theft or fraud. Communities with stable housing environments tend to foster stronger social bonds and community engagement. This can lead to increased vigilance and cooperation among residents, which can deter criminal behavior.

Winston-Salem crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Winston-Salem crime rates are 118% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Winston-Salem are 218% higher than the national average
      • In Winston-Salem you have a 1 in 20 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Winston-Salem is safer than 2% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Winston-Salem has increased by 33%

      Winston-Salem, NC Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Winston-Salem

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        Daily Crime In Winston-Salem (per 100,000 people)

        The graph above looks at the comparison of crimes committed in Winston-Salem on a daily basis (per 100,000 people) to crimes committed throughout the state of North Carolina and the USA. According to the latest crime statistics, daily crimes in Winston-Salem (which include property crimes as well as violent crimes), when compared to North Carolina, are 2.05 times more than the state average and 2.18 times more than than national average. Violent crimes committed in Winston-Salem on a daily basis are 2.90 times more than than North Carolina average and 3.18 times more than the average nationwide. Daily property crime rates in Winston-Salem are 1.89 times more than the daily state average and 1.99 times more than the daily national numbers.

        How Safe is Winston-Salem (higher is better)

        When comparing the safety of Winston-Salem to every other city in North Carolina, as well as the entirety of the United States, is Winston-Salem safe? The gauges above illustrate that Winston-Salem is safer than 5% of every city located within North Carolina along with 2% of the all the cities located in the United States. The results of these graphs are created after analyzing each of the cities in North Carolina and in the United States as a whole. As a result, Winston-Salem, NC is ranked below average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Winston-Salem

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Winston-Salem is 1 in 86
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Winston-Salem is 1 in 26
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Winston-Salem is 1 in 20
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Winston-Salem? In Winston-Salem, you have a 1 in 86 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, such as rape, robbery, assault, or even murder. In terms of property crime, your chances of being a victim are 1 in 26. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Winston-Salem, NC is 1 in 20.

        Year Over Year Crime In Winston-Salem (per 100,000 people)

        Determining whether Winston-Salem is becoming less or more safe for its residents (per 100,000) is most easily done by comparing year-over-year crime rates. Winston-Salem violent crime rates have increased by 95%. At the same time, property crime has increased by 22% year over year. Total crimes for Winston-Salem has increased by 33% in the same time frame.

        Winston-Salem police department

        Item Winston-Salem North Carolina National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)70514,511558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents3.04.83.3
        There are a total of 705 Winston-Salem police officers. This results in 3.0 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 37.1% less than the North Carolina average and 7.6% 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
        Bermuda Run, NC2,68864324387
        Tobaccoville, NC2,6871648371,002
        Walnut Cove, NC2,0881758901,065
        Wallburg, NC3,0731799101,089
        Advance, NC1,1351849371,121
        Rural Hall, NC3,2272291,1651,393
        Welcome, NC3,0502721,3851,657
        Winston-Salem, NC245,7871,1763,8945,069

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        North Las Vegas, NV247,2484221,7742,196
        Norfolk, VA244,3007034,8725,575
        Gilbert, AZ248,3491171,0171,133
        Chesapeake, VA242,6474172,0112,428
        Glendale, AZ250,2905453,2403,785
        Winston-Salem, NC245,7871,1763,8945,069
        Source: The Winston-Salem, 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.