Top 10 most dangerous cities in North Carolina

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.

Lumberton Population: 20,704 2,018 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.53 chance of being a victim: 1 in 50 Total Crimes / 100k: 13,973

Lumberton, NC holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in North Carolina with 2,018 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,598), robbery (266), rape (138) and homicide (16) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 416% 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.

Wadesboro Population: 5,273 1,841 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 54 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,974

The second most dangerous city is Wadesboro. With a population of 5,273 and a violent crime rate that is 370% higher than the North Carolina average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Wadesboro are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,841 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 54 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Henderson Population: 15,127 1,836 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.03 chance of being a victim: 1 in 54 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,936

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 1,836 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 5.03 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 369% higher than the North Carolina violent crime rate.

Laurinburg Population: 15,118 1,753 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 57 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,106

With a violent crime rate that is 348% higher than the North Carolina average, it's not hard to see why Laurinburg made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (121), assault (1,511), rape (87) and homicide (34). 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 Laurinburg more vulnerable to high crime.

Goldsboro Population: 34,610 1,508 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.13 chance of being a victim: 1 in 66 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,822

The ongoing battle with crime in Goldsboro, 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 1,508 and a 1 in 66 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Goldsboro has a violent crime rate that is 285% 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 Goldsboro.

Whiteville Population: 5,348 1,171 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.21 chance of being a victim: 1 in 85 Total Crimes / 100k: 10,774

Whiteville, NC comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,171 per 100,000 people, which is 199% higher than the North Carolina average. Whiteville has a population of 5,348, which translates to 3.21 crimes per day and 1 in 85 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 Whiteville which are much safer than others.

Roxboro Population: 8,323 1,088 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.98 chance of being a victim: 1 in 92 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,356

A 1 in 92 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.98 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Roxboro makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,088 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 178% higher than the North Carolina average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (819), robbery (122), rape (122) and homicide (24).

Salisbury Population: 33,961 974 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.67 chance of being a victim: 1 in 103 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,089

Salisbury, NC is another one of the most dangerous cities in North Carolina and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 33,961 and a violent crime rate of 974 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 852 counts of assault, 84 counts of robbery, 33 counts of rape and 6 counts of homicide. All told, the Salisbury violent crime rate is 149% higher than the North Carolina average.

Shelby Population: 20,046 963 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 104 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,591

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, Shelby, NC comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in North Carolina with a violent crime rate of 963 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.64 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 104 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Statesville Population: 27,114 956 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.62 chance of being a victim: 1 in 105 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,814

Rounding out our list at #10 is Statesville, NC. With a population of 27,114 and a violent crime rate of 956 per 100,000 people (144% higher than the North Carolina average), some parts of Statesville are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 817 counts of assault, 83 counts of robbery, 53 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 105 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	Lumberton	20,704	2,018	13,973
2	Wadesboro	5,273	1,841	9,974
3	Henderson	15,127	1,836	6,936
4	Laurinburg	15,118	1,753	6,106
5	Goldsboro	34,610	1,508	7,822
6	Whiteville	5,348	1,171	10,774
7	Roxboro	8,323	1,088	5,356
8	Salisbury	33,961	974	5,089
9	Shelby	20,046	963	3,591
10	Statesville	27,114	956	4,814
11	Clinton	8,480	911	5,116
12	Kinston	20,173	897	4,704
13	Winston-Salem	245,787	886	3,898
14	Rocky Mount	54,330	876	4,144
15	Fayetteville	211,201	875	3,941
16	Monroe	35,339	850	4,439
17	Asheville	92,328	846	5,371
18	Roanoke Rapids	14,562	837	5,941
19	Burlington	54,534	828	4,532
20	Washington	9,555	827	4,399
21	Greensboro	294,395	826	4,560
22	Oxford	8,812	825	4,002
23	Gastonia	76,635	795	4,612
24	Rockingham	8,771	785	5,161
25	Dunn	9,738	757	6,325
26	Pineville	8,923	726	9,444
27	Charlotte	873,570	726	4,562
28	Reidsville	13,928	715	4,198
29	Tarboro	10,806	685	3,255
30	Forest City	7,150	667	7,183
31	Selma	6,950	653	2,982
32	Durham	276,341	636	4,397
33	Kings Mountain	10,885	607	2,965
34	Albemarle	16,073	573	4,023
35	Greenville	92,826	547	3,735
36	Waynesville	10,145	546	3,857
37	Garner	30,345	536	5,119
38	Raleigh	469,698	528	3,118
39	Wilson	49,310	527	3,151
40	Spring Lake	12,093	516	3,951
41	Hickory	41,067	496	3,502
42	Ayden	5,138	492	1,989
43	Wilmington	122,162	487	3,996
44	Elizabeth City	17,725	473	2,895
45	Eden	14,986	471	3,272
46	High Point	112,434	446	2,990
47	Asheboro	25,877	424	3,233
48	Hope Mills	15,972	420	4,014
49	Kill Devil Hills	7,249	420	2,441
50	Smithfield	12,697	407	4,336

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.