A+
50%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
69%
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 peopleWake Forest/100k peopleNorth Carolina/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime595n/a (estimate)1,1582,4692,324
Murder1n/a1.98.16.3
Rape6n/a11.730.540.0
Robbery5n/a9.754.966.1
Assault47n/a91.5311.6268.2
Violent crime59n/a (estimate)115405370
Burglary53n/a103.1370.8269.8
Theft451n/a877.71,494.01,401.9
Vehicle theft32n/a62.3199.3282.7
Property crime536n/a (estimate)1,0432,0641,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Wake Forest, NC

When we analyze the latest crime report, the Wake Forest crime rate is 50.2% 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 Wake Forest, there were 59 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 115 per 100,000 individuals, 69% lower than the national average. Additionally, Wake Forest recorded 536 property crimes, amounting to 1043 per 100,000 residents, 46.6% lower than the U.S. average.

Wake Forest shines as one of the safest cities in the United States, thanks to its remarkably low rate of only 115 violent incidents per 100,000 residents. This impressive safety record has made Wake Forest an attractive choice for individuals seeking a secure and hospitable community to call home.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Wake Forest?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Wake Forest. Based on the results of the surveys (24 responses), 79% of people felt that there was very little crime in Wake Forest and felt safe walking alone at night. While 21% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Wake Forest a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Wake Forest, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Wake Forest presents a total crime rate that is 50% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Wake Forest experiences an average of 1.63 daily crimes, comprising 0.16 violent incidents and 1.47 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 Wake Forest Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Wake Forest has increased by 12.1% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Wake Forest 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 decreased by 14.5%, while property crime has increased by 16%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Wake Forest.

Potential Causes for Crime in Wake Forest

In Wake Forest, 93.6% of residents have successfully graduated from high school, whereas the national average stands at 83%. The educational makeup of any city 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.

Rising cost of living expenses, including increased housing costs, grocery, utility and healthcare expenditures, can induce financial strain on individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. Such economic stress may propel individuals towards crime, 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 Wake Forest, the cost of living is 6.94% higher than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

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 Wake Forest, the ratio of police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents stands at 2.14, 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.

Wake Forest crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Wake Forest crime rates are 50% lower than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Wake Forest are 69% lower than the national average
      • In Wake Forest you have a 1 in 87 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Wake Forest is safer than 69% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Wake Forest has increased by 8%

      Wake Forest, NC Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Wake Forest

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        Daily Crime In Wake Forest (per 100,000 people)

        The bar chart above reveals the rate of daily crimes in Wake Forest for every 100,000 residents. The Wake Forest total amount of daily crime is 2.13 times less than the North Carolina average and 2.01 times less than than that of the nation. As for violent crimes, the daily average in Wake Forest, is 3.53 times less than the North Carolina average, and it is 3.22 times less than the national average. The statistics for property crimes show that Wake Forest has a daily crime average that is 1.98 times less than the North Carolina average and 1.87 times less than the daily national rate.

        How Safe is Wake Forest (higher is better)

        How safe is Wake Forest, North Carolina compared to other cities in North Carolina and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Wake Forest is safer than 86% of the cities in North Carolina and 69% of the cities in the United States. These results are calculated by analyzing all cities in North Carolina and across the US as a whole and determining how many areas have a lower crime rate than Wake Forest. Overall, Wake Forest is ranked above average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Wake Forest

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Wake Forest is 1 in 871
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Wake Forest is 1 in 96
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Wake Forest is 1 in 87
        Wondering what the chances are that you fall victim to a crime in Wake Forest? In Wake Forest, NC you have a 1 in 871 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 96 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 87 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Wake Forest.

        Year Over Year Crime In Wake Forest (per 100,000 people)

        A good indicator of whether Wake Forest is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Wake Forest has decreased by 18%, while the property crime rate in Wake Forest has increased by 12% year over year. The number of total crimes in Wake Forest has increased by 8% year over year.

        Wake Forest police department

        Item Wake Forest North Carolina National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)6714,511558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.14.83.3
        There are a total of 67 Wake Forest police officers. This results in 2.1 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 55.3% less than the North Carolina average and 34.3% 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
        Rolesville, NC8,00285654739
        Wendell, NC7,962172791962
        Creedmoor, NC4,5393931,1381,531
        Butner, NC7,7792091,7751,984
        Franklinton, NC2,3411881,8392,027
        Youngsville, NC2,2251372,1392,276
        Knightdale, NC16,7982092,5592,767
        Wake Forest, NC44,0681151,0431,158

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Burke, VA44,077101733834
        Ashburn, VA44,090101733834
        York, PA44,0197102,5593,269
        Bountiful, UT43,9911111,1971,308
        Altamonte Springs, FL43,9693952,2972,692
        Wake Forest, NC44,0681151,0431,158
        Source: The Wake Forest, 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.