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.

Wadesboro Population: 5,273 2,621 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 7.18 chance of being a victim: 1 in 38 Total Crimes / 100k: 10,385

Wadesboro, NC holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in North Carolina with 2,621 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (2,323), robbery (179), rape (79) and homicide (40) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 547% 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.

Lumberton Population: 20,704 2,400 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 6.58 chance of being a victim: 1 in 42 Total Crimes / 100k: 13,631

The second most dangerous city is Lumberton. With a population of 20,704 and a violent crime rate that is 492% higher than the North Carolina average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Lumberton are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 2,400 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 42 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Henderson Population: 15,127 1,770 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 57 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,944

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 1,770 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 4.85 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 337% higher than the North Carolina violent crime rate.

Williamston Population: 5,251 1,645 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.51 chance of being a victim: 1 in 61 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,766

With a violent crime rate that is 306% higher than the North Carolina average, it's not hard to see why Williamston made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (159), assault (1,328), rape (139) and homicide (20). 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 Williamston more vulnerable to high crime.

Laurinburg Population: 15,118 1,559 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 64 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,027

The ongoing battle with crime in Laurinburg, 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 1,559 and a 1 in 64 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Laurinburg 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 Laurinburg.

Roxboro Population: 8,323 1,287 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.53 chance of being a victim: 1 in 78 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,706

Roxboro, NC comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,287 per 100,000 people, which is 218% higher than the North Carolina average. Roxboro has a population of 8,323, which translates to 3.53 crimes per day and 1 in 78 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 Roxboro which are much safer than others.

Winston-Salem Population: 245,787 1,176 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.22 chance of being a victim: 1 in 85 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,069

A 1 in 85 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.22 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Winston-Salem makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,176 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 190% higher than the North Carolina average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (1,017), robbery (112), rape (35) and homicide (12).

Goldsboro Population: 34,610 1,127 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.09 chance of being a victim: 1 in 89 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,241

Goldsboro, NC is another one of the most dangerous cities in North Carolina and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 34,610 and a violent crime rate of 1,127 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 946 counts of assault, 117 counts of robbery, 46 counts of rape and 18 counts of homicide. All told, the Goldsboro violent crime rate is 178% higher than the North Carolina average.

Whiteville Population: 5,348 1,015 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 99 Total Crimes / 100k: 10,086

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, Whiteville, NC comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in North Carolina with a violent crime rate of 1,015 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.78 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 99 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Reidsville Population: 13,928 988 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.71 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,820

Rounding out our list at #10 is Reidsville, NC. With a population of 13,928 and a violent crime rate of 988 per 100,000 people (144% higher than the North Carolina average), some parts of Reidsville are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 884 counts of assault, 55 counts of robbery, 35 counts of rape and 14 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 101 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	2,621	10,385
2	Lumberton	20,704	2,400	13,631
3	Henderson	15,127	1,770	5,944
4	Williamston	5,251	1,645	5,766
5	Laurinburg	15,118	1,559	6,027
6	Roxboro	8,323	1,287	5,706
7	Winston-Salem	245,787	1,176	5,069
8	Goldsboro	34,610	1,127	6,241
9	Whiteville	5,348	1,015	10,086
10	Reidsville	13,928	988	4,820
11	Clinton	8,480	987	4,610
12	Fayetteville	211,201	978	4,435
13	Asheville	92,328	938	6,071
14	Shelby	20,046	905	3,443
15	Salisbury	33,961	885	4,541
16	Rocky Mount	54,330	881	3,650
17	Dunn	9,738	854	5,436
18	Burlington	54,534	832	4,611
19	Greensboro	294,395	819	4,605
20	Gastonia	76,635	787	4,726
21	Monroe	35,339	787	4,727
22	Rockingham	8,771	767	5,212
23	Charlotte	873,570	746	4,121
24	Roanoke Rapids	14,562	739	5,331
25	Oxford	8,812	731	2,844
26	Siler City	8,159	728	3,903
27	Kinston	20,173	708	3,950
28	Durham	276,341	687	4,004
29	Forest City	7,150	680	7,466
30	Selma	6,950	628	2,250
31	Smithfield	12,697	623	5,771
32	Zebulon	5,712	589	3,677
33	Albemarle	16,073	583	4,114
34	Greenville	92,826	568	3,297
35	Spring Lake	12,093	560	3,628
36	High Point	112,434	548	3,239
37	Elizabeth City	17,725	539	3,354
38	Eden	14,986	538	3,022
39	Wilmington	122,162	532	3,398
40	Hickory	41,067	530	4,031
41	Wilson	49,310	516	2,980
42	Hillsborough	7,162	514	6,124
43	Pineville	8,923	513	9,535
44	New Bern	29,985	506	2,546
45	Raleigh	469,698	500	2,834
46	Erwin	5,104	493	3,067
47	Lexington	18,970	486	3,633
48	Kings Mountain	10,885	482	2,736
49	Carolina Beach	6,324	466	2,691
50	Garner	30,345	457	3,929

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.