F
148%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
345%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
111%
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 peopleWilliamston/100k peopleNorth Carolina/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime291n/a (estimate)5,7662,4692,324
Murder1n/a19.88.16.3
Rape7n/a138.730.540.0
Robbery8n/a158.554.966.1
Assault67n/a1,327.5311.6268.2
Violent crime83n/a (estimate)1,645405370
Burglary37n/a733.1370.8269.8
Theft157n/a3,110.81,494.01,401.9
Vehicle theft14n/a277.4199.3282.7
Property crime208n/a (estimate)4,1212,0641,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Williamston, NC

Looking at the most recent crime report, the crime rate in Williamston is 148.1% higher than the national average. These crimes fall into two primary categories: violent and property. Violent crimes encompass murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes involve theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In Williamston, there were 83 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 1645 per 100,000 individuals, 344.7% higher than the national average. Additionally, there were 208 property crimes, amounting to 4121 per 100,000 residents, 110.9% higher than the U.S. average.

In Williamston, the crime rate stands at 5766 per 100,000 residents, surpassing the national average by 148.08%. 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 Williamston 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.

With a violent crime rate of 1645 crimes per 100,000 residents, Williamston is known as one of the most dangerous cities in the United States. In fact, Williamston ranks in the bottom 10% of all cities that reported violent crime last year. This translates into a 1 in 61 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. Keep in mind that some areas will be safer than others and this doesn't necessarily mean that the entire city suffers from a high violent crime rate.

Although the murder rates in America have decreased steadily since 1990, over the last few years there has been an uptick. Williamston has one of the highest murder rates in the country when compared to all other cities that reported crime in the U.S. There were a total of 1 murders in Williamston, which is 20 murders per 100,000 people.

Williamston reports one of the nation's highest property crime rates, with 4121 incidents per 100,000 people, positioning it among the worst 10% of American cities reporting crime. This unfortunate statistic translates to a 1 in 25 chance of falling victim to property crime in Williamston, 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 Williamston?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of Williamston residents. Out of the respondents (14 in total), 21% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in Williamston were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 79% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is Williamston a Safe Place to Live?

Is Williamston a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Williamston has a crime rate that is higher than the national average by 148%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 0.8 daily incidents, encompassing 0.23 violent crimes and 0.57 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Williamston as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Williamston Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Williamston has decreased by 14.7% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Williamston 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 increased by 20.3%, while property crime has decreased by 23.5%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Williamston.

Potential Causes for Crime in Williamston

In Williamston, the poverty rate currently stands at 28.4%, which contrasts with the national average of 15.1%. It's essential to recognize that the economic status of a city's inhabitants could be a pivotal factor influencing crime stats. Communities grappling with high poverty rates and income inequality are often susceptible to elevated crime levels, as some individuals may turn to unlawful activities to fulfill their essential needs. While lower poverty rates could lead to a reduction in Williamston crime rates.

High cost of living can lead to economic stress for individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. When people struggle to make ends meet due to high housing costs, healthcare expenses, or other basic necessities, they may be more inclined to engage in criminal activities, such as theft or fraud, as a means of financial survival. On the flipside, cities that have a lower cost of living, could see a reduced crime rate. In Williamston, the cost of living is 16.56% lower than the national average.

Williamston has a ratio of police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents that differs from the national norm, with 3.82 officers and civilians per 1,000 residents, compared to 3.25 nationwide. Crime rates are profoundly influenced by the effectiveness of law enforcement and community policing endeavors. A resilient and cooperative partnership between law enforcement agencies and the community can serve as a deterrent to criminal activities, ultimately enhancing safety. The efficacy of law enforcement extends beyond mere numbers and extends into the realm of community policing strategies, emphasizing the cultivation of trust and collaboration between officers and the community. It is not merely a matter of quantity but the quality of engagement with the community that matters most.

Williamston crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Williamston crime rates are 148% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Williamston are 345% higher than the national average
      • In Williamston you have a 1 in 18 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Williamston is safer than 2% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Williamston has decreased by 14%

      Williamston, NC Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Williamston

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        Daily Crime In Williamston (per 100,000 people)

        The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Williamston, North Carolina is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Williamston are 2.34 times more than the North Carolina average and 2.48 times more than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Williamston are 4.06 times more than than North Carolina and 4.45 times more than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Williamston are 2.00 times more than than North Carolina and 2.11 times more than the national average.

        How Safe is Williamston (higher is better)

        How safe is Williamston, North Carolina compared to other cities in North Carolina and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Williamston is safer than 5% of the cities in North Carolina and 2% 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 Williamston. Overall, Williamston is ranked below average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Williamston

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Williamston is 1 in 61
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Williamston is 1 in 25
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Williamston is 1 in 18
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Williamston? In Williamston, you have a 1 in 61 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 25. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Williamston, NC is 1 in 18.

        Year Over Year Crime In Williamston (per 100,000 people)

        The year over year crime rate per 100,000 people for Williamston is an accurate tool for tracking the rise and fall of crime, and in determining if living in Williamston has become safer or more dangerous. The year over year data displayed in the graph shows that violent crimes have increased by 21% in Williamston, while property crimes in Williamston have decreased by 23%. Total crime has decreased by 14% year over year.

        Williamston police department

        Item Williamston North Carolina National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)2114,511558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents3.84.83.3
        There are a total of 21 Williamston police officers. This results in 3.8 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 20% less than the North Carolina average and 17.6% greater 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
        Windsor, NC3,4221219381,059
        Robersonville, NC1,6011971,0051,203
        Parmele, NC2784852,4732,958
        Bear Grass, NC825852,9813,566
        Jamesville, NC5785903,0053,594
        Oak City, NC3685923,0183,610
        Everetts, NC1366073,0953,702
        Williamston, NC5,2511,6454,1215,766

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Kings Point, NY5,250140560700
        Zephyrhills South, FL5,2482511,5151,766
        Ada, OH5,2480191191
        Rockport, MA5,24729115144
        Woodstock, VA5,2472531,4001,653
        Williamston, NC5,2511,6454,1215,766
        Source: The Williamston, 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.