Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in North Carolina

The statistics of North Carolina present a combination of favorable and unfavorable reports because the state features both its picturesque natural beauty and its developing urban centers. Several cities across North Carolina maintain persistent rankings among dangerous locations throughout the nation, even though many towns and suburbs maintain quietness.

In this article, we will look at the most dangerous cities in NC, along with the crime rates and tips to stay safe in the worst cities in North Carolina.

Is North Carolina Dangerous?

North Carolina is generally a safe place to live.  It has a lower overall crime rate than many other states, but staying informed about higher-crime areas is still important, especially in larger cities. North Carolina’s crime rate in 2024 is relatively low at 24.69 incidents per 1,000 residents. This suggests that about 25 out of every 1,000 people may experience property or violent crime, with risks being higher in certain areas.

Insights of North Carolina Crime Rate

Although North Carolina has crime rates higher than the national average, not all cities here are dangerous. North Carolina has an average violent crime occurrence of 4.16 incidents per 1,000 while property crime exists each 1,000 residents experience 35.34 incidents. There are some dangerous cities with such high crime rates.

These struggle with crime rates of theft together with burglary and motor vehicle offenses because law enforcement agencies do not have sufficient personnel to handle these occurrences. However, cities like Davidson, Rolesville, and Pinehurst offer the safest living experience.

Source: FBI

Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in NC

Let us have an overview of the top 10 most dangerous cities in NC

Pineville

The statistics place Pineville as the one of most dangerous cities in North Carolina. The town of Pineville serves a total population of 9,000 but maintains excessive property crime statistics along with 124.45 incidents per 1,000 people while registering violent crime occurrences at a rate of 7.48 per 1,000.

Whiteville

Whiteville stands as a small yet dangerous area because it has a violent crime rate of 14.61 per 1,000 residents and a property crime rate of 95.35 per 1,000. The combined crime rate in Whiteville reaches 109.97 per 1,000 residents, demonstrating substantial public safety risks even though it is a relatively small town.

Forest City

Forest City follows closely behind. 7,116 residents reach a moderate level of violent crime incidents at 4.78 per 1,000 people while facing high property crime incidents at 82.21 per 1,000 residents, which makes it a troubled area for theft and burglary. The complete crime statistics reach 86.99 per 1,000 residents.

Wadesboro

According to state records, the violent crime situation in Wadesboro is particularly severe among the North Carolina municipalities. The population of Wadesboro totals 5,200 residents per year but suffers 18.94 violent crimes per 1,000 people which classifies the town as North Carolina's most dangerous area along with its 64.27 property crime rate per 1,000.

Williamston

Of the 5,217 inhabitants of Williamston the rate of violent incidents amounts to 12.65 per 1,000 residents and the population deals with property crime rates of 66.71 per 1,000. The high crime statistics establish Williamston as one of the ten most risky cities because its total crime score reaches 79.36 per 1,000 residents.

Waynesville

The population of Waynesville residents amounts to 10,146 people while their number of total crimes stands at 73.63 incidents per 1,000 residents with 6.11 violent crimes per 1,000 and 67.51 property crimes per 1,000. This town maintains slightly lower criminal activity than other areas, yet its risks are substantial in high tourist destinations.

Henderson

Henderson is a North Carolina municipality with a crime rate of 16.26 incidents for every 1,000 residents. Property crimes occur at a rate of 55.63 per 1,000 people, while other offenses add 6.11 per 1,000, creating a total of 71.89 per 1,000 that deserves the attention of both residents and visitors.

Reidsville

Crime in Reidsville persists as a continuous problem throughout the city. Presently with 14,000 residents, the city maintains a violent crime rate of 7.52 per 1,000 and a property crime rate of 63.76 per 1,000 resulting in a total rate of 71.28 per 1,000 among its population.

Asheville

People mostly associate Asheville with its art culture and gorgeous mountain outlooks, yet the city struggles with increased criminal activity. Within its population of 93,641, the city experiences a violent crime rate of 7.42 per 1,000 combined with a property crime rate of 63.25 per 1,000 which makes the total crime rate reach 70.67 per 1,000.

Goldsboro

Goldsboro stands as the final city on our list with 34,085 inhabitants. The total crime rate in Goldsboro amounts to 66.07 per 1,000 residents as the violent crime rate stands at 7.83 per 1,000 and the property crime rate reaches 58.24 per 1,000. The larger population of this town does not change its exposure to the same problems that affect smaller municipalities.

How To Be Safe in Most Dangerous Cities in NC?

Now that you know about the worst places to live in North Carolina, you should take active measures to protect yourself despite the severe crime problems in their communities.

• Homeowners must purchase a home security system like the Reolink Home Hub Kit for smart alerts and high-end cameras.

• You should keep yourself updated about neighborhood crime patterns by reading official police updates and community notification reports.
• Security is enhanced through motion detection lights, especially for outdoor areas.
• Avoid going out at night, especially when alone.

FAQs

What City in NC Has the Highest Crime Rate?

Pineville holds the highest total crime rate in North Carolina at 131.93 per 1,000 residents.

What Cities have the Highest Violent Crime Rate in NC?

Lumberton regularly ranks among the cities with the highest crime rates in North Carolina, despite year-to-year fluctuations.

Which City in NC is Safest?

Davidson is the safest city, with 0.2 violent crimes per 1000 people and 3.5 property crimes.

What is the Most Common Crime in North Carolina?

Burglary and theft are the most frequent criminal activities reported across North Carolina.

Conclusion

Knowledge about regional patterns of the most dangerous cities in NC, especially the worst places to live in North Carolina, delivers valuable information for making proper decisions about where to live.

Proper precautions enable you to strongly minimize your chances of encountering danger. To ensure safety, purchase home security equipment while being vigilant and select residential areas based on your security concerns.