North Carolina has its share of crime, just like any other state. Crime is different in every area, and there are a number of factors that contribute to a city’s crime statistics. Examining the North Carolina crime rate by city is vital for both residents and law makers alike. It can help you understand each city, but also understand the conditions that contribute to the presence of crime in the area.
North Carolina has an incredibly diverse mix of cities. There are some larger, heavily populated cities and some smaller cities. There are also cities that are urban and others that are more rural. The citizens of these cities come from a range of backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, and belief systems. Because of this, the range of crime rates by city varies.
Crime statistics are usually analyzed in two different categories. These categories are property crimes and violent crimes:
Overall, in 2022, the most recent year that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation released statistics, the rate of violent crime decreased by 3.9%, and the rate of property crime decreased by 0.9%.
It is expected that different cities will have different crime rates. The crime rates in these cities will change from year to year, depending on several factors. Below are the crime rate changes as given by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation from 2021 and 2022.
While the crime rates vary from month to month and year to year, there are a few cities that are generally considered consistently safe and others that are often considered to have a higher presence of crime. When considering which cities are safest or least safe, the number of crimes is calculated against the number of residents in the city.
So, while a city may have a lower number of crimes committed than a major city, the rate could be higher if the population is significantly lower. Some of the safer cities include:
Some of the least safe cities in North Carolina include
The amount of crime present in a city can be attributed to a number of factors. Taking these factors into consideration is important as it can shine a light on the full picture of the crime rate. Some of these factors include:
Generally speaking, if an area has fewer resources, fewer opportunities for education and employment, non-existent or poorly present law enforcement, and a high level of poverty, the area will typically see more crime. One reason for this is that people typically have a higher chance of resorting to crime in these types of environments to meet their basic needs.
A: The city in North Carolina with the lowest crime rate will depend on a few factors, such as the time period you’re looking at and how you analyze the different crime rates. However, there are some cities that have consistently been regarded as the safer ones in the city. They include Falcon, Milton, and Crossnore.
A: North Carolina’s rank in crime rate fluctuates when compared to other states. This will depend on the type of crime that is being analyzed and the time period in which a person wants to analyze. Per this 2023 report, North Carolina was ranked as the 19th safest state in the United States.
A: You can check crime rates in your area by contacting local law enforcement agencies. You can also check their websites, as they usually have the most recent statistics available. Many of these organizations have crime data, incident reports, and crime maps. Some of them separate the information by type of crime, city, and county.
A: In North Carolina, there are many factors that contribute to the differences in crime rates in the many cities in the state. Crime rates can vary between cities due to a combination of factors, including population size, socioeconomic conditions, demographics, law enforcement strategies, community engagement, access to resources, and cultural influences.
If you have been charged with a crime, an attorney at The Law Office of Michael D. Cleaves, PLLC, in Iredell County, can help. Contact us today for more information.
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