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C-

Is Carrboro, North Carolina Safe?

Population 20,962 · Safer than 30% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Carrboro is a smaller community of 20,962 people with a C- safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 227.9 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,508 per 100K.

Carrboro Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCarrboroNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate271.6317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2006.92053.51,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate158.0--268.2
Theft Rate1508.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate176.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC-

227.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

272/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

2007/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Carrboro

Violent crime in Carrboro is below the national average. The rate of 271.6 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2006.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,508 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Carrboro Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault158
059% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery51
081% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary264
098% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,508
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft176
055% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Carrboro Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Carrboro
271.6
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Carrboro
2006.9
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carrboro Safety

Is Carrboro safe?
Not especially. Carrboro earns a C- with a crime rate of 227.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Carrboro?
227.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 271.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2006.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Carrboro safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Carrboro's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,508 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Carrboro?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Carrboro generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Carrboro police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Carrboro?
No. Crime in Carrboro has been trending down, which is good news for the C--rated city.
How does Carrboro compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Carrboro ranks behind about 79% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Carrboro to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Carrboro?
Bad. A C- grade and 227.9 per-thousand rate put Carrboro below 70% of US cities. Violent crime at 272 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Carrboro?
271.6 per 100,000, which is 25% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (158), robbery (51), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

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View all North Carolina city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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