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C

Is Cary, North Carolina Safe?

Population 183,582 · Safer than 35% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Cary, North Carolina sits below average for US cities. The C grade comes from a 215.8 crime rate per 1,000 and violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,502 per 100K.

Cary Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCaryNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate264.4317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1893.12053.51,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate150.0--268.2
Theft Rate1502.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate173.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

215.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

264/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1893/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Cary

Violent crime in Cary is below the national average. The rate of 264.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1893.1 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,502 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Cary Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault150
056% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery46
073% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary266
099% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,502
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft173
054% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Cary Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cary
264.4
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Cary
1893.1
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Cary Safety

Is Cary safe?
Not especially. Cary earns a C with a crime rate of 215.8 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Cary?
215.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 264.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1893.1 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Cary safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Cary has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Cary?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Cary generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Cary police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Cary?
Crime rates have held steady in Cary, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does Cary compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Middle of the pack for North Carolina. Cary isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 41th percentile among North Carolina cities.
How safe is Cary to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Cary?
Mixed. Violent crime is below the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 35th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Cary?
264.4 per 100,000, which is 27% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (150), robbery (46), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in North Carolina

Similar-sized communities in North Carolina. Compare crime rates across the state.

C-
See crime rates in Fayetteville209,120 pop · Grade C-
D-
See crime rates in Wilmington126,809 pop · Grade D-
D+
See crime rates in High Point120,571 pop · Grade D+
D-
See crime rates in Concord114,598 pop · Grade D-
D+
See crime rates in Winston-Salem257,271 pop · Grade D+
D-
See crime rates in Greenville96,443 pop · Grade D-
View all North Carolina city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Cary

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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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