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D+

Is Chapel Hill, North Carolina Safe?

Population 63,565 · Safer than 21% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

A D+ grade for Chapel Hill means there's room for concern. The 252.1 per-thousand crime rate and violent crime close to the national average tell the story. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,521 per 100K.

Chapel Hill Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricChapel HillNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate312.0317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2208.62053.51,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate242.0--268.2
Theft Rate1521.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate489.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

252.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

312/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2209/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Chapel Hill

Violent crime in Chapel Hill is close to the national average. The rate of 312.0 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2208.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,521 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Chapel Hill Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault242
090% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery43
068% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary329
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,521
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft489
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Chapel Hill Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Chapel Hill
312.0
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Chapel Hill
2208.6
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Chapel Hill Safety

Is Chapel Hill safe?
Not especially. Chapel Hill earns a D+ with a crime rate of 252.1 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Chapel Hill?
252.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 312.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2208.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Chapel Hill safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Chapel Hill's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,521 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Chapel Hill?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Chapel Hill generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Chapel Hill police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Chapel Hill?
No. Crime in Chapel Hill has been trending down, which is good news for the D+-rated city.
How does Chapel Hill compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Chapel Hill ranks behind about 83% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Chapel Hill to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Chapel Hill?
Bad. A D+ grade and 252.1 per-thousand rate put Chapel Hill below 79% of US cities. Violent crime at 312 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Chapel Hill?
312.0 per 100,000, which is 14% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (242), robbery (43), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in North Carolina

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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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