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F

Is Charlotte, North Carolina Safe?

Population 964,784 · Safer than 9% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate close to the national average, Charlotte faces real safety challenges. It earns a F grade and ranks below 91% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,704 per 100K.

Charlotte Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCharlotteNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate355.3317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2647.52053.51,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate223.0--268.2
Theft Rate1704.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate397.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyF

300.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

355/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeF

2648/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Charlotte

Violent crime in Charlotte is close to the national average. The rate of 355.3 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is well above the national average at 2647.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,704 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Charlotte Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault223
083% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery68
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary314
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,704
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft397
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Charlotte Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Charlotte
355.3
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Charlotte
2647.5
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Charlotte Safety

Is Charlotte safe?
Not especially. Charlotte earns a F with a crime rate of 300.3 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 Charlotte?
300.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 355.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2647.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Charlotte safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Charlotte's F grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,704 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Charlotte?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Charlotte generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Charlotte police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Charlotte?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Charlotte's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a F grade overall.
How does Charlotte compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Charlotte ranks behind about 95% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.4x the national rate.
How safe is Charlotte to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Charlotte?
Bad. A F grade and 300.3 per-thousand rate put Charlotte below 91% of US cities. Violent crime at 355 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Charlotte?
355.3 per 100,000, which is 2% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (223), robbery (68), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in North Carolina

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

D-
See crime rates in Raleigh506,306 pop · Grade D-
C-
See crime rates in Greensboro308,667 pop · Grade C-
D+
See crime rates in Durham305,561 pop · Grade D+
D+
See crime rates in Winston-Salem257,271 pop · Grade D+
C-
See crime rates in Fayetteville209,120 pop · Grade C-
C
See crime rates in Cary183,582 pop · Grade C
View all North Carolina city safety grades

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

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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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