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D

Is Hickory, North Carolina Safe?

Population 45,975 · Safer than 18% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Hickory has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 263.8 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,898 per 100K.

Hickory Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricHickoryNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate331.5317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2306.72053.51,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate212.0--268.2
Theft Rate1898.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate271.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

263.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

332/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2307/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Hickory

Violent crime in Hickory is close to the national average. The rate of 331.5 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2306.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,898 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Hickory Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault212
079% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery72
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary385
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,898
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft271
085% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Hickory Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Hickory
331.5
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Hickory
2306.7
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Hickory Safety

Is Hickory safe?
Not especially. Hickory earns a D with a crime rate of 263.8 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 Hickory?
263.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 331.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2306.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Hickory safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Hickory's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,898 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Hickory?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Hickory generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Hickory police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Hickory?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Hickory's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D grade overall.
How does Hickory compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Hickory ranks behind about 88% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Hickory 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 Hickory?
Bad. A D grade and 263.8 per-thousand rate put Hickory below 82% of US cities. Violent crime at 332 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Hickory?
331.5 per 100,000, which is 9% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (212), robbery (72), and murder (4.0) 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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