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D+

Is Kinston, North Carolina Safe?

Population 19,705 · Safer than 23% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 19,705, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Kinston earns a D+ with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,393 per 100K.

Kinston Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricKinstonNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate331.1317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2138.02053.51,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate242.0--268.2
Theft Rate1393.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate527.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

246.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

331/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2138/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Kinston

Violent crime in Kinston is close to the national average. The rate of 331.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2138.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,393 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Kinston Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault242
090% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery42
066% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary292
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,393
099% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft527
01.7x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Kinston Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Kinston
331.1
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Kinston
2138.0
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Kinston Safety

Is Kinston safe?
Not especially. Kinston earns a D+ with a crime rate of 246.9 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 Kinston?
246.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 331.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2138.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Kinston safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Kinston's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,393 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Kinston?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Kinston generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Kinston police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Kinston?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Kinston's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D+ grade overall.
How does Kinston compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Kinston ranks behind about 85% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Kinston 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 Kinston?
Bad. A D+ grade and 246.9 per-thousand rate put Kinston below 77% of US cities. Violent crime at 331 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Kinston?
331.1 per 100,000, which is 9% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (242), robbery (42), 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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