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C

Is Lenoir, North Carolina Safe?

Population 18,372 · Safer than 37% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Lenoir is a smaller community of 18,372 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 211 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,315 per 100K.

Lenoir Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricLenoirNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate349.4317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1760.62053.51,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate196.0--268.2
Theft Rate1315.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate346.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

211 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

349/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1761/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Lenoir

Violent crime in Lenoir is close to the national average. The rate of 349.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1760.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,315 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Lenoir Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault196
073% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery52
082% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary253
094% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,315
094% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft346
01.1x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Lenoir Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lenoir
349.4
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lenoir
1760.6
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Lenoir Safety

Is Lenoir safe?
Not especially. Lenoir earns a C with a crime rate of 211 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 Lenoir?
211 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 349.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1760.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Lenoir safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Lenoir 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 Lenoir?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Lenoir generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Lenoir police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Lenoir?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Lenoir's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C grade overall.
How does Lenoir compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Lenoir ranks behind about 72% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Lenoir 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 Lenoir?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to 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 37th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Lenoir?
349.4 per 100,000, which is 4% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (196), robbery (52), and murder (6.0) 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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