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C-

Is Lexington, North Carolina Safe?

Population 20,238 · Safer than 25% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Lexington is a smaller community of 20,238 people with a C- safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 240.2 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,622 per 100K.

Lexington Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricLexingtonNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate226.7317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2175.42053.51,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate147.0--268.2
Theft Rate1622.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate546.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

240.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

227/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2175/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Lexington

Violent crime in Lexington is below the national average. The rate of 226.7 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2175.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,622 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Lexington Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault147
055% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery42
066% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary347
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,622
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft546
01.7x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Lexington Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lexington
226.7
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lexington
2175.4
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Lexington Safety

Is Lexington safe?
Not especially. Lexington earns a C- with a crime rate of 240.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Lexington?
240.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 226.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2175.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Lexington safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Lexington's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,622 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Lexington?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Lexington generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Lexington police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Lexington?
Crime rates have held steady in Lexington, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C- grade.
How does Lexington compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Lexington ranks behind about 74% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Lexington to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Lexington?
Bad. A C- grade and 240.2 per-thousand rate put Lexington below 75% of US cities. Violent crime at 227 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Lexington?
226.7 per 100,000, which is 38% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (147), 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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