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C+

Is Morehead City, North Carolina Safe?

Population 10,434 · Safer than 41% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Morehead City is a smaller community of 10,434 people with a C+ safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 200.5 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,588 per 100K.

Morehead City Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMorehead CityNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate218.8317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1786.42053.51,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate169.0--268.2
Theft Rate1588.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate389.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC+

200.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

219/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1786/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Morehead City

Violent crime in Morehead City is below the national average. The rate of 218.8 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1786.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,588 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Morehead City Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault169
063% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery35
055% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary231
086% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,588
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft389
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Morehead City Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Morehead City
218.8
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Morehead City
1786.4
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Morehead City Safety

Is Morehead City safe?
It depends on where in Morehead City you are. The city gets a C+ overall, with violent crime below the national average and property crime close to the national average. Some areas are safer than others.
What is the crime rate in Morehead City?
200.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 218.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1786.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Morehead City safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Morehead City 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 Morehead City?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Morehead City generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Morehead City police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Morehead City?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Morehead City's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C+ grade overall.
How does Morehead City compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Morehead City ranks behind about 61% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Morehead City to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Morehead City?
Mixed. Violent crime is below 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 41th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Morehead City?
218.8 per 100,000, which is 40% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (169), robbery (35), and murder (3.0) 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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