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C

Is Morganton, North Carolina Safe?

Population 17,849 · Safer than 32% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Morganton is a smaller community of 17,849 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 221.2 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,333 per 100K.

Morganton Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMorgantonNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate296.2317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1915.82053.51,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate181.0--268.2
Theft Rate1333.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate222.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

221.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

296/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1916/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Morganton

Violent crime in Morganton is below the national average. The rate of 296.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1915.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,333 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Morganton Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault181
067% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery54
085% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary217
080% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,333
095% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft222
070% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Morganton Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Morganton
296.2
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Morganton
1915.8
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Morganton Safety

Is Morganton safe?
Not especially. Morganton earns a C with a crime rate of 221.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Morganton?
221.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 296.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1915.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Morganton safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Morganton's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,333 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Morganton?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Morganton generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Morganton police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Morganton?
No. Crime in Morganton has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Morganton compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Morganton ranks behind about 66% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Morganton to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Morganton?
Bad. A C grade and 221.2 per-thousand rate put Morganton below 68% of US cities. Violent crime at 296 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Morganton?
296.2 per 100,000, which is 19% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (181), robbery (54), 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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