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D-

Is Raleigh, North Carolina Safe?

Population 506,306 · Safer than 11% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Raleigh has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D- safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 288.6 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,587 per 100K.

Raleigh Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricRaleighNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate372.6317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2513.82053.51,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate298.0--268.2
Theft Rate1587.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate400.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

288.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

373/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2514/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Raleigh

Violent crime in Raleigh is close to the national average. The rate of 372.6 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2513.8 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,587 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Raleigh Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault298
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery59
093% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary426
01.6x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,587
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft400
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Raleigh Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Raleigh
372.6
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Raleigh
2513.8
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Raleigh Safety

Is Raleigh safe?
Not especially. Raleigh earns a D- with a crime rate of 288.6 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 Raleigh?
288.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 372.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2513.8 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Raleigh safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Raleigh's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,587 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Raleigh?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Raleigh generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Raleigh police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Raleigh?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Raleigh's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D- grade overall.
How does Raleigh compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Raleigh ranks behind about 98% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.4x the national rate.
How safe is Raleigh to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Raleigh?
Bad. A D- grade and 288.6 per-thousand rate put Raleigh below 89% of US cities. Violent crime at 373 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Raleigh?
372.6 per 100,000, which is 2% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (298), robbery (59), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in North Carolina

Similar-sized communities in North Carolina. Compare crime rates across the state.

C-
See crime rates in Greensboro308,667 pop · Grade C-
D+
See crime rates in Durham305,561 pop · Grade D+
D+
See crime rates in Winston-Salem257,271 pop · Grade D+
C-
See crime rates in Fayetteville209,120 pop · Grade C-
C
See crime rates in Cary183,582 pop · Grade C
D-
See crime rates in Wilmington126,809 pop · Grade D-
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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