Safest Cities in North Carolina (2026 Rankings)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2024 FBI UCR data

Eden is the safest city in North Carolina with a crime rate of 18.9 per 1,000 residents, earning a B safety grade. Waxhaw (19.2/1K) and Smithfield (19.2/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 93 cities with 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Avg Crime Rate

22.9per 1K

Below National Avg

33of 93 cities

Above National Avg

60of 93 cities

All 93 Cities Ranked by Safety

#	City	Grade	Crime/1K	Risk Level	Violent	Property
1	Eden	B	18.9	Below Average Risk	305	1583
2	Waxhaw	B	19.2	Below Average Risk	340	1578
3	Smithfield	B	19.2	Below Average Risk	356	1563
4	Harrisburg	B-	19.5	Moderate	342	1606
5	Asheboro	B-	19.6	Moderate	350	1609
6	Cornelius	B-	19.7	Moderate	350	1618
7	Hope Mills	B-	19.7	Moderate	396	1576
8	Albemarle	B-	19.7	Moderate	399	1573
9	Garner	B-	19.9	Moderate	394	1592
10	Pinehurst	B-	19.9	Moderate	380	1610
11	Reidsville	B-	19.9	Moderate	308	1679
12	Boone	B-	20	Moderate	330	1666
13	Morehead City	B-	20	Moderate	311	1692
14	Kernersville	B-	20.3	Moderate	387	1645
15	Tarboro	B-	20.3	Moderate	432	1603
16	Jacksonville	B-	20.5	Moderate	351	1699
17	Lenoir	B-	20.5	Moderate	399	1656
18	Stallings	B-	20.5	Moderate	337	1710
19	Cary	B-	20.6	Moderate	348	1715
20	Kannapolis	B-	20.7	Moderate	341	1725
21	Belmont	B-	20.9	Moderate	433	1657
22	Fuquay-Varina	B-	21	Moderate	375	1725
23	Clayton	B-	21	Moderate	375	1726
24	Weddington	B-	21.1	Moderate	298	1811
25	Salisbury	B-	21.2	Moderate	442	1683
26	Hendersonville	B-	21.2	Moderate	331	1792
27	Monroe	B-	21.3	Moderate	457	1677
28	Waynesville	B-	21.3	Moderate	358	1772
29	Greensboro	B-	21.4	Moderate	404	1740
30	Roanoke Rapids	B-	21.5	Moderate	414	1733
31	Shelby	B-	21.6	Moderate	341	1815
32	Morganton	B-	21.6	Moderate	364	1792
33	Southern Pines	B-	21.6	Moderate	340	1825
34	Gastonia	B-	22	Moderate	453	1745
35	Statesville	B-	22	Moderate	345	1852
36	Wendell	B-	22	Moderate	438	1765
37	Sanford	B-	22.1	Moderate	401	1812
38	Carrboro	B-	22.2	Moderate	348	1868
39	Mint Hill	B-	22.3	Moderate	350	1881
40	Clemmons	B-	22.3	Moderate	376	1859
41	Havelock	B-	22.3	Moderate	383	1848
42	Fayetteville	B-	22.5	Moderate	404	1850
43	Mebane	B-	22.7	Moderate	385	1884
44	Rolesville	B-	22.8	Moderate	375	1908
45	Aberdeen	B-	22.8	Moderate	350	1925
46	Pineville	B-	22.9	Moderate	419	1867
47	Wilson	C+	23	Moderate	399	1904
48	Lumberton	C+	23.2	Moderate	362	1953
49	Lewisville	C+	23.2	Moderate	349	1974
50	Summerfield	C+	23.2	Moderate	414	1902
51	Lexington	C+	23.3	Moderate	318	2016
52	Archdale	C+	23.4	Moderate	323	2016
53	Winston-Salem	C+	23.5	Moderate	392	1953
54	High Point	C+	23.5	Moderate	470	1876
55	Elizabeth City	C+	23.5	Moderate	332	2022
56	Durham	C+	23.6	Moderate	397	1965
57	Kinston	C+	23.7	Moderate	387	1984
58	Elon	C+	23.7	Moderate	391	1984
59	Asheville	C+	23.8	Moderate	377	2000
60	Holly Springs	C+	23.8	Moderate	399	1985
61	Matthews	C+	23.8	Moderate	344	2040
62	Chapel Hill	C+	23.9	Moderate	377	2017
63	Laurinburg	C+	23.9	Moderate	428	1958
64	Wake Forest	C+	24	Moderate	438	1958
65	Goldsboro	C+	24	Moderate	318	2080
66	Newton	C+	24	Moderate	430	1967
67	Davidson	C+	24.1	Moderate	366	2044
68	Kings Mountain	C+	24.1	Moderate	405	2005
69	Morrisville	C+	24.2	Moderate	356	2061
70	Knightdale	C+	24.3	Moderate	395	2034
71	Mount Airy	C+	24.4	Moderate	295	2146
72	Henderson	C+	24.5	Moderate	433	2022
73	Indian Trail	C+	24.6	Moderate	358	2102
74	Lincolnton	C+	24.6	Moderate	357	2107
75	Spring Lake	C+	24.7	Moderate	387	2081
76	Apex	C+	24.8	Moderate	354	2128
77	Leland	C+	24.8	Moderate	437	2041
78	Thomasville	C+	24.8	Moderate	324	2159
79	Zebulon	C+	24.8	Moderate	399	2080
80	Hickory	C+	25	Moderate	389	2111
81	Graham	C+	25.1	Moderate	350	2162
82	Winterville	C+	25.1	Moderate	433	2077
83	Huntersville	C+	25.3	Moderate	422	2108
84	Mooresville	C+	25.5	Moderate	422	2126
85	Greenville	C+	25.6	Moderate	431	2125
86	Mount Holly	C+	25.6	Moderate	375	2188
87	New Bern	C+	25.7	Moderate	396	2175
88	Rocky Mount	C+	25.8	Moderate	405	2172
89	Burlington	C+	25.9	Moderate	378	2211
90	Raleigh	C+	26.5	Moderate	422	2233
91	Concord	C+	26.6	Moderate	384	2276
92	Wilmington	C+	26.8	Moderate	444	2233
93	Charlotte	D	37.5	High Risk	550	3200

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Most Dangerous Cities in North Carolina

The highest crime rates among tracked cities in North Carolina. These cities have the most crime per capita based on FBI data.

Charlotte37.5/1K · High Risk · Violent: 550/100K

C+

Wilmington26.8/1K · Moderate · Violent: 444/100K

C+

Concord26.6/1K · Moderate · Violent: 384/100K

C+

Raleigh26.5/1K · Moderate · Violent: 422/100K

C+

Burlington25.9/1K · Moderate · Violent: 378/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About Safety in North Carolina

What is the safest city in North Carolina?

As of 2026, Eden is the safest city in North Carolina with a crime rate of 18.9 per 1,000 residents and a B safety grade. It ranks above 61% of all US cities.

What are the top 10 safest cities in North Carolina?

Based on 2026 FBI Uniform Crime Report data, the top 10 safest cities in North Carolina based on crime rate are: Eden, Waxhaw, Smithfield, Harrisburg, Asheboro, Cornelius, Hope Mills, Albemarle, Garner, Pinehurst.

What is the most dangerous city in North Carolina?

Charlotte has the highest crime rate in North Carolina at 37.5 per 1,000 residents, earning a D safety grade.

What is the average crime rate in North Carolina?

The average crime rate across 93 tracked cities in North Carolina is 22.9 per 1,000 residents. The average violent crime rate is 381 per 100K and property crime averages 1908 per 100K.

Is North Carolina safe to live in?

North Carolina has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 381 per 100K (national: 363.8). However, safety varies widely by city. Eden earns a B while Charlotte gets a D. 33 of 93 cities have crime rates at or below the national average.

How many cities are ranked in North Carolina?

93 cities in North Carolina are ranked using FBI Uniform Crime Report data. 33 have crime rates at or below the national average.

See 2027 rankings for North Carolina →View all North Carolina city safety grades Safety index for all 50 states

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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