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C-

Is Sanford, North Carolina Safe?

Population 34,138 · Safer than 29% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 34,138, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Sanford earns a C- with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,499 per 100K.

Sanford Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricSanfordNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate349.9317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1957.22053.51,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate254.0--268.2
Theft Rate1499.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate171.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

230.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

350/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1957/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Sanford

Violent crime in Sanford is close to the national average. The rate of 349.9 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1957.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,499 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Sanford Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault254
095% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery83
01.3x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary240
089% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,499
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft171
054% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Sanford Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Sanford
349.9
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Sanford
1957.2
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Sanford Safety

Is Sanford safe?
Not especially. Sanford earns a C- with a crime rate of 230.7 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 Sanford?
230.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 349.9 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1957.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Sanford safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Sanford's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,499 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Sanford?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Sanford generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Sanford police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Sanford?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Sanford's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C- grade overall.
How does Sanford compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Sanford ranks behind about 69% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Sanford to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Sanford?
Bad. A C- grade and 230.7 per-thousand rate put Sanford below 71% of US cities. Violent crime at 350 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Sanford?
349.9 per 100,000, which is 4% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (254), robbery (83), 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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