CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
C

Is Waynesville, North Carolina Safe?

Population 11,006 · Safer than 34% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Waynesville is a smaller community of 11,006 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 216.8 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,139 per 100K.

Waynesville Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWaynesvilleNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate289.0317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1879.22053.51,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate167.0--268.2
Theft Rate1139.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate412.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

216.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

289/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1879/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Waynesville

Violent crime in Waynesville is below the national average. The rate of 289.0 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1879.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,139 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Waynesville Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault167
062% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery52
082% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary342
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,139
081% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft412
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Waynesville Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Waynesville
289.0
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Waynesville
1879.2
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Waynesville Safety

Is Waynesville safe?
Not especially. Waynesville earns a C with a crime rate of 216.8 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Waynesville?
216.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 289.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1879.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Waynesville safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Waynesville's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,139 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Waynesville?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Waynesville generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Waynesville police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Waynesville?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Waynesville's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C grade overall.
How does Waynesville compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Waynesville ranks behind about 75% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Waynesville 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 Waynesville?
Bad. A C grade and 216.8 per-thousand rate put Waynesville below 66% of US cities. Violent crime at 289 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Waynesville?
289.0 per 100,000, which is 21% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (167), robbery (52), and murder (4.0) 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 Tarboro10,979 pop · Grade C
D
See crime rates in Winterville10,973 pop · Grade D
D
See crime rates in Spring Lake11,252 pop · Grade D
C-
See crime rates in Summerfield11,327 pop · Grade C-
D+
See crime rates in Mount Airy10,682 pop · Grade D+
D+
See crime rates in Elon11,366 pop · Grade D+
View all North Carolina city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Waynesville

Get weekly safety updates for Waynesville

Weekly crime trend updates and safety grade changes delivered to your inbox.

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.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities