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D-

Is Wilmington, North Carolina Safe?

Population 126,809 · Safer than 11% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Crime in Wilmington runs high. The city's D- grade puts it below 89% of US cities, with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,991 per 100K.

Wilmington Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWilmingtonNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate409.6317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2475.52053.51,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate334.0--268.2
Theft Rate1991.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate474.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

288.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

410/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2476/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Wilmington

Violent crime in Wilmington is close to the national average. The rate of 409.6 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2475.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,991 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 334 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Wilmington Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault334
01.2x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery52
082% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary291
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,991
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft474
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Wilmington Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Wilmington
409.6
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Wilmington
2475.5
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Wilmington Safety

Is Wilmington safe?
Not especially. Wilmington earns a D- with a crime rate of 288.5 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 Wilmington?
288.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 409.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2475.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Wilmington safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Wilmington's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,991 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Wilmington?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Wilmington generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Wilmington police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Wilmington?
No. Crime in Wilmington has been trending down, which is good news for the D--rated city.
How does Wilmington compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. Wilmington ranks behind about 95% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.4x the national rate.
How safe is Wilmington to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Wilmington?
Bad. A D- grade and 288.5 per-thousand rate put Wilmington below 89% of US cities. Violent crime at 410 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Wilmington?
409.6 per 100,000, which is 13% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (334), robbery (52), and murder (5.0) 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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