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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Asheville, NC has a Safety Score of 5/100 — higher crime than 95% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,691.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,823 of 2,957 US cities and #67 of 76 in North Carolina.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Asheville, NC?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Asheville, North Carolina Safe?
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a vibrant city known for its arts scene and the historic Biltmore Estate. Its population, predominantly white, enjoys a unique blend of Appalachian heritage and progressive culture.
Asheville has a safety score of 5/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,691.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Asheville ranks #67 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2823 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 5th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 95% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Asheville is burglary, at 601.8 per 100K — 2.1x the national average.
Year over year, Asheville's total crime rate decreased by 12.6%, with violent crime declining 5.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Asheville Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 758 | 796.1 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 12 | 12.6 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 82 | 86.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 108 | 113.4 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 556 | 583.9 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 3,709 | 3,895.2 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 573 | 601.8 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,815 | 2,956.3 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 321 | 337.1 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Asheville vs North Carolina Average
How does Asheville's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Asheville | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 796.1 | 556.7 | +43.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,895.2 | 2,951.3 | +32.0% |
| Murder Rate | 12.6 | 9.0 | +40.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,691.3 | 3,508.0 | +33.7% |
Asheville Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Asheville, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 95,219 | 4,691.3 | 796.1 | 3,895.2 |
| 2023 | 93,471 | 5,370.7 | 846.3 | 4,524.4 |
| 2022 | 93,729 | 6,077.1 | 938.9 | 5,138.2 |
| 2021 | 93,855 | 6,110.5 | 762.9 | 5,347.6 |
| 2020 | 93,980 | 6,602.5 | 823.6 | 5,778.9 |
| 2019 | 93,641 | 7,067.4 | 742.2 | 6,325.2 |
Asheville Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Asheville and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: North Carolina crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Asheville, North Carolina safe?
Asheville has a safety score of 5/100, meaning it has less crime than about 5% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,691.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Asheville is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Asheville, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Asheville has a violent crime rate of 796.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,895.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Asheville compare to the national average?
Asheville's total crime rate of 4,691.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 95,219 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Asheville?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Asheville are larceny-theft (2,815 reported incidents) and burglary (573 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.9x in the city.
Is Asheville safe to visit?
Like any city, Asheville has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 5/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.