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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Cary, NC has a Safety Score of 60/100 — safer than 60% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,388.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,187 of 2,971 US cities and #16 of 76 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Cary, North Carolina Safe?
Cary, NC, a large town in the Research Triangle region, began as a railroad town. It consistently ranks among the most educated communities in the U.S., attracting a diverse, affluent population.
Cary has a safety score of 60/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,388.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Cary ranks #16 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #1187 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 60th percentile for safety — safer than 60% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Cary are below the national average, with robbery particularly low at 0.1x the national rate.
Year over year, Cary's total crime rate increased by 4%, with violent crime declining 31.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Cary Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 130 | 71.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 3 | 1.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 12 | 6.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 23 | 12.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 91 | 50.1 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 2,395 | 1,317.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 161 | 88.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,019 | 1,110.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 215 | 118.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Cary vs North Carolina Average
How does Cary's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Cary | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 71.5 | 556.7 | -87.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,317.4 | 2,951.3 | -55.4% |
| Murder Rate | 1.7 | 9.0 | -81.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,388.9 | 3,508.0 | -60.4% |
Cary Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Cary, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 181,793 | 1,388.9 | 71.5 | 1,317.4 |
| 2023 | 182,878 | 1,335.9 | 105.0 | 1,230.9 |
| 2022 | 178,600 | 1,187.6 | 79.5 | 1,108.1 |
| 2021 | 177,735 | 1,041.4 | 76.5 | 964.9 |
| 2020 | 174,441 | 1,027.3 | 69.4 | 957.9 |
| 2019 | 172,525 | 970.3 | 66.1 | 904.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cary, North Carolina safe?
Cary has a safety score of 60/100, meaning it has less crime than about 60% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,388.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Cary is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Cary, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Cary has a violent crime rate of 71.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,317.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Cary compare to the national average?
Cary's total crime rate of 1,388.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 181,793 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Cary?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Cary include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Cary safe to visit?
Like any city, Cary has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 60/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.