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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Chapel Hill, NC has a Safety Score of 24/100 — higher crime than 76% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,686.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,247 of 2,971 US cities and #32 of 76 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Chapel Hill, North Carolina Safe?
Chapel Hill, home to the nation's first public university, is a vibrant town in Orange County, North Carolina. Its youthful population, largely influenced by UNC, enjoys the rolling Piedmont hills.
Chapel Hill has a safety score of 24/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,686.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Chapel Hill ranks #32 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2247 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 24th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 76% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Chapel Hill is larceny-theft, at 1,988.9 per 100K — 1.2x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Chapel Hill's total crime rate decreased by 2.8%, with violent crime declining 3.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Chapel Hill Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 110 | 172.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 1.6 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 8 | 12.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 29 | 45.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 72 | 112.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,607 | 2,514.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 217 | 339.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,271 | 1,988.9 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 119 | 186.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Chapel Hill vs North Carolina Average
How does Chapel Hill's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Chapel Hill | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 172.1 | 556.7 | -69.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,514.6 | 2,951.3 | -14.8% |
| Murder Rate | 1.6 | 9.0 | -82.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,686.8 | 3,508.0 | -23.4% |
Chapel Hill Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 63,906 | 2,686.8 | 172.1 | 2,514.6 |
| 2023 | 65,066 | 2,764.9 | 178.3 | 2,586.6 |
| 2022 | 60,984 | 2,179.3 | 185.3 | 1,994.0 |
| 2021 | 64,388 | 2,180.5 | 187.9 | 1,992.6 |
| 2020 | 64,853 | 1,998.4 | 168.1 | 1,830.3 |
| 2019 | 61,457 | 1,601.1 | 94.4 | 1,506.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chapel Hill, North Carolina safe?
Chapel Hill has a safety score of 24/100, meaning it has less crime than about 24% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,686.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Chapel Hill is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Chapel Hill, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Chapel Hill has a violent crime rate of 172.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,514.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Chapel Hill compare to the national average?
Chapel Hill's total crime rate of 2,686.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 63,906 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Chapel Hill?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Chapel Hill include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Chapel Hill safe to visit?
Like any city, Chapel Hill has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 24/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.