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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Chapel Hill, NC has a Safety Score of 25/100 — higher crime than 75% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,686.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,231 of 2,957 US cities and #32 of 76 in North Carolina.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Chapel Hill, NC?
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 25/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,686.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Chapel Hill ranks #32 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2231 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 25th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 75% of US cities.
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
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 110 | 172.1 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 1 | 1.6 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 8 | 12.5 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 29 | 45.4 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 72 | 112.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,607 | 2,514.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 217 | 339.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,271 | 1,988.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 119 | 186.2 | 358.0 |
| 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 |
Chapel Hill Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill, North Carolina safe?
Chapel Hill has a safety score of 25/100, meaning it has less crime than about 25% 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 are larceny-theft (1,271 reported incidents) and burglary (217 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 14.6x in the city.
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 25/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.