Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Clayton, NC has a Safety Score of 59/100 — safer than 59% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,451.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,225 of 2,957 US cities and #17 of 76 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Clayton, North Carolina Safe?
Clayton, NC, a town in Johnston County, has grown significantly from its agricultural roots, still evident in its annual Harvest Festival. It's now a rapidly developing suburb, home to many commuting to Research Triangle Park.
Clayton has a safety score of 59/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,451.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Clayton ranks #17 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #1225 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 59th percentile for safety — safer than 59% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Clayton are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Clayton's total crime rate decreased by 13.9%, with violent crime rising 27%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Clayton Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 53 | 168.3 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 6 | 19.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 6 | 19.1 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 41 | 130.2 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 404 | 1,282.8 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 17 | 54.0 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 335 | 1,063.7 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 52 | 165.1 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Clayton vs North Carolina Average
How does Clayton's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Clayton | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 168.3 | 556.7 | -69.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,282.8 | 2,951.3 | -56.5% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 9.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,451.1 | 3,508.0 | -58.6% |
Clayton Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Clayton, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 31,494 | 1,451.1 | 168.3 | 1,282.8 |
| 2023 | 30,929 | 1,684.5 | 132.6 | 1,551.9 |
| 2022 | 30,036 | 1,345.1 | 113.2 | 1,231.9 |
| 2021 | 27,775 | 1,929.8 | 158.4 | 1,771.4 |
| 2020 | 26,087 | 2,457.2 | 153.3 | 2,303.8 |
| 2019 | 23,842 | 2,252.3 | 167.8 | 2,084.6 |
Clayton Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Clayton 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 Clayton, North Carolina safe?
Clayton has a safety score of 59/100, meaning it has less crime than about 59% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,451.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Clayton is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Clayton, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Clayton has a violent crime rate of 168.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,282.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Clayton compare to the national average?
Clayton's total crime rate of 1,451.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 31,494 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Clayton?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Clayton are larceny-theft (335 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (52 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 7.6x in the city.
Is Clayton safe to visit?
Like any city, Clayton has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 59/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.