Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Durham, NC has a Safety Score of 6/100 — higher crime than 94% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,420.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,779 of 2,957 US cities and #65 of 76 in North Carolina.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Durham, NC?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Durham, North Carolina Safe?
Durham, North Carolina, known as the "Bull City," grew around its tobacco industry. It's a diverse city in the Piedmont region, home to Duke University and a thriving tech scene.
Durham has a safety score of 6/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,420.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Durham ranks #65 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2779 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 6th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 94% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Durham is murder, at 12.3 per 100K — 2.0x the national average.
Year over year, Durham's total crime rate increased by 0.5%, with violent crime declining 2.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Durham Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,863 | 620.6 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 37 | 12.3 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 172 | 57.3 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 483 | 160.9 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,167 | 388.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 11,407 | 3,799.7 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 1,352 | 450.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 8,182 | 2,725.4 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1,873 | 623.9 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Durham vs North Carolina Average
How does Durham's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Durham | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 620.6 | 556.7 | +11.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,799.7 | 2,951.3 | +28.7% |
| Murder Rate | 12.3 | 9.0 | +37.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,420.3 | 3,508.0 | +26.0% |
Durham Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Durham, North Carolina.
Between 2019 and 2024, Durham's total crime rate is roughly flat (4,538 → 4,420 per 100,000). Violent crime is down 15% and property crime roughly flat over the same period; the worst year in this window was 2020 at 4,609 per 100,000.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 300,208 | 4,420.3 | 620.6 | 3,799.7 |
| 2023 | 295,788 | 4,398.1 | 636.9 | 3,761.1 |
| 2022 | 286,377 | 4,013.6 | 691.1 | 3,322.5 |
| 2021 | 291,962 | 4,067.0 | 746.7 | 3,320.3 |
| 2020 | 284,925 | 4,608.9 | 861.3 | 3,747.7 |
| 2019 | 280,282 | 4,537.9 | 730.3 | 3,807.6 |
Durham Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Durham 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 Durham, North Carolina safe?
Durham has a safety score of 6/100, meaning it has less crime than about 6% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,420.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Durham is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Durham, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Durham has a violent crime rate of 620.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,799.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Durham compare to the national average?
Durham's total crime rate of 4,420.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 300,208 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Durham?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Durham are larceny-theft (8,182 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (1,873 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 6.1x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Durham in 2024?
37 murders were reported to the FBI for Durham in 2024 — a homicide rate of 12.3 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Durham going up or down?
Durham's total crime rate is roughly flat: 3% lower in 2024 than in 2019 (4,420 vs 4,538 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Durham safe to visit?
Like any city, Durham has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 6/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.