Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Elizabeth City, NC has a Safety Score of 24/100 — higher crime than 76% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,727.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,267 of 2,971 US cities and #33 of 76 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Elizabeth City, North Carolina Safe?
Elizabeth City, a historic Albemarle region port founded in 1794, sits on the Pasquotank River. This northeastern North Carolina county seat is home to approximately 17,000 residents.
Elizabeth City has a safety score of 24/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,727.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Elizabeth City ranks #33 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2267 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 Elizabeth City is murder, at 15.7 per 100K — 2.5x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.5x the national rate.
Year over year, Elizabeth City's total crime rate decreased by 5.8%, with violent crime declining 27.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Elizabeth City Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 65 | 341.0 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 3 | 15.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 6 | 31.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 9 | 47.2 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 47 | 246.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 455 | 2,386.7 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 96 | 503.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 303 | 1,589.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 56 | 293.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Elizabeth City vs North Carolina Average
How does Elizabeth City's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Elizabeth City | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 341.0 | 556.7 | -38.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,386.7 | 2,951.3 | -19.1% |
| Murder Rate | 15.7 | 9.0 | +75.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,727.7 | 3,508.0 | -22.2% |
Elizabeth City Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19,064 | 2,727.7 | 341.0 | 2,386.7 |
| 2023 | 18,828 | 2,894.6 | 472.7 | 2,421.9 |
| 2022 | 18,751 | 3,365.2 | 538.6 | 2,826.5 |
| 2021 | 17,948 | 2,953.0 | 440.2 | 2,512.8 |
| 2020 | 17,652 | 3,778.6 | 447.5 | 3,331.1 |
| 2019 | 17,424 | 4,884.1 | 510.8 | 4,373.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elizabeth City, North Carolina safe?
Elizabeth City 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 2,727.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Elizabeth City is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Elizabeth City, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Elizabeth City has a violent crime rate of 341.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,386.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Elizabeth City compare to the national average?
Elizabeth City's total crime rate of 2,727.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 19,064 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Elizabeth City?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Elizabeth City include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Elizabeth City safe to visit?
Like any city, Elizabeth City 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.