Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Gastonia, NC has a Safety Score of 6/100 — higher crime than 94% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,363.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,784 of 2,971 US cities and #64 of 76 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Gastonia, North Carolina Safe?
Gastonia, North Carolina, a city with a rich textile history, sits west of Charlotte in Gaston County. Its population of over 80,000 residents reflects a diverse mix of backgrounds.
Gastonia has a safety score of 6/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,363.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Gastonia ranks #64 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2784 out of 2971 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 Gastonia is aggravated assault, at 683.8 per 100K — 2.1x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.8x the national rate.
Year over year, Gastonia's total crime rate decreased by 5.4%, with violent crime rising 6.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Gastonia Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 723 | 849.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 4 | 4.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 32 | 37.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 105 | 123.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 582 | 683.8 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 2,991 | 3,514.2 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 436 | 512.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,202 | 2,587.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 353 | 414.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Gastonia vs North Carolina Average
How does Gastonia's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Gastonia | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 849.5 | 556.7 | +52.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,514.2 | 2,951.3 | +19.1% |
| Murder Rate | 4.7 | 9.0 | -47.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,363.7 | 3,508.0 | +24.4% |
Gastonia Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Gastonia, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 85,112 | 4,363.7 | 849.5 | 3,514.2 |
| 2023 | 83,739 | 4,612.0 | 795.3 | 3,816.6 |
| 2022 | 81,937 | 4,759.8 | 789.6 | 3,970.1 |
| 2021 | 78,260 | 4,902.9 | 914.9 | 3,988.0 |
| 2020 | 77,918 | 5,022.0 | 929.2 | 4,092.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gastonia, North Carolina safe?
Gastonia 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 4,363.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Gastonia is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Gastonia, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Gastonia has a violent crime rate of 849.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,514.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Gastonia compare to the national average?
Gastonia's total crime rate of 4,363.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 85,112 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Gastonia?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Gastonia include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Gastonia safe to visit?
Like any city, Gastonia 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.