Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Hickory, NC has a Safety Score of 16/100 — higher crime than 84% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,234.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,483 of 2,957 US cities and #43 of 76 in North Carolina.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Hickory, NC?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Hickory, North Carolina Safe?
Nestled in the Catawba Valley, Hickory is a city of around 43,000 residents known for its furniture manufacturing heritage. It sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering scenic views and outdoor access.
Hickory has a safety score of 16/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,234.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Hickory ranks #43 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2483 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 16th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 84% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Hickory is burglary, at 409.6 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Hickory's total crime rate decreased by 7.6%, with violent crime declining 17.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Hickory Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 183 | 409.6 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 1 | 2.2 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 11 | 24.6 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 25 | 56.0 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 145 | 324.5 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,262 | 2,824.4 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 183 | 409.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 961 | 2,150.8 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 118 | 264.1 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Hickory vs North Carolina Average
How does Hickory's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Hickory | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 409.6 | 556.7 | -26.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,824.4 | 2,951.3 | -4.3% |
| Murder Rate | 2.2 | 9.0 | -75.1% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,234.0 | 3,508.0 | -7.8% |
Hickory Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Hickory, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 44,682 | 3,234.0 | 409.6 | 2,824.4 |
| 2023 | 44,351 | 3,501.6 | 496.0 | 3,005.6 |
| 2022 | 43,756 | 4,031.5 | 527.9 | 3,503.5 |
| 2021 | 41,604 | 5,090.9 | 610.5 | 4,480.3 |
| 2020 | 41,300 | 4,716.7 | 542.4 | 4,174.3 |
| 2019 | 41,040 | 4,771.0 | 402.1 | 4,368.9 |
Hickory Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Hickory 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 Hickory, North Carolina safe?
Hickory has a safety score of 16/100, meaning it has less crime than about 16% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,234.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Hickory is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Hickory, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Hickory has a violent crime rate of 409.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,824.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Hickory compare to the national average?
Hickory's total crime rate of 3,234.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 44,682 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Hickory?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Hickory are larceny-theft (961 reported incidents) and burglary (183 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 6.9x in the city.
Is Hickory safe to visit?
Like any city, Hickory has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 16/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.