Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Kinston, NC has a Safety Score of 2/100 — higher crime than 98% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 5,938.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,912 of 2,971 US cities and #71 of 76 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Kinston, North Carolina Safe?
Kinston, a historic city in eastern North Carolina, is home to the CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center. This Lenoir County seat has a population of around 20,000 residents.
Kinston has a safety score of 2/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 5,938.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Kinston ranks #71 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2912 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 2nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 98% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Kinston is burglary, at 994.9 per 100K — 3.5x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.7x the national rate.
Year over year, Kinston's total crime rate increased by 26.2%, with violent crime rising 8.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Kinston Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 188 | 974.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 4 | 20.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 15 | 77.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 16 | 82.9 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 150 | 777.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 958 | 4,964.2 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 192 | 994.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 719 | 3,725.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 47 | 243.6 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Kinston vs North Carolina Average
How does Kinston's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Kinston | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 974.2 | 556.7 | +75.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,964.2 | 2,951.3 | +68.2% |
| Murder Rate | 20.7 | 9.0 | +130.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 5,938.4 | 3,508.0 | +69.3% |
Kinston Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Kinston, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19,298 | 5,938.4 | 974.2 | 4,964.2 |
| 2023 | 19,174 | 4,704.3 | 897.1 | 3,807.2 |
| 2022 | 19,342 | 3,960.3 | 713.5 | 3,246.8 |
| 2021 | 19,672 | 6,054.3 | 1,047.2 | 5,007.1 |
| 2020 | 19,862 | 7,265.1 | 1,188.2 | 6,076.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kinston, North Carolina safe?
Kinston has a safety score of 2/100, meaning it has less crime than about 2% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 5,938.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Kinston is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Kinston, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Kinston has a violent crime rate of 974.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,964.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Kinston compare to the national average?
Kinston's total crime rate of 5,938.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 19,298 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Kinston?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Kinston include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Kinston safe to visit?
Like any city, Kinston has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 2/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.