Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Lexington, NC has a Safety Score of 13/100 — higher crime than 87% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,457.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,574 of 2,971 US cities and #51 of 76 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Lexington, North Carolina Safe?
Lexington, a city in Davidson County, is renowned as the "Barbecue Capital of the World." Situated in North Carolina's Piedmont Triad, it's a small city with a population just under 20,000.
Lexington has a safety score of 13/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,457.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Lexington ranks #51 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2574 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 13th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 87% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Lexington is murder, at 15.1 per 100K — 2.4x the national average.
Year over year, Lexington's total crime rate decreased by 4.8%, with violent crime declining 10.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Lexington Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 87 | 437.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 3 | 15.1 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 8 | 40.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 17 | 85.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 59 | 296.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 601 | 3,020.3 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 128 | 643.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 408 | 2,050.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 65 | 326.7 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lexington vs North Carolina Average
How does Lexington's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Lexington | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 437.2 | 556.7 | -21.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,020.3 | 2,951.3 | +2.3% |
| Murder Rate | 15.1 | 9.0 | +67.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,457.5 | 3,508.0 | -1.4% |
Lexington Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Lexington, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19,899 | 3,457.5 | 437.2 | 3,020.3 |
| 2022 | 19,544 | 3,632.8 | 486.1 | 3,146.8 |
| 2021 | 19,162 | 3,642.6 | 537.5 | 3,105.1 |
| 2020 | 18,933 | 3,697.3 | 559.9 | 3,137.4 |
| 2019 | 18,917 | 4,932.1 | 639.6 | 4,292.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lexington, North Carolina safe?
Lexington has a safety score of 13/100, meaning it has less crime than about 13% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,457.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Lexington is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Lexington, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Lexington has a violent crime rate of 437.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,020.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Lexington compare to the national average?
Lexington's total crime rate of 3,457.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 19,899 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Lexington?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Lexington include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Lexington safe to visit?
Like any city, Lexington has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 13/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.