Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Morehead City, NC has a Safety Score of 21/100 — higher crime than 79% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,169.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,322 of 2,928 US cities and #40 of 80 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Morehead City, North Carolina Safe?
Morehead City has a safety score of 21/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,169.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 3,038.0 per 100,000.
Morehead City ranks #40 out of 80 cities in North Carolina and #2322 out of 2928 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 21st percentile for safety — with higher crime than 79% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Morehead City is burglary, at 480.0 per 100K — 1.5x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Morehead City Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 31 | 310.0 | 501.9 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 7.6 |
| Rape | 6 | 60.0 | 44.5 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 103.6 |
| Aggravated Assault | 25 | 250.0 | 345.7 |
| Property Crime | 286 | 2,859.7 | 2,536.2 |
| Burglary | 48 | 480.0 | 315.9 |
| Larceny-Theft | 224 | 2,239.8 | 1,758.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 14 | 140.0 | 461.3 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Morehead City vs North Carolina Average
How does Morehead City's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Morehead City | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 310.0 | 568.6 | -45.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,859.7 | 3,003.2 | -4.8% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 9.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,169.7 | 3,571.8 | -11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Morehead City, North Carolina safe?
Morehead City has a safety score of 21/100, meaning it has less crime than about 21% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,169.7 per 100,000 residents in 2023, Morehead City is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Morehead City, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2023, Morehead City has a violent crime rate of 310.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,859.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Morehead City compare to the national average?
Morehead City's total crime rate of 3,169.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 10,001 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Morehead City?
Based on FBI 2023 data, the most reported crimes in Morehead City are larceny-theft (224 reported incidents) and burglary (48 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 9.2x in the city.
Is Morehead City safe to visit?
Like any city, Morehead City has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 21/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.