Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Raleigh, NC has a Safety Score of 15/100 — higher crime than 85% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,308.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,505 of 2,957 US cities and #44 of 76 in North Carolina.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Raleigh, NC?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Raleigh, North Carolina Safe?
Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital, anchors the Research Triangle Park technology hub. Founded in 1792, it's known as the "City of Oaks" for its tree-lined streets and boasts a population exceeding 470,000.
Raleigh has a safety score of 15/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,308.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Raleigh ranks #44 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2505 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 15th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 85% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Raleigh is motor vehicle theft, at 481.3 per 100K — 1.3x the national average.
Year over year, Raleigh's total crime rate increased by 6.1%, with violent crime declining 7.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Raleigh Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 2,386 | 488.9 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 25 | 5.1 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 176 | 36.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 423 | 86.7 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,762 | 361.0 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 13,760 | 2,819.2 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 1,362 | 279.1 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 10,049 | 2,058.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2,349 | 481.3 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Raleigh vs North Carolina Average
How does Raleigh's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Raleigh | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 488.9 | 556.7 | -12.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,819.2 | 2,951.3 | -4.5% |
| Murder Rate | 5.1 | 9.0 | -43.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,308.0 | 3,508.0 | -5.7% |
Raleigh Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Raleigh, North Carolina.
Between 2019 and 2024, Raleigh's total crime rate is up 62% (2,039 → 3,308 per 100,000). Violent crime is up 91% and property crime up 58% over the same period.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 488,085 | 3,308.0 | 488.9 | 2,819.2 |
| 2023 | 482,842 | 3,117.8 | 528.3 | 2,589.5 |
| 2022 | 470,829 | 2,872.0 | 508.3 | 2,363.7 |
| 2021 | 481,823 | 2,612.4 | 466.8 | 2,145.6 |
| 2020 | 482,264 | 2,447.0 | 396.9 | 2,050.1 |
| 2019 | 477,828 | 2,038.8 | 255.7 | 1,783.1 |
Raleigh Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Raleigh 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 Raleigh, North Carolina safe?
Raleigh has a safety score of 15/100, meaning it has less crime than about 15% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,308.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Raleigh is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Raleigh, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Raleigh has a violent crime rate of 488.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,819.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Raleigh compare to the national average?
Raleigh's total crime rate of 3,308.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 488,085 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Raleigh?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Raleigh are larceny-theft (10,049 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (2,349 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 5.8x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Raleigh in 2024?
25 murders were reported to the FBI for Raleigh in 2024 — a homicide rate of 5.1 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Raleigh going up or down?
Raleigh's total crime rate is rising: 62% higher in 2024 than in 2019 (3,308 vs 2,039 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Raleigh safe to visit?
Like any city, Raleigh has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 15/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.