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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Roanoke Rapids, NC has a Safety Score of 7/100 — higher crime than 93% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,276.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,756 of 2,957 US cities and #62 of 76 in North Carolina.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Roanoke Rapids, NC?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Safe?
Roanoke Rapids, a former mill town, straddles the Roanoke River near the Virginia border. It's home to the Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail, celebrating its industrial past. The city's population is around 15,000.
Roanoke Rapids has a safety score of 7/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,276.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Roanoke Rapids ranks #62 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2756 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 7th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 93% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Roanoke Rapids is aggravated assault, at 717.4 per 100K — 2.2x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.7x the national rate.
Year over year, Roanoke Rapids's total crime rate decreased by 28%, with violent crime rising 7.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Roanoke Rapids Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 130 | 896.7 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 1 | 6.9 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 8 | 55.2 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 17 | 117.3 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 104 | 717.4 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 490 | 3,380.0 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 78 | 538.0 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 376 | 2,593.6 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 36 | 248.3 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Roanoke Rapids vs North Carolina Average
How does Roanoke Rapids's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Roanoke Rapids | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 896.7 | 556.7 | +61.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,380.0 | 2,951.3 | +14.5% |
| Murder Rate | 6.9 | 9.0 | -23.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,276.8 | 3,508.0 | +21.9% |
Roanoke Rapids Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14,497 | 4,276.8 | 896.7 | 3,380.0 |
| 2023 | 14,694 | 5,941.2 | 837.1 | 5,104.1 |
| 2022 | 15,025 | 5,231.3 | 765.4 | 4,465.9 |
| 2021 | 14,046 | 4,734.4 | 811.6 | 3,922.8 |
| 2020 | 14,178 | 5,254.6 | 1,050.9 | 4,203.7 |
| 2019 | 14,354 | 5,810.2 | 891.7 | 4,918.5 |
Roanoke Rapids Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Roanoke Rapids 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 Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina safe?
Roanoke Rapids has a safety score of 7/100, meaning it has less crime than about 7% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,276.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Roanoke Rapids is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Roanoke Rapids has a violent crime rate of 896.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,380.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Roanoke Rapids compare to the national average?
Roanoke Rapids's total crime rate of 4,276.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 14,497 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Roanoke Rapids?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Roanoke Rapids are larceny-theft (376 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (104 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.8x in the city.
Is Roanoke Rapids safe to visit?
Like any city, Roanoke Rapids has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 7/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.