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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Rocky Mount, NC has a Safety Score of 4/100 — higher crime than 96% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,745.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,828 of 2,957 US cities and #68 of 76 in North Carolina.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Rocky Mount, NC?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Rocky Mount, North Carolina Safe?
Rocky Mount, straddling Nash and Edgecombe counties, is a former railroad town with a rich tobacco heritage. Situated along the Tar River, it serves as a regional hub in eastern North Carolina.
Rocky Mount has a safety score of 4/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,745.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Rocky Mount ranks #68 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2828 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 4th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 96% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Rocky Mount is burglary, at 739.5 per 100K — 2.5x the national average.
Year over year, Rocky Mount's total crime rate increased by 14.5%, with violent crime declining 12.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Rocky Mount Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 415 | 765.4 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 7 | 12.9 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 21 | 38.7 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 85 | 156.8 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 302 | 557.0 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 2,158 | 3,979.9 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 401 | 739.5 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,545 | 2,849.3 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 212 | 391.0 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Rocky Mount vs North Carolina Average
How does Rocky Mount's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Rocky Mount | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 765.4 | 556.7 | +37.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,979.9 | 2,951.3 | +34.8% |
| Murder Rate | 12.9 | 9.0 | +43.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,745.2 | 3,508.0 | +35.3% |
Rocky Mount Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 54,223 | 4,745.2 | 765.4 | 3,979.9 |
| 2023 | 53,865 | 4,143.7 | 876.3 | 3,267.4 |
| 2022 | 53,668 | 3,668.9 | 890.7 | 2,778.2 |
| 2021 | 53,305 | 3,517.5 | 945.5 | 2,572.0 |
| 2020 | 53,520 | 4,101.3 | 1,152.8 | 2,948.4 |
| 2019 | 53,827 | 3,810.4 | 787.7 | 3,022.7 |
Rocky Mount Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Rocky Mount 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 Rocky Mount, North Carolina safe?
Rocky Mount has a safety score of 4/100, meaning it has less crime than about 4% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,745.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Rocky Mount is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Rocky Mount has a violent crime rate of 765.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,979.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Rocky Mount compare to the national average?
Rocky Mount's total crime rate of 4,745.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 54,223 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Rocky Mount?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Rocky Mount are larceny-theft (1,545 reported incidents) and burglary (401 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 5.2x in the city.
Is Rocky Mount safe to visit?
Like any city, Rocky Mount has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 4/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.