Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Salisbury, NC has a Safety Score of 4/100 — higher crime than 96% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,947.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,860 of 2,971 US cities and #70 of 76 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Salisbury, North Carolina Safe?
Salisbury, NC, home to Cheerwine, is a city of over 35,000 residents in Rowan County. It sits in the Piedmont region, roughly midway between Charlotte and Greensboro.
Salisbury has a safety score of 4/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,947.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Salisbury ranks #70 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2860 out of 2971 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 Salisbury is murder, at 30.1 per 100K — 4.8x the national average.
Year over year, Salisbury's total crime rate decreased by 2.8%, with violent crime declining 1.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Salisbury Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 351 | 960.0 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 11 | 30.1 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 21 | 57.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 53 | 145.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 266 | 727.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,458 | 3,987.5 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 147 | 402.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,010 | 2,762.3 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 301 | 823.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Salisbury vs North Carolina Average
How does Salisbury's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Salisbury | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 960.0 | 556.7 | +72.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,987.5 | 2,951.3 | +35.1% |
| Murder Rate | 30.1 | 9.0 | +235.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,947.5 | 3,508.0 | +41.0% |
Salisbury Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Salisbury, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 36,564 | 4,947.5 | 960.0 | 3,987.5 |
| 2023 | 35,919 | 5,089.2 | 974.4 | 4,114.8 |
| 2022 | 35,938 | 4,549.5 | 887.6 | 3,661.9 |
| 2021 | 33,856 | 4,900.2 | 957.0 | 3,943.2 |
| 2020 | 34,045 | 4,329.6 | 743.1 | 3,586.4 |
| 2019 | 33,877 | 4,906.0 | 735.0 | 4,171.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salisbury, North Carolina safe?
Salisbury 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 4,947.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Salisbury is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Salisbury, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Salisbury has a violent crime rate of 960.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,987.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Salisbury compare to the national average?
Salisbury's total crime rate of 4,947.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 36,564 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Salisbury?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Salisbury include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Salisbury safe to visit?
Like any city, Salisbury 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.