Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Sanford, NC has a Safety Score of 34/100 — higher crime than 66% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,663.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,895 of 2,860 US cities and #35 of 83 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Sanford, North Carolina Safe?
Sanford has a safety score of 34/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,663.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 3,120.6 per 100,000.
Sanford ranks #35 out of 83 cities in North Carolina and #1895 out of 2860 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 34th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 66% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Sanford is murder, at 12.9 per 100K — 1.5x the national average. Conversely, rape is relatively low at just 0.1x the national rate.
Year over year, Sanford's total crime rate decreased by 1.1%, with violent crime rising 2.9%.
Sanford Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 69 | 222.0 | 525.7 |
| Murder | 4 | 12.9 | 8.6 |
| Rape | 2 | 6.4 | 49.2 |
| Robbery | 15 | 48.3 | 106.7 |
| Aggravated Assault | 48 | 154.4 | 360.5 |
| Property Crime | 759 | 2,441.9 | 2,595.0 |
| Burglary | 82 | 263.8 | 342.2 |
| Larceny-Theft | 636 | 2,046.1 | 1,849.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 41 | 131.9 | 403.1 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Sanford vs North Carolina Average
How does Sanford's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Sanford | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 222.0 | 588.8 | -62.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,441.9 | 2,901.2 | -15.8% |
| Murder Rate | 12.9 | 10.2 | +26.1% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,663.8 | 3,490.0 | -23.7% |
Sanford Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Sanford, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 31,083 | 2,663.8 | 222.0 | 2,441.9 |
| 2021 | 30,583 | 2,694.3 | 215.8 | 2,478.5 |
| 2020 | 30,299 | 3,257.5 | 214.5 | 3,043.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sanford, North Carolina safe?
Sanford has a safety score of 34/100, meaning it has less crime than about 34% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,663.8 per 100,000 residents in 2022, Sanford is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Sanford, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2022, Sanford has a violent crime rate of 222.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,441.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Sanford compare to the national average?
Sanford's total crime rate of 2,663.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 31,083 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Sanford?
Based on FBI 2022 data, the most reported crimes in Sanford are larceny-theft (636 reported incidents) and burglary (82 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 11.0x in the city.
Is Sanford safe to visit?
Like any city, Sanford has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 34/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.