Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Shelby, NC has a Safety Score of 13/100 — higher crime than 87% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,477.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,569 of 2,957 US cities and #52 of 76 in North Carolina.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Shelby, NC?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Shelby, North Carolina Safe?
Shelby, NC, a foothills city in Cleveland County, is home to the Earl Scruggs Center celebrating the bluegrass legend. Its population is approximately 20,000.
Shelby has a safety score of 13/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,477.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Shelby ranks #52 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2569 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 13th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 87% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Shelby is murder, at 22.7 per 100K — 3.6x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, Shelby's total crime rate decreased by 3.2%, with violent crime rising 8.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Shelby Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 230 | 1,044.1 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 5 | 22.7 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 11 | 49.9 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 17 | 77.2 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 197 | 894.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 536 | 2,433.3 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 107 | 485.8 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 378 | 1,716.0 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 51 | 231.5 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Shelby vs North Carolina Average
How does Shelby's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Shelby | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,044.1 | 556.7 | +87.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,433.3 | 2,951.3 | -17.6% |
| Murder Rate | 22.7 | 9.0 | +152.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,477.4 | 3,508.0 | -0.9% |
Shelby Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Shelby, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22,028 | 3,477.4 | 1,044.1 | 2,433.3 |
| 2023 | 21,807 | 3,590.6 | 963.0 | 2,627.6 |
| 2022 | 21,989 | 3,442.6 | 905.0 | 2,537.6 |
| 2021 | 20,128 | 3,910.0 | 909.2 | 3,000.8 |
| 2020 | 19,994 | 3,311.0 | 815.2 | 2,495.8 |
Shelby Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Shelby 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 Shelby, North Carolina safe?
Shelby has a safety score of 13/100, meaning it has less crime than about 13% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,477.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Shelby is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Shelby, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Shelby has a violent crime rate of 1,044.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,433.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Shelby compare to the national average?
Shelby's total crime rate of 3,477.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 22,028 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Shelby?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Shelby are larceny-theft (378 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (197 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 2.3x in the city.
Is Shelby safe to visit?
Like any city, Shelby has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 13/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.