Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 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 #2,585 of 2,971 US cities and #52 of 76 in North Carolina.
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 for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,477.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Shelby ranks #52 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2585 out of 2971 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 — 3.7x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.7x 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 (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 230 | 1,044.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 5 | 22.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 11 | 49.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 17 | 77.2 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 197 | 894.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 536 | 2,433.3 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 107 | 485.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 378 | 1,716.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 51 | 231.5 | 352.4 |
| 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 |
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 include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
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.