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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Tarboro, NC has a Safety Score of 15/100 — higher crime than 85% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,360.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,540 of 2,971 US cities and #48 of 76 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Tarboro, North Carolina Safe?
Tarboro, the county seat of Edgecombe County, is a small Eastern North Carolina town known for its historic Town Common, one of the oldest in the country. Situated on the Tar River, it's home to roughly 10,000 residents.
Tarboro has a safety score of 15/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,360.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Tarboro ranks #48 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2540 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 15th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 85% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Tarboro is murder, at 18.3 per 100K — 3.0x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Tarboro's total crime rate increased by 3.3%, with violent crime declining 2.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Tarboro Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 73 | 668.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 18.3 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 1 | 9.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 9 | 82.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 61 | 558.6 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 294 | 2,692.3 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 37 | 338.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 251 | 2,298.5 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6 | 55.0 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Tarboro vs North Carolina Average
How does Tarboro's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Tarboro | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 668.5 | 556.7 | +20.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,692.3 | 2,951.3 | -8.8% |
| Murder Rate | 18.3 | 9.0 | +104.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,360.8 | 3,508.0 | -4.2% |
Tarboro Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Tarboro, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10,920 | 3,360.8 | 668.5 | 2,692.3 |
| 2023 | 10,662 | 3,254.6 | 684.7 | 2,569.9 |
| 2022 | 10,492 | 1,420.1 | 219.2 | 1,200.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tarboro, North Carolina safe?
Tarboro has a safety score of 15/100, meaning it has less crime than about 15% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,360.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Tarboro is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Tarboro, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Tarboro has a violent crime rate of 668.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,692.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Tarboro compare to the national average?
Tarboro's total crime rate of 3,360.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 10,920 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Tarboro?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Tarboro include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Tarboro safe to visit?
Like any city, Tarboro has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 15/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.