Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Wilmington, NC has a Safety Score of 9/100 — higher crime than 91% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,000.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,717 of 2,971 US cities and #59 of 76 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Wilmington, North Carolina Safe?
Wilmington, a port city in southeastern North Carolina, is known for its historic downtown Riverwalk and as a major film production hub. Situated along the Cape Fear River, it's the county seat of New Hanover County.
Wilmington has a safety score of 9/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,000.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Wilmington ranks #59 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2717 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 9th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 91% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Wilmington is larceny-theft, at 2,841.7 per 100K — 1.7x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.8x the national rate.
Year over year, Wilmington's total crime rate increased by 0.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Wilmington Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 607 | 485.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 7 | 5.6 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 57 | 45.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 91 | 72.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 449 | 358.9 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 4,397 | 3,514.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 452 | 361.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 3,555 | 2,841.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 390 | 311.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Wilmington vs North Carolina Average
How does Wilmington's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Wilmington | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 485.2 | 556.7 | -12.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,514.8 | 2,951.3 | +19.1% |
| Murder Rate | 5.6 | 9.0 | -37.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,000.0 | 3,508.0 | +14.0% |
Wilmington Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Wilmington, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 125,101 | 4,000.0 | 485.2 | 3,514.8 |
| 2023 | 122,675 | 3,995.9 | 487.5 | 3,508.5 |
| 2022 | 119,159 | 3,409.7 | 533.7 | 2,876.0 |
| 2021 | 126,759 | 3,316.5 | 522.3 | 2,794.3 |
| 2020 | 125,794 | 3,200.5 | 641.5 | 2,559.0 |
| 2019 | 124,750 | 3,488.6 | 608.4 | 2,880.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wilmington, North Carolina safe?
Wilmington has a safety score of 9/100, meaning it has less crime than about 9% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,000.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Wilmington is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Wilmington, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Wilmington has a violent crime rate of 485.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,514.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Wilmington compare to the national average?
Wilmington's total crime rate of 4,000.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 125,101 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Wilmington?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Wilmington include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Wilmington safe to visit?
Like any city, Wilmington has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 9/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.