Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Wilson, NC has a Safety Score of 20/100 — higher crime than 80% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,981.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,386 of 2,971 US cities and #40 of 76 in North Carolina.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Wilson, North Carolina Safe?
Wilson, NC, a city of over 49,000 residents in Eastern North Carolina, is known as "The City of Antiques" and home to the unique Whirligig Park. It lies along the I-95 corridor, a major North-South route.
Wilson has a safety score of 20/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,981.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Wilson ranks #40 out of 76 cities in North Carolina and #2386 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 20th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 80% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Wilson is murder, at 25.1 per 100K — 4.0x the national average. Conversely, rape is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, Wilson's total crime rate decreased by 5.4%, with violent crime rising 10%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Wilson Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 277 | 579.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 12 | 25.1 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 13 | 27.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 30 | 62.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 222 | 464.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,149 | 2,402.5 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 137 | 286.5 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 900 | 1,881.9 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 112 | 234.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Wilson vs North Carolina Average
How does Wilson's crime rate compare to the North Carolina state average?
| Metric | Wilson | North Carolina Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 579.2 | 556.7 | +4.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,402.5 | 2,951.3 | -18.6% |
| Murder Rate | 25.1 | 9.0 | +179.4% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,981.7 | 3,508.0 | -15.0% |
Wilson Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Wilson, North Carolina.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 47,825 | 2,981.7 | 579.2 | 2,402.5 |
| 2023 | 47,479 | 3,150.9 | 526.6 | 2,624.3 |
| 2022 | 47,518 | 2,979.9 | 515.6 | 2,464.3 |
| 2021 | 49,507 | 3,086.4 | 595.9 | 2,490.6 |
| 2020 | 49,486 | 3,473.7 | 547.6 | 2,926.1 |
| 2019 | 49,344 | 3,576.9 | 445.9 | 3,131.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wilson, North Carolina safe?
Wilson has a safety score of 20/100, meaning it has less crime than about 20% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,981.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Wilson is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Wilson, North Carolina?
According to FBI data for 2024, Wilson has a violent crime rate of 579.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,402.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Wilson compare to the national average?
Wilson's total crime rate of 2,981.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 47,825 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Wilson?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Wilson include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Wilson safe to visit?
Like any city, Wilson has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 20/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.