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Asheville, NC vs Durham, NC Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Asheville crime rate · Durham crime rate

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Is Asheville, NC or Durham, NC Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Durham, NC is safer than Asheville, NC (Safety Score 6/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 4,420 per 100,000 versus 4,691 for Asheville, NC — 6% lower. Asheville has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Asheville has a 30% lower rate.

Note: Durham is 3.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Asheville, NC?

Asheville — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Durham — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Asheville, NC

Asheville, NC
Safety Score 5/100
Coverage 95,219
Total Crime Rate 4,691.3
Category Wins 2/7

Durham, NC

Durham, NC
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 300,208
Total Crime Rate 4,420.3
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Asheville Durham Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,691.3 4,420.3 +271.0
Violent Crime Rate 796.1 620.6 +175.5
Murder Rate 12.6 12.3 +0.3
Rape Rate 86.1 57.3 +28.8
Robbery Rate 113.4 160.9 -47.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 583.9 388.7 +195.2
Property Crime Rate 3,895.2 3,799.7 +95.5
Burglary Rate 601.8 450.4 +151.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,956.3 2,725.4 +230.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 337.1 623.9 -286.8

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Asheville, NC to Durham, NC?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Asheville or Durham safer?

Durham, NC is safer with a total crime rate of 4,420 per 100K vs 4,691 for Asheville, NC — a 6% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Asheville has a violent crime rate of 796.1 per 100K while Durham has 620.6. Durham has lower violent crime.

About Asheville, NC

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a vibrant city known for its arts scene and the historic Biltmore Estate. Its population, predominantly white, enjoys a unique blend of Appalachian heritage and progressive culture. With a safety score of 5/100 and a population coverage of 95,219, Asheville has a total crime rate of 4,691.3 per 100,000 residents.

About Durham, NC

Durham, North Carolina, known as the "Bull City," grew around its tobacco industry. It's a diverse city in the Piedmont region, home to Duke University and a thriving tech scene. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 300,208, Durham has a total crime rate of 4,420.3 per 100,000 residents.

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