Is Bellingham or Wilmington Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Wilmington is safer than Bellingham (Safety Score 9/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 4,000 per 100,000 versus 4,108 for Bellingham — 3% lower. Bellingham has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Bellingham has a 63% lower rate.
Bellingham — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Wilmington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bellingham, WA
Wilmington, NC
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bellingham | Wilmington | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,107.9 | 4,000.0 | +108.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 351.0 | 485.2 | -134.2 |
| Murder Rate | 2.1 | 5.6 | -3.5 |
| Rape Rate | 20.9 | 45.6 | -24.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 77.3 | 72.7 | +4.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 249.7 | 358.9 | -109.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,756.9 | 3,514.8 | +242.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 491.0 | 361.3 | +129.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,113.3 | 2,841.7 | +271.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 152.5 | 311.8 | -159.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bellingham or Wilmington safer?
Wilmington is safer with a total crime rate of 4,000 per 100K vs 4,108 for Bellingham — a 3% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bellingham has a violent crime rate of 351.0 per 100K while Wilmington has 485.2. Bellingham has lower violent crime.
About Bellingham, WA
Bellingham, a city of 92,000 nestled between Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains, boasts a thriving arts scene and is home to Western Washington University. Its port city history is evident in its revitalized waterfront. With a safety score of 8/100 and a population coverage of 95,717, Bellingham has a total crime rate of 4,107.9 per 100,000 residents.
About Wilmington, NC
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. With a safety score of 9/100 and a population coverage of 125,101, Wilmington has a total crime rate of 4,000.0 per 100,000 residents.