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Bethlehem vs Charlotte - Mecklenburg Crime Comparison

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

Is Bethlehem or Charlotte - Mecklenburg Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Bethlehem is safer than Charlotte - Mecklenburg (Safety Score 54/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 1,576 per 100,000 versus 4,439 for Charlotte - Mecklenburg — 64% lower. Bethlehem has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Bethlehem has a 79% lower rate.

Note: Charlotte - Mecklenburg is 12.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Bethlehem — 4-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Charlotte - Mecklenburg — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Flat Total

Bethlehem, PA

Bethlehem, PA
Safety Score 54/100
Coverage 79,194
Total Crime Rate 1,575.9
Category Wins 7/7

Charlotte - Mecklenburg, NC

Charlotte - Mecklenburg, NC
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 1,003,130
Total Crime Rate 4,439.0
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Bethlehem Charlotte - Mecklenburg Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,575.9 4,439.0 -2,863.1
Violent Crime Rate 207.1 733.7 -526.6
Murder Rate 2.5 10.9 -8.3
Rape Rate 40.4 24.9 +15.5
Robbery Rate 27.8 130.4 -102.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 135.1 567.0 -431.9
Property Crime Rate 1,368.8 3,705.3 -2,336.5
Burglary Rate 84.6 427.1 -342.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,150.3 2,518.2 -1,367.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 133.9 760.0 -626.2

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bethlehem or Charlotte - Mecklenburg safer?

Bethlehem is safer with a total crime rate of 1,576 per 100K vs 4,439 for Charlotte - Mecklenburg — a 64% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Bethlehem has a violent crime rate of 207.1 per 100K while Charlotte - Mecklenburg has 733.7. Bethlehem has lower violent crime.

About Bethlehem, PA

Bethlehem, PA, known as "The Christmas City" for its annual celebrations, is a city in the Lehigh Valley. Once a major industrial hub for Bethlehem Steel, it now has a diverse economy and a population of over 75,000. With a safety score of 54/100 and a population coverage of 79,194, Bethlehem has a total crime rate of 1,575.9 per 100,000 residents.

About Charlotte - Mecklenburg, NC

Charlotte-Mecklenburg, a major financial hub, sits in the Carolina Piedmont. The region is home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, reflecting its deep ties to motorsports. Its diverse population has grown significantly, making it North Carolina's largest county. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 1,003,130, Charlotte - Mecklenburg has a total crime rate of 4,439.0 per 100,000 residents.

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