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Cary, NC vs Houston, TX Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Cary crime rate · Houston crime rate

Moving from Cary, NC to Houston, TX?

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Is Cary, NC or Houston, TX Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Cary, NC is safer than Houston, TX (Safety Score 60/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 1,389 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston, TX — 74% lower. Cary has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Cary has a 95% lower rate.

Note: Houston is 12.8x 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 SAFER than Cary, NC?

Cary — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Houston — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Cary, NC

Cary, NC
Safety Score 60/100
Coverage 181,793
Total Crime Rate 1,388.9
Category Wins 7/7

Houston, TX

Houston, TX
Safety Score 3/100
Coverage 2,319,160
Total Crime Rate 5,441.7
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Cary Houston Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,388.9 5,441.7 -4,052.8
Violent Crime Rate 71.5 1,148.3 -1,076.8
Murder Rate 1.7 13.8 -12.2
Rape Rate 6.6 73.0 -66.4
Robbery Rate 12.7 274.0 -261.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 50.1 787.4 -737.3
Property Crime Rate 1,317.4 4,293.5 -2,976.0
Burglary Rate 88.6 644.8 -556.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,110.6 2,945.7 -1,835.1
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 118.3 703.0 -584.7

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

Moving from Cary, NC to Houston, TX?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cary or Houston safer?

Cary, NC is safer with a total crime rate of 1,389 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston, TX — a 74% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cary has a violent crime rate of 71.5 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Cary has lower violent crime.

About Cary, NC

Cary, NC, a large town in the Research Triangle region, began as a railroad town. It consistently ranks among the most educated communities in the U.S., attracting a diverse, affluent population. With a safety score of 60/100 and a population coverage of 181,793, Cary has a total crime rate of 1,388.9 per 100,000 residents.

About Houston, TX

Houston, the "Space City," is a sprawling metropolis in Southeast Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Its diverse population makes it one of the most multicultural cities in the U.S., with significant Hispanic and Asian communities. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 2,319,160, Houston has a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents.

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