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Cary, NC vs Phoenix, AZ Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Cary crime rate · Phoenix crime rate

Moving from Cary, NC to Phoenix, AZ?

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Is Cary, NC or Phoenix, AZ Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Cary, NC is safer than Phoenix, AZ (Safety Score 60/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 1,389 per 100,000 versus 3,125 for Phoenix, AZ — 56% lower. Cary has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Cary has a 93% lower rate.

Note: Phoenix is 9.1x 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 Cary, NC?

Cary — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Phoenix — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Cary, NC

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

Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ
Safety Score 17/100
Coverage 1,662,809
Total Crime Rate 3,125.4
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Cary Phoenix Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,388.9 3,125.4 -1,736.4
Violent Crime Rate 71.5 800.0 -728.5
Murder Rate 1.7 8.4 -6.7
Rape Rate 6.6 64.3 -57.7
Robbery Rate 12.7 181.6 -169.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 50.1 545.3 -495.3
Property Crime Rate 1,317.4 2,325.3 -1,007.9
Burglary Rate 88.6 317.2 -228.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,110.6 1,582.1 -471.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 118.3 426.0 -307.8

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

Moving from Cary, NC to Phoenix, AZ?

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 Phoenix safer?

Cary, NC is safer with a total crime rate of 1,389 per 100K vs 3,125 for Phoenix, AZ — a 56% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cary has a violent crime rate of 71.5 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. 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 Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, Arizona, the "Valley of the Sun," is a sprawling desert metropolis with a rich Native American heritage, including the Hohokam people. It's the fifth-largest city in the United States by population, experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 1,662,809, Phoenix has a total crime rate of 3,125.4 per 100,000 residents.

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