Is Chapel Hill or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Chapel Hill is safer than New York City (Safety Score 24/100 vs 19/100), with a total crime rate of 2,687 per 100,000 versus 3,040 for New York City — 12% lower. Chapel Hill has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Chapel Hill has a 76% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 129.9x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Chapel Hill — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Chapel Hill, NC
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Chapel Hill | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,686.8 | 3,039.7 | -352.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 172.1 | 671.4 | -499.3 |
| Murder Rate | 1.6 | 3.9 | -2.4 |
| Rape Rate | 12.5 | 23.4 | -10.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 45.4 | 187.5 | -142.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 112.7 | 456.2 | -343.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,514.6 | 2,368.3 | +146.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 339.6 | 154.7 | +184.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,988.9 | 2,015.0 | -26.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 186.2 | 198.5 | -12.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chapel Hill or New York City safer?
Chapel Hill is safer with a total crime rate of 2,687 per 100K vs 3,040 for New York City — a 12% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Chapel Hill has a violent crime rate of 172.1 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. Chapel Hill has lower violent crime.
About Chapel Hill, NC
Chapel Hill, home to the nation's first public university, is a vibrant town in Orange County, North Carolina. Its youthful population, largely influenced by UNC, enjoys the rolling Piedmont hills. With a safety score of 24/100 and a population coverage of 63,906, Chapel Hill has a total crime rate of 2,686.8 per 100,000 residents.
About New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.