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Charleston, SC vs Charlotte, NC Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Charleston crime rate · Charlotte crime rate

Moving from Charleston, SC to Charlotte, NC?

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Is Charleston, SC or Charlotte, NC Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Charleston, SC is safer than Charlotte, NC (Safety Score 31/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 2,379 per 100,000 versus 4,439 for Charlotte, NC — 46% lower. Charleston has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Charleston has a 67% lower rate.

Note: Charlotte is 6.4x 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 Charleston, SC?

Charleston — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Charlotte — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Flat Total

Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC
Safety Score 31/100
Coverage 156,898
Total Crime Rate 2,379.3
Category Wins 7/7

Charlotte, NC

Charlotte, 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 Charleston Charlotte Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,379.3 4,439.0 -2,059.8
Violent Crime Rate 357.6 733.7 -376.1
Murder Rate 4.5 10.9 -6.4
Rape Rate 28.0 24.9 +3.1
Robbery Rate 42.7 130.4 -87.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 282.4 567.0 -284.7
Property Crime Rate 2,021.7 3,705.3 -1,683.6
Burglary Rate 139.6 427.1 -287.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,656.5 2,518.2 -861.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 225.6 760.0 -534.4

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

Moving from Charleston, SC to Charlotte, NC?

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 Charleston or Charlotte safer?

Charleston, SC is safer with a total crime rate of 2,379 per 100K vs 4,439 for Charlotte, NC — a 46% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Charleston has a violent crime rate of 357.6 per 100K while Charlotte has 733.7. Charleston has lower violent crime.

About Charleston, SC

Charleston, a historic port city founded in 1670, boasts cobblestone streets and antebellum architecture. Situated on a peninsula, its population is predominantly white, with a significant Black community contributing to its rich Lowcountry culture. With a safety score of 31/100 and a population coverage of 156,898, Charleston has a total crime rate of 2,379.3 per 100,000 residents.

About Charlotte, 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 has a total crime rate of 4,439.0 per 100,000 residents.

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