Share

Charlotte, NC vs Lafayette, LA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Charlotte crime rate · Lafayette crime rate

Moving from Charlotte, NC to Lafayette, LA?

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

Get the planner →

Is Charlotte, NC or Lafayette, LA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Charlotte, NC is safer than Lafayette, LA (Safety Score 6/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 4,439 per 100,000 versus 5,414 for Lafayette, LA — 18% lower. Charlotte has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Lafayette has a 47% lower rate.

Note: Charlotte is 8.3x 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 Charlotte, NC?

Charlotte — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Flat Total

Lafayette — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat Property Increasing Total

Charlotte, NC

Charlotte, NC
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 1,003,130
Total Crime Rate 4,439.0
Category Wins 5/7

Lafayette, LA

Lafayette, LA
Safety Score 3/100
Coverage 121,471
Total Crime Rate 5,413.6
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Charlotte Lafayette Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,439.0 5,413.6 -974.6
Violent Crime Rate 733.7 1,066.1 -332.4
Murder Rate 10.9 14.8 -4.0
Rape Rate 24.9 33.8 -8.8
Robbery Rate 130.4 69.2 +61.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 567.0 948.4 -381.3
Property Crime Rate 3,705.3 4,347.5 -642.2
Burglary Rate 427.1 661.1 -234.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,518.2 3,227.9 -709.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 760.0 458.6 +301.5

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

Moving from Charlotte, NC to Lafayette, LA?

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 Charlotte or Lafayette safer?

Charlotte, NC is safer with a total crime rate of 4,439 per 100K vs 5,414 for Lafayette, LA — a 18% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Charlotte has a violent crime rate of 733.7 per 100K while Lafayette has 1,066.1. Charlotte has lower violent crime.

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.

About Lafayette, LA

Lafayette, at the heart of Acadiana, is a vibrant hub of Cajun and Creole culture, known for its lively music and food scene. Situated along the Vermilion River, it's the most populous city in the Lafayette metropolitan area. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 121,471, Lafayette has a total crime rate of 5,413.6 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons