Is Charlotte - Mecklenburg or Ruston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Ruston is safer than Charlotte - Mecklenburg (Safety Score 14/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 3,387 per 100,000 versus 4,439 for Charlotte - Mecklenburg — 24% lower. Charlotte - Mecklenburg has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Ruston has a 69% lower rate.
Note: Charlotte - Mecklenburg is 45.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Charlotte - Mecklenburg — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Ruston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Charlotte - Mecklenburg, NC
Ruston, LA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Charlotte - Mecklenburg | Ruston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,439.0 | 3,387.4 | +1,051.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 733.7 | 431.3 | +302.4 |
| Murder Rate | 10.9 | 13.5 | -2.6 |
| Rape Rate | 24.9 | 22.5 | +2.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 130.4 | 40.4 | +90.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 567.0 | 350.4 | +216.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,705.3 | 2,956.1 | +749.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 427.1 | 359.4 | +67.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,518.2 | 2,412.5 | +105.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 760.0 | 184.2 | +575.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charlotte - Mecklenburg or Ruston safer?
Ruston is safer with a total crime rate of 3,387 per 100K vs 4,439 for Charlotte - Mecklenburg — a 24% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Charlotte - Mecklenburg has a violent crime rate of 733.7 per 100K while Ruston has 431.3. Ruston has lower violent crime.
About Charlotte - Mecklenburg, 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 - Mecklenburg has a total crime rate of 4,439.0 per 100,000 residents.
About Ruston, LA
Ruston, Louisiana, is home to Louisiana Tech University, a public research institution. Situated in Lincoln Parish, it's a small city in north-central Louisiana, known for its annual Peach Festival. With a safety score of 14/100 and a population coverage of 22,259, Ruston has a total crime rate of 3,387.4 per 100,000 residents.
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