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Durham, NC vs Gastonia, NC Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Durham crime rate · Gastonia crime rate

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Is Durham, NC or Gastonia, NC Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Gastonia, NC is safer than Durham, NC (Safety Score 6/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 4,364 per 100,000 versus 4,420 for Durham, NC — 1% lower. Durham has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Gastonia has a 62% lower rate.

Note: Durham is 3.5x 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 SAFER than Durham, NC?

Durham — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Gastonia — 4-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Durham, NC

Durham, NC
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 300,208
Total Crime Rate 4,420.3
Category Wins 2/7

Gastonia, NC

Gastonia, NC
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 85,112
Total Crime Rate 4,363.7
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Durham Gastonia Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,420.3 4,363.7 +56.6
Violent Crime Rate 620.6 849.5 -228.9
Murder Rate 12.3 4.7 +7.6
Rape Rate 57.3 37.6 +19.7
Robbery Rate 160.9 123.4 +37.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 388.7 683.8 -295.1
Property Crime Rate 3,799.7 3,514.2 +285.5
Burglary Rate 450.4 512.3 -61.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,725.4 2,587.2 +138.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 623.9 414.8 +209.2

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

Moving from Durham, NC to Gastonia, NC?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Durham or Gastonia safer?

Gastonia, NC is safer with a total crime rate of 4,364 per 100K vs 4,420 for Durham, NC — a 1% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Durham has a violent crime rate of 620.6 per 100K while Gastonia has 849.5. Durham has lower violent crime.

About Durham, NC

Durham, North Carolina, known as the "Bull City," grew around its tobacco industry. It's a diverse city in the Piedmont region, home to Duke University and a thriving tech scene. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 300,208, Durham has a total crime rate of 4,420.3 per 100,000 residents.

About Gastonia, NC

Gastonia, North Carolina, a city with a rich textile history, sits west of Charlotte in Gaston County. Its population of over 80,000 residents reflects a diverse mix of backgrounds. With a safety score of 6/100 and a population coverage of 85,112, Gastonia has a total crime rate of 4,363.7 per 100,000 residents.

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