Is Durham or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, New York City is safer than Durham (Safety Score 19/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 4,420 for Durham — 31% lower. Durham has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where New York City has a 68% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 27.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Durham — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Durham, NC
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Durham | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,420.3 | 3,039.7 | +1,380.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 620.6 | 671.4 | -50.9 |
| Murder Rate | 12.3 | 3.9 | +8.4 |
| Rape Rate | 57.3 | 23.4 | +33.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 160.9 | 187.5 | -26.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 388.7 | 456.2 | -67.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,799.7 | 2,368.3 | +1,431.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 450.4 | 154.7 | +295.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,725.4 | 2,015.0 | +710.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 623.9 | 198.5 | +425.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Durham or New York City safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 4,420 for Durham — a 31% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Durham has a violent crime rate of 620.6 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. 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 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.