Durham vs Norfolk Crime Comparison
Is Durham or Norfolk Safer?
Norfolk is the safer city, with a total crime rate 4% lower than Durham based on 2024 FBI data. Durham has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Norfolk has a 52% lower rate.
Durham, NC
Safety Score
19/100
Population
300,208
Total Crime Rate
4,420.3
Category Wins
2/7
Norfolk, VA
Safety Score
22/100
Population
230,460
Total Crime Rate
4,242.0
Category Wins
5/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Durham | Norfolk | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,420.3 | 4,242.0 | +178.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 620.6 | 469.5 | +151.1 |
| Murder Rate | 12.3 | 16.1 | -3.7 |
| Rape Rate | 57.3 | 40.4 | +16.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 160.9 | 77.2 | +83.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 388.7 | 335.9 | +52.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,799.7 | 3,772.5 | +27.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 450.4 | 254.3 | +196.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,725.4 | 3,122.9 | -397.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 623.9 | 395.3 | +228.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Durham or Norfolk safer?
Norfolk is safer with a total crime rate of 4,242 per 100K vs 4,420 for Durham — a 4% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Durham has a violent crime rate of 620.6 per 100K while Norfolk has 469.5. Norfolk has lower violent crime.