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Durham, NC vs Wake Forest, NC Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Durham crime rate · Wake Forest crime rate

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Is Durham, NC or Wake Forest, NC Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Wake Forest, NC is safer than Durham, NC (Safety Score 59/100 vs 6/100), with a total crime rate of 1,452 per 100,000 versus 4,420 for Durham, NC — 67% lower. Durham has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Wake Forest has a 94% lower rate.

Note: Durham is 5.4x 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

Wake Forest — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Durham, NC

Durham, NC
Safety Score 6/100
Coverage 300,208
Total Crime Rate 4,420.3
Category Wins 0/7

Wake Forest, NC

Wake Forest, NC
Safety Score 59/100
Coverage 55,872
Total Crime Rate 1,451.5
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Durham Wake Forest Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,420.3 1,451.5 +2,968.7
Violent Crime Rate 620.6 146.8 +473.8
Murder Rate 12.3 3.6 +8.7
Rape Rate 57.3 5.4 +51.9
Robbery Rate 160.9 9.0 +151.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 388.7 128.9 +259.9
Property Crime Rate 3,799.7 1,304.8 +2,494.9
Burglary Rate 450.4 103.8 +346.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,725.4 1,116.8 +1,608.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 623.9 84.1 +539.8

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

Moving from Durham, NC to Wake Forest, 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 Wake Forest safer?

Wake Forest, NC is safer with a total crime rate of 1,452 per 100K vs 4,420 for Durham, NC — a 67% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Durham has a violent crime rate of 620.6 per 100K while Wake Forest has 146.8. Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest, NC

Wake Forest, NC, a town in northern Wake County, was historically home to Wake Forest College before its move to Winston-Salem. It boasts a growing population of over 50,000 residents today. With a safety score of 59/100 and a population coverage of 55,872, Wake Forest has a total crime rate of 1,451.5 per 100,000 residents.

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