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Philadelphia, PA vs Wilmington, NC Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Philadelphia crime rate · Wilmington crime rate

Moving from Philadelphia, PA to Wilmington, NC?

An out-of-state move adds a new driver's license, plates, voter registration and state-specific deadlines. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Is Philadelphia, PA or Wilmington, NC Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Wilmington, NC is safer than Philadelphia, PA (Safety Score 9/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 4,000 per 100,000 versus 5,458 for Philadelphia, PA — 27% lower. Philadelphia has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Wilmington has a 73% lower rate.

Note: Philadelphia is 12.4x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Philadelphia, PA?

Philadelphia — 4-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Wilmington — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, PA
Safety Score 3/100
Coverage 1,549,259
Total Crime Rate 5,458.5
Category Wins 1/7

Wilmington, NC

Wilmington, NC
Safety Score 9/100
Coverage 125,101
Total Crime Rate 4,000.0
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Philadelphia Wilmington Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,458.5 4,000.0 +1,458.5
Violent Crime Rate 910.3 485.2 +425.1
Murder Rate 16.9 5.6 +11.3
Rape Rate 46.1 45.6 +0.5
Robbery Rate 273.2 72.7 +200.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 572.5 358.9 +213.6
Property Crime Rate 4,548.2 3,514.8 +1,033.4
Burglary Rate 319.0 361.3 -42.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 3,223.6 2,841.7 +381.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 1,005.6 311.8 +693.8

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

Moving from Philadelphia, PA to Wilmington, NC?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Philadelphia or Wilmington safer?

Wilmington, NC is safer with a total crime rate of 4,000 per 100K vs 5,458 for Philadelphia, PA — a 27% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Philadelphia has a violent crime rate of 910.3 per 100K while Wilmington has 485.2. Wilmington has lower violent crime.

About Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, the birthplace of American independence, is Pennsylvania's largest city. Situated along the Delaware River, its diverse population contributes to a rich urban tapestry. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 1,549,259, Philadelphia has a total crime rate of 5,458.5 per 100,000 residents.

About Wilmington, NC

Wilmington, a port city in southeastern North Carolina, is known for its historic downtown Riverwalk and as a major film production hub. Situated along the Cape Fear River, it's the county seat of New Hanover County. With a safety score of 9/100 and a population coverage of 125,101, Wilmington has a total crime rate of 4,000.0 per 100,000 residents.

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