Safest Cities in North Carolina 2024
Average Crime Rate
National Average
Combined Population
Overview: Safest Cities in North Carolina
These 36 cities have the lowest crime rates in North Carolina, based on 2024 FBI data. The safest cities average just 3,064 crimes per 100,000 residents — -11% below the national average of 2,752.
The top 3 safest cities are Fuquay Varina (NC, crime rate: 649), Mint Hill (NC, crime rate: 934), and Leland (NC, crime rate: 1,080).
Full Rankings
| # | City | State | Population | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate | Safety Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fuquay Varina | NC | 47,436 | 649.3 | 69.6 | 579.7 | 88/100 |
| 2 | Mint Hill | NC | 28,259 | 934.2 | 99.1 | 835.1 | 83/100 |
| 3 | Leland | NC | 33,162 | 1,079.6 | 96.5 | 983.1 | 80/100 |
| 4 | Cornelius | NC | 33,699 | 1,139.5 | 103.9 | 1,035.6 | 79/100 |
| 5 | Concord | NC | 111,922 | 1,266.1 | 160.8 | 1,105.2 | 77/100 |
| 6 | Cary | NC | 181,793 | 1,388.9 | 71.5 | 1,317.4 | 74/100 |
| 7 | Clayton | NC | 31,494 | 1,451.1 | 168.3 | 1,282.8 | 73/100 |
| 8 | Wake Forest | NC | 55,872 | 1,451.5 | 146.8 | 1,304.8 | 73/100 |
| 9 | Huntersville | NC | 65,752 | 1,507.2 | 143.0 | 1,364.2 | 72/100 |
| 10 | Kannapolis | NC | 60,725 | 1,953.1 | 168.0 | 1,785.1 | 64/100 |
| 11 | New Bern | NC | 32,548 | 1,978.6 | 362.5 | 1,616.1 | 64/100 |
| 12 | Mooresville | NC | 54,823 | 2,371.3 | 218.9 | 2,152.4 | 56/100 |
| 13 | Morrisville | NC | 32,336 | 2,532.8 | 99.0 | 2,433.8 | 53/100 |
| 14 | Thomasville | NC | 27,525 | 2,626.7 | 330.6 | 2,296.1 | 52/100 |
| 15 | Chapel Hill | NC | 63,906 | 2,686.8 | 172.1 | 2,514.6 | 51/100 |
| 16 | Matthews | NC | 31,422 | 2,838.8 | 184.6 | 2,654.2 | 48/100 |
| 17 | High Point | NC | 117,619 | 2,913.6 | 457.4 | 2,456.2 | 47/100 |
| 18 | Wilson | NC | 47,825 | 2,981.7 | 579.2 | 2,402.5 | 45/100 |
| 19 | Hickory | NC | 44,682 | 3,234.0 | 409.6 | 2,824.4 | 41/100 |
| 20 | Raleigh | NC | 488,085 | 3,308.0 | 488.9 | 2,819.2 | 39/100 |
| 21 | Greenville | NC | 90,871 | 3,367.4 | 453.4 | 2,914.0 | 38/100 |
| 22 | Kernersville | NC | 28,522 | 3,376.3 | 227.9 | 3,148.5 | 38/100 |
| 23 | Winston-Salem | NC | 254,041 | 3,731.3 | 810.1 | 2,921.2 | 32/100 |
| 24 | Fayetteville | NC | 209,945 | 3,755.8 | 661.1 | 3,094.6 | 31/100 |
| 25 | Monroe | NC | 38,903 | 3,997.1 | 663.2 | 3,333.9 | 27/100 |
| 26 | Wilmington | NC | 125,101 | 4,000.0 | 485.2 | 3,514.8 | 27/100 |
| 27 | Burlington | NC | 60,906 | 4,040.7 | 955.6 | 3,085.1 | 26/100 |
| 28 | Greensboro | NC | 304,306 | 4,306.9 | 923.7 | 3,383.1 | 21/100 |
| 29 | Gastonia | NC | 85,112 | 4,363.7 | 849.5 | 3,514.2 | 20/100 |
| 30 | Durham | NC | 300,208 | 4,420.3 | 620.6 | 3,799.7 | 19/100 |
| 31 | Charlotte - Mecklenburg | NC | 1,003,130 | 4,439.0 | 733.7 | 3,705.3 | 19/100 |
| 32 | Asheville | NC | 95,219 | 4,691.3 | 796.1 | 3,895.2 | 14/100 |
| 33 | Rocky Mount | NC | 54,223 | 4,745.2 | 765.4 | 3,979.9 | 13/100 |
| 34 | Garner | NC | 36,720 | 4,872.0 | 364.9 | 4,507.1 | 11/100 |
| 35 | Salisbury | NC | 36,564 | 4,947.5 | 960.0 | 3,987.5 | 10/100 |
| 36 | Goldsboro | NC | 33,444 | 6,940.0 | 1,076.4 | 5,863.5 | 1/100 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest city in North Carolina?
Fuquay Varina, NC is the safest city in North Carolina with a total crime rate of 649.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024.
How are the safest cities determined?
Cities are ranked by total crime rate (violent + property crime) per 100,000 residents using 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data. Only cities with 25,000+ residents are included.
What crime rate is considered safe?
Cities on this list average 3,064 crimes per 100,000 residents, well below the national average of 2,752. Generally, a rate under 2,000 per 100K is considered low.