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You'll be hard pressed to find a good dose of southern hospitality in most of North Carolina's dangerous cities: these cities are more concerned with cleaning up their neighborhoods and fighting crime.
We're not talking about choosing tomato based BBQ sauce instead of vinegar; or even worse, not being a Durham Bulls fan kind of crime, we're talking about the type of crime that will get you on Raleigh's WRAL at six. And lucky for you, RoadSnacks is here to tell you where the most crime is committed in the TarHeel State: we've created a list of the top ten most dangerous places in North Carolina for 2022.
In order to compile our list, we looked at FBI data for violent crimes and property crimes in Texas cities with a population of 5,000. That left us with 99 cities. We discovered that the state as a whole had 363 violent crimes and 2,545 property crimes reported per capita. And while that doesn't seem like that many for the ninth largest state in the country in population, it is above the national average; and coincidentally one of the top 25 most dangerous states in the country.
Gone are the days that parents can let their children run wild until the street lights come on. Heck, parents shouldn't let their kids out of their sight in the most dangerous cities in North Carolina. So, you must be wondering, how does one navigate these dangerous North Carolina cities when trying to make an informed decision on where you should call home?
We suggest that you take a look at our list below before you make any life changing decisions.
The Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina For 2022
Do we think the problems in North Carolina's most dangerous places are directly related to high unemployment, low wages, and lack of rehabilitation programs? Absolutely. Not to mention, rent in most of North Carolina's safest places and best places to live is out of reach for most people, making it difficult for people to make a move. This keeps the people in these places feeling angry, defeated, and more likely to commit a crime.
So, what is the most dangerous place in North Carolina? That would be, Wadesboro.
To see how the rest of your favorite places in North Carolina faired, take a look below; and if you don't find your favorite there, head to the bottom.
Learn more about the safest places in North Carolina.
If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In North Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In North Carolina For 2022
Taking the #1 spot on our list of North Carolina's most dangerous places is Wadesboro, a town of 5,221 about an hour southeast of Charlotte.
Even without a single murder in 2020, Wadesboro had the highest violent crime rate in North Carolina. That's mostly due to a whole bunch of aggravated assault cases, but having the second highest rate of rape cases also doesn't help.
While the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge is a sanctuary for animals, humans of Wadesboro are on their own for finding safety.
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Population: 5,221
Rank Last Year: 2 (Up 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,375 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,990 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Wadesboro: | Cost Of Living
Welcome to Henderson, the de facto murder capital of North Carolina. The city of 14,861 had 10 murders in 2020, the highest rate statewide.
All forms of violent crime are quite prevalent in Henderson, where residents had a 1 in 49 shot of being the victim of an attack over the year.
Property crime is also all too common in Henderson, so be sure nobody steals your catch after a day out fishing on Kerr Lake.
Henderson is located about 40 miles northeast of Durham.
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Population: 14,861
Rank Last Year: 4 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,038 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,753 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Henderson: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Williamston motto might be "easy living with hometown values," but there's nothing easy about living in the place with the third highest crime rates in North Carolina.
Williamston is home to a Western theme park, Deadwood, but there's plenty of wild west style crime going on in the town itself. For example, the town has the 17th highest rate of rape cases in the state and the fifth highest violent crime rate overall.
The bad news doesn't stop there. Williamston also recorded the fourth highest burglary rate in the state, so be sure to keep your doors locked here.
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Population: 5,145
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,282 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,772 (Sixth most dangerous)
More on Williamston: | Cost Of Living
Kinston was once the center of a thriving economy centered on lumber and cotton mills. Later, other forms of manufacturing entered the area, including pharmaceuticals. Thanks to these forces, the town boomed from the late 19th century into the middle of the 20th, with the population growing from a little more than 1,200 people in 1880 to nearly 25,000 residents in 1960.
Unfortunately, it has been downhill from there. This community in eastern North Carolina now has a population of 19,862, with narrowing economic prospects contributing to a rise in crime. As a result, this has become the number 4 most dangerous spot in the state.
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Population: 19,862
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,183 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,071 (Fifth most dangerous)
More on Kinston: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
No, this town isn't named after the former president. Or the former presidential candidate who happened to be married to that former president. The history of this community stretches back way, way before those Clintons hit the political stage. In fact, the town itself can trace its roots to a time before the founding of the United States
Instead, this Clinton gets its name from an American Revolution general. That military connection still has some reverberations, given the surprising levels of violence experienced among the 8,431 residents of modern-day Clinton. In fact, the town has the number 8 highest pace of violent crime in North Carolina.
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Population: 8,431
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,150 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,290 (11th most dangerous)
More on Clinton: | Cost Of Living
The next stop on our list of North Carolina's most dangerous places for 2022 takes us to Goldsboro, a city of 34,051 in Wayne County. Goldsboro is no stranger to violence -- anyone can visit the Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield, site of a Civil War battle with 15,000 soldiers.
These days, violence is slightly less prevalent, but there were still 397 violent crimes recorded in 2020.
On top of that, Goldsboro averaged more than five property crimes each day in 2020, so you'll want to keep your doors locked and your eyes peeled for porch pirates here.
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Population: 34,051
Rank Last Year: 10 (Up 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,165 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,018 (13th most dangerous)
More on Goldsboro: | Cost Of Living
The Laurinburg Police Department sure has their work cut out for them. Why's that? Well, residents had a 1 in 56 of finding themselves the victim of a violent crime in 2020, the third highest odds in North Carolina.
On top of that, Laurinburg had the second highest burglary rate in the state, with about one happening each and every day, on average. In fact, there were more burglaries than larcenies in Laurinburg, which is extremely rare.
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Population: 14,905
Rank Last Year: 7 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,784 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,642 (19th most dangerous)
More on Laurinburg: | Cost Of Living
Dunn was once at the center of nationally discussed paddling controversy. In 1981, a local school official punished a student with a spanking. Eventually, this spiraled into a lawsuit and an investigation by the U.S. Senate.
Whatever your opinion of corporal punishment, you might be forced to agree that the youth of current-day Dunn could use a little more disciple. The local residents can get unruly, especially when it comes to property crimes. The town suffers the number 1 rates of burglaries in North Carolina.
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Population: 9,763
Rank Last Year: 20 (Up 12)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 778 (23rd most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 7,671 (Second most dangerous)
More on Dunn: | Cost Of Living
Albemarle ranks as the ninth most dangerous city in North Carolina thanks to an unhealthy mix of violent and property crime.
Overall, there were 152 violent crimes and 921 property crimes reported in 2020 -- both pretty high for a city of 16,287.
If you're trying to get away from the mean streets of Albemarle, there's always Morrow Mountain State Park for a breath of fresh air.
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Population: 16,287
Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 933 (17th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,654 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Albemarle: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Located a half-hour north of Greensboro, Reidsville comes in as the tenth most dangerous place in North Carolina. The poverty rate in Reidsville is nearly 25%, which does tend to correlate with higher crime rates.
Overall, property crime is the bigger issue in Reidsville, so keep an eye on your wallet when you're out for an event at Market Square.
Residents of Reidsville had a 1 in 20 of being the victim of a property crime throughout 2020. On the bright side, Reidsville one of only a few places on this list with 6 murders for the year.
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Population: 13,936
Rank Last Year: 9 (Down 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 990 (13th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,944 (14th most dangerous)
More on Reidsville: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in North Carolina for 2022?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets, a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in the country, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the JUST released 2020 data, specifically the 2020 Crime In The United States Report. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2022.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered North Carolina cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 99 cities in North Carolina.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 99 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one "Dangerous Index".
Finally, we ranked every city on the "Dangerous Index" with the lowest index being the most dangerous in North Carolina -- Wadesboro. Any ties went to the smaller city. You can download the data here.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In North Carolina FAQs
Is North Carolina a dangerous state?
Yes, North Carolina is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #17 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in north carolina ranks 2highest in the United States -- 8.13% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Tar Heel State ranks 16th highest in the United States -- 13.7% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.
Is Raleigh, NC a dangerous city?
No, Raleigh is not a dangerous city. Raleigh ranks as the #115 safest out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Raleigh might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Glenwood is the safest in Raleigh, while Central is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Raleigh ranks 18highest in America -- 28.57% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 206th highest in the United States -- 23.91% better than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In North Carolina
Summary: Locking It All Up In North Carolina
So what is the most dangerous city in North Carolina? After analyzing 99 cities in North Carolina, Wadesboro takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in North Carolina based on the most recently reported FBI data -- 2020.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Wadesboro ranks as the most dangerous city in North Carolina for 2022.
We want to point out again that there's still safes places in Wadesboro and that this isn't a comment on the people that live there. So please don't beat us up.
Do we think the problems in North Carolina's most dangerous places are directly related to high unemployment, low wages, and lack of rehabilitation programs? Absolutely. Not to mention, rent in most of North Carolina's safest places and best places to live is out of reach for most people, making it difficult for people to make a move. This keeps the people in these places feeling angry, defeated, and more likely to commit a crime.
So, what is the most dangerous place in North Carolina? That would be, Wadesboro.
To see how the rest of your favorite places in North Carolina faired, take a look below; and if you don't find your favorite there, head to the bottom.
Learn more about the safest places in North Carolina.
If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
Here are the safest cities in North Carolina:
- Stallings (Pop. 16,426)
- Fuquay-Varina (Pop. 32,091)
- Cary (Pop. 174,441)
- Winterville (Pop. 10,010)
- Holly Springs (Pop. 39,600)
- Apex (Pop. 62,320)
- Elon (Pop. 12,609)
- Waxhaw (Pop. 18,222)
- Rolesville (Pop. 9,304)
- Davidson (Pop. 13,313)
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In North Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina
- Best Places To Raise A Family In North Carolina
- Safest Cities in North Carolina
- Worst Places To Live In North Carolina
Crime By City In North Carolina
Rank | City | Population |
---|---|---|
1 | Wadesboro | 5,221 |
2 | Henderson | 14,861 |
3 | Williamston | 5,145 |
4 | Kinston | 19,862 |
5 | Clinton | 8,431 |
6 | Goldsboro | 34,051 |
7 | Laurinburg | 14,905 |
8 | Dunn | 9,763 |
9 | Albemarle | 16,287 |
10 | Reidsville | 13,936 |
11 | Monroe | 35,836 |
12 | Pineville | 9,214 |
13 | Asheville | 93,980 |
14 | Washington | 9,459 |
15 | Roanoke Rapids | 14,178 |
16 | Burlington | 55,003 |
17 | Waynesville | 10,174 |
18 | Rockingham | 8,567 |
19 | Gastonia | 77,918 |
20 | Durham | 284,925 |
21 | Roxboro | 8,304 |
22 | Fayetteville | 212,033 |
23 | Greensboro | 299,887 |
24 | Siler City | 8,267 |
25 | Zebulon | 6,104 |
26 | Rocky Mount | 53,520 |
27 | Salisbury | 34,045 |
28 | Hillsborough | 7,226 |
29 | Lincolnton | 11,300 |
30 | Hickory | 41,300 |
31 | Conover | 8,567 |
32 | Charlotte-Mecklenburg | 958,358 |
33 | Belmont | 12,848 |
34 | Smithfield | 13,215 |
35 | Hendersonville | 14,275 |
36 | High Point | 113,727 |
37 | Oxford | 8,934 |
38 | New Bern | 30,047 |
39 | Lexington | 18,933 |
40 | Kernersville | 24,835 |
41 | Morehead City | 9,729 |
42 | Eden | 14,799 |
43 | Wilson | 49,486 |
44 | Selma | 7,218 |
45 | Marion | 7,861 |
46 | Wilmington | 125,794 |
47 | Elizabeth City | 17,652 |
48 | Newton | 13,204 |
49 | Carolina Beach | 6,479 |
50 | Mebane | 16,894 |