The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina For 2023


We used data and science to identify the most dangerous cities in the Tar Heel State for 2023.

Most dangerous cities in North Carolina research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data to determine the most dangerous cities in North Carolina based on violent and property crimes per capita. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The most dangerous city in North Carolina is Lumberton based on the most recent FBI crime data.

  • The violent crime rate in North Carolina is 2,262 per 100k people.

  • The property crime rate in North Carolina is 6,524 per 100k people.

  • The safest city in North Carolina is Rolesville.

  • North Carolina is the 17th most dangerous state in the United States.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | References


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 2023.

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 115 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 2023

  1. Lumberton
  2. Wadesboro
  3. Rockingham
  4. Williamston
  5. Whiteville
  6. Pineville
  7. Clinton
  8. Kinston
  9. Henderson
  10. Winston-Salem

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, Lumberton.

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:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In North Carolina For 2023

Lumberton, located in Robeson County, North Carolina, has been ranked as the most dangerous place to live in the state for 2023. This ranking is based on various crime statistics, including many violent and property crimes. Regarding violent crime, Lumberton reported 455 violent crimes, including 1 murder cases, 20 rapes, 63 robberies, and 371 aggravated assaults.

While these numbers paint a concerning picture of the safety in Lumberton, it is essential to note that there is potential for improvement through focused efforts. By addressing the underlying factors contributing to crime rates and implementing effective community policing strategies, Lumberton can work towards creating a safer environment for its residents.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 20,109
Rank Last Year:
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,262 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,524 (Fifth most dangerous)
More on Lumberton:  | Cost Of Living

Lumberton, NC

Source: Public domain

Taking the #2 spot on our list of North Carolina’s most dangerous places is Wadesboro, a town of 5,190 about an hour southeast of Charlotte.

Even without a single murder in 2021, Wadesboro had the second highest violent crime rate in North Carolina. That’s mostly due to a whole bunch of aggravated assault cases, but having the 25th 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.

Overall SnackAbility

1
/10

Population: 5,190
Rank Last Year: 1 (Down 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,138 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,838 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Wadesboro:  | Cost Of Living

Wadesboro, NC

Rockingham, the third most dangerous place to live in North Carolina, has been plagued by high crime rates, contributing to its reputation as an unsafe city. With a population of 8,424, Rockingham has seen a concerning number of violent crimes, including 8 robberies and 66 aggravated assaults. The crime rate in Rockingham is alarming, with a total of 3 crimes per capita, including both violent and property crimes.

Located in Richmond County, North Carolina, Rockingham is actively working towards revitalization as part of the “Shaping Our Future” plan. Despite its current challenges, this city has experienced an economic boom with the opening of new businesses in the downtown area. With dedicated efforts to address crime rates and promote community safety, Rockingham can strive to create a more secure environment for its residents and build a brighter future for the city as a whole.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 8,424
Rank Last Year: 18 (Up 15)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,068 (Tenth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 7,443 (Third most dangerous)
More on Rockingham:  | Cost Of Living

Rockingham, NC

Williamston motto might be “easy living with hometown values,” but there’s nothing easy about living in the place with the fourth 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 fourth 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 sixth highest burglary rate in the state, so be sure to keep your doors locked here.

Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 5,072
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,360 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,362 (Tenth most dangerous)
More on Williamston:  | Cost Of Living

Williamston, NC

5. Whiteville

For the second year running, Whiteville takes the gold medal for being the most dangerous place to live in North Carolina for 2023.

Residents of Whiteville had a 1 in 15 chance of being the victim of a property crime in 2021, representing the sixth highest property crime rate in the state. In other words, make sure to keep an eye on your belongings when you’re out for a picnic at one of Whiteville parks.

Violent crime is also quite high in Whitesville, which had the 24th highest murder rate in North Carolina.

Whitesville is located about fifty miles west of Wilmington.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 5,231
Rank Last Year:
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 955 (12th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,518 (Sixth most dangerous)
More on Whiteville:  | Cost Of Living

Whiteville, NC

Located just south of Charlotte, you certainly won’t find Pineville featured on our list of Charlotte’s best suburbs. There’s far too much crime in Pineville for that.

In fact, while Pineville is in the #6 position on this list, it actually had the highest total crime rate. How’d that happen? Well, having the highest property crime rate by a huge margin helped.

Residents had a crazy high 1 in 8 chance of having their stuff stolen or damaged by a criminal in 2021. We just hope nobody steals any important historical memorabilia from the James K. Polk State Historic Site.

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 9,371
Rank Last Year: 12 (Up 6)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 885 (21st most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 11,599 (Most dangerous)
More on Pineville:  | Cost Of Living

Pineville, NC

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 8,299 residents of modern-day Clinton. In fact, the town has the number 6 highest pace of violent crime in North Carolina.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 8,299
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,349 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,506 (17th most dangerous)
More on Clinton:  | Cost Of Living

Clinton, NC

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 19,672, with narrowing economic prospects contributing to a rise in crime. As a result, this has become the number 8 most dangerous spot in the state.

Overall SnackAbility

2
/10

Population: 19,672
Rank Last Year: 4 (Down 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,042 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,007 (13th most dangerous)
More on Kinston:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Kinston, NC

Welcome to Henderson, the de facto murder capital of North Carolina. The city of 15,067 had 5 murders in 2021, the eighth highest rate statewide.

All forms of violent crime are quite prevalent in Henderson, where residents had a 1 in 61 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.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 15,067
Rank Last Year: 2 (Down 7)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,632 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,241 (22nd most dangerous)
More on Henderson:  | Cost Of Living

Henderson, NC

Winston-Salem, the tenth most dangerous place to live in North Carolina, is a city that faces significant crime challenges. With a population of 249,998, Winston-Salem experiences a high rate of violent crime, including 2,875 incidents reported.

Moreover, property crimes also pose a significant threat in Winston-Salem, with a staggering 10,103 incidents reported. These include 1,755 burglaries, among other property-related offenses.

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 249,998
Rank Last Year:
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,150 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,041 (23rd most dangerous)
More on Winston-Salem:  | Cost Of Living

Winston-Salem, NC

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in North Carolina for 2023?

Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in North Carolina. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in North Carolina, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.

For our analysis, we focused on the 2021 data, specifically the 2021 Crime In The United States Report for North Carolina. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2023.

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 115 cities in North Carolina.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 115 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 — Lumberton. Any ties went to the smaller city.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In North Carolina FAQs

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.

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

Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In North Carolina

So what is the most dangerous city in North Carolina? After analyzing 115 cities in North Carolina, Lumberton takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in North Carolina based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2021.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Lumberton ranks as the most dangerous city in North Carolina for 2023.

We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Lumberton 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, Lumberton.

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:

  1. Fuquay-Varina (Pop. 34,018)
  2. Holly Springs (Pop. 41,798)
  3. Waxhaw (Pop. 19,089)
  4. Cary (Pop. 177,735)
  5. Davidson (Pop. 13,457)
  6. Apex (Pop. 67,878)
  7. Winterville (Pop. 10,225)
  8. Elon (Pop. 12,521)
  9. Pinehurst (Pop. 17,253)
  10. Rolesville (Pop. 9,679)

For more North Carolina reading, check out:

Crime By City In North Carolina

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per Capita Property Crimes Per Capita
1 Lumberton 20,109 2,262 6,524
2 Wadesboro 5,190 2,138 5,838
3 Rockingham 8,424 1,068 7,443
4 Williamston 5,072 1,360 5,362
5 Whiteville 5,231 955 6,518
6 Pineville 9,371 885 11,599
7 Clinton 8,299 1,349 4,506
8 Kinston 19,672 1,042 5,007
9 Henderson 15,067 1,632 4,241
10 Winston-Salem 249,998 1,150 4,041
11 Dunn 9,721 802 6,347
12 Laurinburg 14,798 1,682 3,838
13 Goldsboro 34,352 922 4,319
14 Forest City 7,106 703 6,459
15 Burlington 56,065 879 4,721
16 Statesville 28,420 1,140 3,877
17 Asheville 93,855 750 5,317
18 Salisbury 33,856 930 3,943
19 Gastonia 78,260 908 3,956
20 Reidsville 13,948 889 3,921
21 Roxboro 8,387 1,108 3,314
22 Waynesville 10,632 479 7,054
23 Hickory 41,604 600 4,473
24 Roanoke Rapids 14,046 811 3,929
25 Albemarle 16,391 530 4,795
26 Hope Mills 15,914 666 3,996
27 Siler City 8,267 689 3,943
28 Hillsborough 7,291 521 4,375
29 Monroe 35,948 812 3,605
30 Greensboro 300,865 873 3,519
31 Fayetteville 212,047 955 2,856
32 Washington 9,451 899 3,068
33 Hendersonville 14,351 425 5,281
34 Shelby 20,128 899 2,985
35 Conover 8,601 558 3,708
36 Lincolnton 11,641 455 4,424
37 Charlotte-Mecklenburg 956,282 782 3,138
38 Belmont 12,848 420 4,810
39 Durham 291,962 739 3,313
40 Morganton 16,524 556 3,497
41 Rocky Mount 53,305 943 2,463
42 Smithfield 13,581 478 3,659
43 Lexington 19,162 516 3,110
44 High Point 114,492 519 2,772
45 Wilmington 126,759 516 2,782
46 Wilson 49,507 571 2,478
47 New Bern 29,985 510 2,678
48 Lenoir 17,881 335 3,847
49 Zebulon 6,764 399 3,444
50 Garner 32,889 443 3,083

References

  • FBI UCR 2022

  • Census – American Cumminity Survey

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in North Carolina and is updated for 2023.
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.