The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina For 2023

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In North Carolina FAQs