North Carolina Murder Rates and Murder Maps

Crime Grade's murder map shows the safest places in North Carolina in green. The most dangerous areas in North Carolina are in red, with moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted by the type and severity of the crime.

Is North Carolina Safe?

The D grade means the rate of murder is higher than the average US state. North Carolina is in the 22nd percentile for safety, meaning 78% of states are safer and 22% of states are more dangerous. This analysis applies to North Carolina's proper boundaries only. See the table on nearby places below for nearby states.

The rate of murder in North Carolina is 0.0864 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. People who live in North Carolina generally consider the northwest part of the state to be the safest.

Your chance of being a victim of murder in North Carolina may be as high as 1 in 8,624 in the south neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 15,467 in the northwest part of the state. See the section on interpreting the murder map, however, because comparing rates for murder or any other crime is not as intuitive as it may seem.

By a simple count ignoring population, more crimes occur in the north parts of North Carolina: about 190 per year. The northwest part of North Carolina has fewer cases of murder with only 30 in a typical year.

Interpreting the Murder Maps

When looking at the murder map for North Carolina, remember that the rate of murder per resident may appear inflated when people visit the area during the day, but do not live there. For example, there are more retail establishments in the north part of the state. Many crimes are committed in retail areas in blocks where few people live. Red areas on the murder rate map do not always indicate danger for North Carolina residents who live there.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports, of which North Carolina has 2, always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which North Carolina has 1,671, have the same problem. Of North Carolina’s 10,781,294 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Ultimately crime happens where people are, whether they live there or not. Before writing off an area as unsafe, look at both the crime rate and total crime maps, then consider nearby destinations that people may be visiting.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in North Carolina at ISP Reports.

North Carolina Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All murder rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 North Carolina residents in a standard year.

Individual North Carolina Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby States

Compared to surrounding states, the rate of murder in North Carolina is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for states close to North Carolina.

Nearby State	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade	Murder Crime Grade
South Carolina	D-	D	D	D-
Virginia	B-	B+	B-	D+
West Virginia	A-	B+	A	C+
District of Columbia	F	F	F	F
Georgia	B-	C+	B	D+
Maryland	C	C-	C+	D
Kentucky	B-	A-	B	D+
Delaware	D	C-	C-	B-
Tennessee	D	D-	D	D-
Pennsylvania	A	A-	A-	C-

Crime Maps and Rates for State with Similar Populations

North Carolina is higher versus other states of the same size for murder. The table below compares crime in states with comparable overall population in the state‘s boundaries.

Similar State	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade	Murder Crime Grade
Tennessee	D	D-	D-	D-
Maine	A	A+	A+	A-
Massachusetts	A+	C+	C+	A+
Michigan	B	D+	D+	C-
Minnesota	C	B	B	B+
Mississippi	A+	A+	A+	B
Puerto Rico	F	F	F	F
Rhode Island	A	A	A	A+
South Dakota	C	C	C	C+
Alaska	C+	F	F	D

Considering only the murder rate, North Carolina is as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in North Carolina average SchoolGrade of B, with 47% actual proficiency versus 39% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See North Carolina schools on SchoolGrade

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.