The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Waynesville, NC: Crime Maps and Statistics

C-

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	C-
Property Crime Grade	C
Other Crime Grade	D+

Which crimes are included?

$8.41 million

Cost of Crime™ for Waynesville, NC

In 2025, crime will cost $918 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Waynesville in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Waynesville, NC Safe?

The C- grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly higher than that of the average US city. Waynesville ranks in the 36th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 36% of cities but less safe than 64%. This analysis applies only to Waynesville's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Waynesville is 29.30 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Waynesville Residents generally consider the east part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Waynesville varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 24 in the central neighborhoods to 1 in 50 in the east.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Waynesville, NC see the most incidents - about 136 per year. In contrast, the northwest part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 15 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Waynesville, NC

The total projected cost of crime in Waynesville for 2025 is $8,414,903. This translates to approximately $417 per resident and $918 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.2% of the median household income in Waynesville. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 57.9%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 29.8%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.2%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Waynesville Compared to Other Cities?

Waynesville, NC:	$417
Enfield, NC:	$1641
St. James, NC:	$251
North Carolina:	$538
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Waynesville is $417 per year, which is $47 less than the national average and $121 less than North Carolina's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Waynesville:

In Enfield, NC, crime costs $1,641 per person, which is $1,225 more than in Waynesville.
In St. James, NC, crime costs $251 per person, which is $166 less than in Waynesville

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Waynesville for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to Waynesville	Cost per Waynesville Resident
Murder	$2.13 million	$106
Rape/Sexual Assault	$733,913	$36
Robbery	$296,910	$15
Assault	$1.37 million	$68
Kidnapping	$181,207	$9
Vehicle Theft	$234,635	$12
Burglary	$726,807	$36
Theft	$1.00 million	$50
Arson	$96,884	$5
Vandalism	$731,138	$36
Animal Cruelty	$11,555	$1
Drug Crimes	$851,869	$42
Identity Theft	$50,198	$2
Total Cost of Crime	$8,414,903	$417

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Waynesville, NC

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Waynesville totals $18,137,066 ($899 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $26,551,968 ($1,315 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Waynesville crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the central part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports 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 Waynesville has 8, have the same problem. Of Waynesville’s 20,185 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

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 Waynesville, NC at ISP Reports.

Waynesville Crime Breakdown

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

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	2.360
Robbery	0.4676
Rape	0.5997
Murder	0.0562
Total Violent Crime	3.483 (C-)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	9.570
Vehicle Theft	0.7507
Burglary	3.970
Arson	0.1988
Total Property Crime	14.49 (C)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.1481
Drug Crimes	5.705
Vandalism	5.070
Identity Theft	0.3213
Animal Cruelty	0.0774
Total "Other" Rate	11.32 (D+)

Individual Waynesville Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in Waynesville is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Waynesville.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Lake Junaluska, NC	C+	B-	C+
Cove Creek, NC	B-	B	B+
Maggie Valley, NC	C-	B	C
Worley, NC	C+	C	B
Clyde, NC	C+	B-	C+
Balsam, NC	B-	C+	B
Canton, NC	C	C-	C+
Cruso, NC	C+	D	B+
East Laport, NC	D+	C-	C-
Airport, NC	F	D-	F

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Waynesville is higher versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.

Similar City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Connersville, IN	B	B	B
Temperance, MI	A	B-	B-
Tarzana, CA	D+	C-	C-
Swedesboro, NJ	A+	A+	A+
East Hemet, CA	C	C-	C-
East Greenwich, RI	A-	A+	A+
Dripping Springs, TX	A	B+	B+
Dover, FL	A	A-	A-
Dixon, IL	B	B-	B-
Dixon, CA	C	C	C

Considering only the crime rate, Waynesville is safer than the North Carolina state average and as safe as the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Waynesville, NC average SchoolGrade of A-, with 58% actual proficiency versus 49% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Waynesville schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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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.