Raleigh, NC Crime Rate 2024 – Latest Statistics

Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina, and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Like other cities, the high population brings with it a high number of crimes, and typically a high crime rate. While the Raleigh, NC, crime rate does not give you a complete picture of the city’s safety, it can give you an idea and help you be cautious while traveling or living in the city.

Crime Rates in Raleigh

Crime rates are determined by comparing the number of crimes reported to the population of a location to help you understand how common different types of crime are. Raleigh’s crime rates are generally lower than the average. According to an FBI report, Raleigh reported a total of 9,742 crimes in 2019, which resulted in a crime rate of 2,038.81 per 100,000 population. This is a significantly lower rate than other large cities in the state, such as Durham or Charlotte.

According to the 2022 Crime Statistical Overview put together by the city of Raleigh, there were 13,334 crimes reported against persons and property, which resulted in a crime rate of 2,797.81 per 100,000 population. Though a significant increase from 2019, it is still much safer than other cities of the same size in the state.

Crimes Against Property

Property crimes include theft, motor vehicle theft, burglary, and other crimes that harm property but typically do not directly involve threat of danger to the victim of the crime.

The FBI listed 8,520 reported property crimes, with a rate of 1,783.07 per 100,000 population, or 17.83 per 1,000 population. Property crimes included 6,572 cases of larceny theft, 1,200 burglaries, and 748 cases of motor vehicle theft.

According to the city of Raleigh crime statistics, crimes against property were committed at a rate of 41.2 per 1,000 people, a 1.5% increase from 2021 and much higher than the FBI numbers from 2019.

In 2022, the city reported 9,018 cases of larceny, 1,283 cases of motor vehicle theft, and 1,191 reported burglaries. There were also 458 robberies and 45 cases of arson. This totals approximately 11,995 reported crimes against property in the city of Raleigh in 2022.

Of the burglaries committed in 2022, 775 were residential burglary cases, or 65% percent of the total. The rest were commercial burglaries.

Robbery is often considered a violent crime rather than a property crime, and the FBI data categorizes robbery under violent crimes. This is often done because robberies involve direct threats of harm to their victims.

Raleigh’s crime data does not categorize crimes this way and considers robbery a crime against property. The majority of robberies occurred from a person, making up 365 or 80.70% of all robberies. 221 robberies occurred with a firearm, and 127 occurred through strong-arming.

Crimes Against Person

Violent crimes, or crimes against persons, directly involve the victim. The victim is either directly harmed or under immediate threat of harm.

There were 1,222 violent crimes reported in the 2019 FBI report, including 731 cases of aggravated assault, 322 robbery offenses, and 164 cases of rape. The city’s violent crime rate in 2019 was 255.74 per 100,000, or 2.56 per 1,000 population.

Based on the data gathered by the city in 2022, crimes against persons had a rate of 16.2 per 1,000 population, 4.7% less than the prior year’s crime rate and more than six times the rate reported by the FBI in 2019. There were 1,118 reported cases of aggravated assault, 178 rape offenses, and 43 cases of homicide, meaning there were 1,339 crimes against persons in the city in 2022.

Raleigh, NC Crime Rate FAQs

Q: Is Durham or Raleigh Safer?

A: Raleigh is safer than Durham when looking at crime rates. Durham, North Carolina is a larger city, and has a crime rate of 4,537.57 per 100,000 population. This is much higher than Raleigh’s rate of 2,038.81 per 100,000 residents. However, the crime rate is not the only aspect to consider in city safety. Many different factors should be considered when determining whether a city is safe, including motor vehicle and pedestrian safety, extreme weather events, and the openness of city planning.

Q: What Area in North Carolina has the Lowest Crime?

A: Of the cities with the highest population in North Carolina, Raleigh has one of the lowest crime rates. Small towns and cities are likely to have much lower crime rates than high-population cities, and many small towns are considered the safest in the state. However, Raleigh has a much lower crime rate than other cities of the same size. Its crime rate is around half that of comparable cities, reporting under 10,000 property and violent crimes in 2019 despite a population of 477,828.

Q: Is Raleigh, North Carolina a Good Place to Live?

A: Raleigh, North Carolina is considered a great place to live by many, due to factors like its temperate climate, lower-than-average crime rates, and good economy. It’s considered very family-friendly with safe suburbs and good educational opportunities. It has a slightly higher than average cost of living. Whether it is a good fit for you and your family can depend on what you’re looking for in a place to settle in North Carolina.

Q: Is Charlotte or Raleigh Safer?

A: Raleigh has been safer than Charlotte in recent years when looking at its overall crime rate, although many factors can make a city safer. According to FBI data from 2019, the total crime rate in Raleigh, North Carolina, was 2,038.81 per 100,000 population, compared to 4,665.24 per 100,000 population in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Raleigh is a smaller city than Charlotte, and larger cities tend to have higher crime rates.

Criminal Defense Attorneys in Raleigh, North Carolina

Everyone who is accused of a crime has the right to legal defense. If you are facing criminal charges in Raleigh, you need compassionate legal representation. Even if you have not been charged but believe you are a main suspect of a crime, it is still recommended to reach out to a Raleigh criminal defense lawyer. At Steven T. Meier, PLLC, our team has years of experience protecting the rights and interests of those in our community. We fight for the ideal outcome of your case. Contact our firm today.