If you are thinking about visiting Raleigh and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.
We are going to deep dive into the statistics, look at some maps, graphs and talk to the residents of the city to give you a better understanding of how safe Raleigh really is.
Is Raleigh, North Carolina Safe To Visit?
Statistically speaking, Raleigh is a safe place to visit. In 2020, Raleigh had a violent crime rate of 341.48 per 100,000 people. Raleigh’s violent crime rate is 14% less than the national average and is comparable to cities like Austin, Anaheim and San Diego.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Raleigh’s violent crime rate:
Raleigh, North Carolina Crime Stats
Here’s a breakdown of all the crimes in the city for 2020 compared to 2019:
Offense |
2019 |
2020 |
Percentage Change |
Homicide |
29 |
27 |
-7% |
Rape |
187 |
159 |
-15% |
Robbery |
550 |
510 |
-7% |
Aggravated Assault |
933 |
901 |
-3% |
Burglary |
1,474 |
1,274 |
-14% |
Larceny |
8,390 |
7,560 |
-10% |
MV Theft |
918 |
1,017 |
11% |
Arson |
50 |
49 |
-2% |
TOTALS |
12,531 |
11,497 |
-8% |
*All data is from the Raleigh Police Department*
Raleigh, NC Crime Rates
Raleigh’s Violent Crime Rate
In 2020 Raleigh reported 1,597 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 341.48 per 100,000 people.
- Raleigh’s violent crime rate is 19% less than the state average.
- Year over year violent crime has decreased by 6%.
Here’s a graph showing you the violent crime rates of the most populous cities in North Carolina in 2020. Raleigh had the 3rd lowest crime rate among all cities.
*Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults and the violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Raleigh’s Murder Rate
In 2020, Raleigh reported 27 murders and had a murder rate of 5.77 per 100,000 people.
- Raleigh’s homicide rate is 11% less than the national average and 28% less than the state average.
- Raleigh has a similar homicide rate to cities like Colorado Springs, Seattle and Arlington.
Raleigh’s Property Crime Rate
In 2020 Raleigh reported 9,900 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 2,116.90 per 100,000 people.
- Raleigh’s property crime rate is 8% greater the national average and 5% less than the state average.
- Year over year property crime in Raleigh has decreased by 9%.
- Raleigh property crime rate is similar to Boston, Virginia Beach and Scottsdale.
*Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson and property crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Raleigh, North Carolina vs The Most Dangerous Cities in the United States
Here’s a list of the top 19 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Raleigh’s violent crime rate is 7x less than Memphis, the most dangerous city on the list.
Is Downtown Raleigh safe?
Downtown Raleigh is generally a safe area to visit and many residents say its one of the safest downtowns in all of the U.S.
The city of Raleigh also employs Safe Ambassadors in the downtown area, who patrol the area everyday from 6am to midnight and till 2am on the weekends. They’re dressed in red and black uniforms and can be found throughout the downtown area.
They can assist you with directions, information, recommendations and they can escort you to your location if you feel unsafe.
To request assistance from an Safe Ambassador, call the hotline at 919-368-7962.
Is the public transportation in Raleigh safe?
The public transportation system in Raleigh is handled by GoRaleigh and it offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city. The GoRaleigh is generally safe to use during the commuting hours (7am – 7pm), however we do not recommend that you use GoRaleigh late at night.
If you plan on using the public transportation in Raleigh, download the TransLoc app. It will show you the exact location of your bus and the estimated arrival time.
Is Raleigh safe from hurricanes?
Raleigh is susceptible to hurricanes, but is not affected as badly as cities on the coast. Hurricanes usually lose strength as they travel further inland.
The last major hurricane to hit Raleigh was Hurricane Florence in 2018. Initially a category 4 hurricane, it weakened to a category 1 by the time it landed in North Carolina
Raleigh endured 7 inches of rainfall and experienced a sustained wind speed of 26 mph with gusts as strong as 41 mph.
Hurricane season in Raleigh officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. The peak of hurricane season is mid-August to mid-October.
It should be noted that hurricane season does not mean a hurricanes will occur. They are still rare events and it just means that it is highly unusual for any hurricane to occur OUTSIDE of hurricane season.
Is it safe to visit Raleigh during hurricane season?
It is safe to visit Raleigh during hurricane season, as long as you don’t visit when a hurricane is about to hit! Fortunately there is usually adequate warning when a hurricane is brewing in the area.
Check out https://www.nhc.noaa.gov before you visit. This is your best resource for tracking and monitoring storms. Another great website to check out is https://spaghettimodels.com.
What do residents of Raleigh say about it’s safety?
- "Raleigh is one of the safest places you could ever live. The residents are kind and the police/fire fighters are well trained and do exceptional work."
- "This Judgemental Map of Raleigh is pretty accurate."
- "I have lived in Raleigh all of my life and it’s never felt dangerous. Yes, there are a few neighborhoods that I would rather not walk through at night, but that’s pretty much true of any city this size."
- The bad areas of Raleigh are all on the south and east side of the city. Not that they are all that bad, they are just not the best."
- "Southeast Raleigh has the reputation about being the rough part of the city. However its nowhere near as bad as rough areas of a city like Baltimore or Detroit."
Is Raleigh safe at night?
Raleigh is generally safe at night as long as you avoid the problem areas. Be aware that streets and squares that are perfectly safe to visit in the daytime can be questionable and sketchy at night.
At night we recommend that you take a few extra precautions by staying in well populated places, not straying off the beaten path and not walking by yourself.
Tips to stay safe while visiting Raleigh, North Carolina
- Thoroughly research the city before you arrive. Figure out the good and bad parts of the city and adjust your travels accordingly.
- Always be aware of you surroundings. Scan the areas when walking. Avoid getting distracted by your phone.
- Park in lighted/high traffic areas when possible.
- Stay in well populated areas at night. Don’t walk through alleys and desolate areas.
Facts about Raleigh, NC
- The population of Raleigh in 2020 was 467,665 and is the 40th most populous city in the United States.
- The city covers a land area of 147.6 square miles.
- The racial makeup of the city: 11.2% Hispanic or Latino, 53.1% White, 29.0% African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.6% Asian, and 2.9% from two or more races.
- The median age in the city is 31 years old.
- The median income for a household in the city was $67,266. The per capita income for the city was $38,494.
- 12.6% of the population live below the poverty line.
- The median home value in Raleigh is $375K in 2022.
- In 2022, the average rent for a Raleigh 2-bedroom apartment is $1,735
- 91.8% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 50.9% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
- The predominant religion in Raleigh is Christianity.
- Historically, Raleigh voters have tended to elect conservative Democrats in elections.
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