If you are thinking about visiting Greensboro 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 Greensboro really is.
Is Greensboro, NC Safe?
Greensboro is a slightly unsafe city, as indicated by its crime rates. In 2021, Greensboro reported 51 homicides and had a violent crime rate of 881.77 per 100,000 people. Greensboro violent crime rate is more than twice the national average.
Greensboro’s crime rate is similar to cities like Los Angeles, Newark and Dallas.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Greensboro’s violent crime rate:
Here’s a breakdown of all the crimes in the city for 2021 compared to 2020:
|
2020 |
2021 |
Percent Change |
Homicide |
60 |
51 |
-15% |
Rape |
98 |
77 |
-21% |
Robbery |
581 |
545 |
-6% |
Aggravated Assault |
1,972 |
1,957 |
-1% |
VIOLENT CRIMES TOTAL |
2,711 |
2,630 |
-3% |
Burglary |
2,216 |
1,900 |
-14% |
Larceny/Theft |
7,534 |
7,529 |
-0% |
Motor Vehicle Theft |
1,120 |
1,117 |
-0% |
Arson |
103 |
112 |
9% |
PROPERTY CRIMES TOTAL |
10,973 |
10,658 |
-3% |
TOTALS |
13,684 |
13,288 |
-3% |
*All data is from the FBI UCR and cross Referenced with the Greensboro Police Department*
Greensboro Crime Rates
Greensboro’s Violent Crime Rate
In 2021 Greensboro reported 982 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 881.77 per 100,000 people.
- Year over year violent crime has decreased by 3%.
*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.
Here’s a graph showing you how violent crime has trended in Greensboro over a 12 year period. Violent crime peaked in 2020 when there was 2,711 violent crimes reported.
Greensboro’s Murder Rate
In 2021, Greensboro reported 51 murders and had a murder rate of 17.10 per 100,000 people. Greensboro’s murder rate is more than twice the national average.
- Year over year murder has increased by 15%.
- As of July 17, 2022, Greensboro has reported 22 homicides, which is a 10% year over year increase.
Here’s a graph showing you how murders has trended in Greensboro over a 12 year period. Murders peaked in 2020 when there was 60 murders reported.
Here’s a map showing you all the locations of the homicides in Greensboro from July 27, 2021 – July 27, 2022
Greensboro’s Property Crime Rate
In 2021 Greensboro reported 10,658 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 3,573.36 per 100,000 people. Greensboro’s property crime rate is nearly twice the national average.
- Year over year property crime in Greensboro has decreased by 3%.
*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.
Greensboro’s crime rate vs other cities in North Carolina (2020)
Here’s how Greensboro’s violent crime rate compares to other cities in North Carolina. Greensboro had the 4th highest crime rate of all the cities listed.
City |
Population |
Violent Crimes |
Violent Crime Rate |
1. Winston Salem |
249,545 |
2640 |
1057.93 |
2. Fayetteville |
208,501 |
2074 |
994.72 |
3. Charlotte |
874,579 |
8,015 |
916.44 |
4. Greensboro |
299,035 |
2711 |
904.24 |
5. Durham |
283,506 |
2447 |
863.12 |
6. High Point |
114,059 |
773 |
677.72 |
7. Wilmington |
125,794 |
787 |
625.63 |
8. Raleigh |
467,665 |
1597 |
341.48 |
9. Concord |
105,240 |
118 |
112.12 |
10. Cary |
174,721 |
116 |
66.39 |
Greensboro vs the most dangerous cities in the United States
Here’s a list of the top 22 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates.
What do residents say about the safety of Greensboro?
- The most affluent part of town is the Northwest area. The bad communities are just south of Downtown, the area around Martin Luther King Blvd, East Bessemer St, and East Market St.
- A good rule of thumb in Greensbor is anything on the east side of I-40 N and in the city should be avoided
- Generally speaking, the east side is sketch, the west side is the best side.
- Northwest Greensboro is the lowest crime area.
- Steer clear of the east sides for the most part.
Is the public transportation of Greensboro Safe?
The public transportation system in Greensboro is handled by GTA and it offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city. The Lextran is generally safe to use during the commuting hours (7am – 7pm), however we do not recommend that you use it late at night. You should opt for a ride sharing service or cab outside those hours.
Is Greensboro safe at night?
Greensboro is generally safe at night as long as you avoid walking through the bad areas mentioned above. 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 Greensboro, KY
- Always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t get lost in your phone while walking around.
- Thoroughly research the city before you arrive. Figure out the good and bad parts of the city and adjust your travels accordingly.
- Walk with confidence and purpose. Criminals like to target people who look lost and are unsure of themselves.
- Save the sightseeing for the daytime and stay out of the sketchy neighborhoods at night.
- Park in lighted/high traffic areas when possible. Don’t leave anything of value in your car or in plain sight in your car.
- Don’t walk by yourself at night. Stay in well populated areas. Avoid walking through alleys and desolate areas at night.
Facts about Greensboro
- The population of Greensboro in 2021 was 298,263.
- The median income for a household in the city was $49,492. The per capita income for the city was $30,455.
- 89.9% of residents 25 and older is a high school graduate. 39.4% of residents 25 and older has a bachelors degree or higher.
- 18.4% of the population live below the poverty line.
- The median home value in Greensboro is $275K in 2022.
- In 2022, the average rent for a Greensboro 2-bedroom apartment is $1,175
- The median age in the city is 35.1 years old.
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