12 Safest Cities in NC
- Rolesville
- Elon
- Winterville
- Davidson
- Pinehurst
- Waxhaw
- Cary
- Holly Springs
- Concord
- Apex
- Stallings
- Fuquay-Varina
1. Rolesville
The safest city in North Carolina is Rolesville. The city has a population of 10,050 people and is located in Northeastern Wake County, just outside Raleigh. The crime rate in Rolesville is 451 per 100,000, making the crime rate 83% lower than the North Carolina average. The overall chance of becoming the victim of any crime is 1 in 182, and the violent crime rate is 53% lower than the national average, making Rolesville the safest place to live in North Carolina. The median home price in Rolesville is $299,000, making it relatively affordable.
2. Elon
Elon is also one of the safest cities in North Carolina. This small city of 11,324 people has a crime rate of 555 per 100,000 people, making the City 79% safer than the North Carolina average. In 2022, less than 100 crimes were reported in Elon, so it’s a great place to live if safety is a concern. There are also very few violent crimes in the city. The chance of becoming the victim of violent crime in Elon is only 1 in 1,031. Property crime is only slightly higher, with residents having a 1 in 167 chance of becoming a victim. Of course, living in one of the safest places in North Carolina comes at a cost, and the median housing price in Elon is $316,500.
3. Winterville
Winterville is another one of the safest places to live in North Carolina. Winterville is located in Pitt County and has a population of 10,591. The crime rate is only 769 per 100,000 people, making the city 67% safer than the US average. Overall, residents have a 1 in 138 chance of becoming the victim of any crime. In 2021 there were zero murders, three robberies, and six assaults. Property crime is also very low, with residents having a 1 in 164 chance of becoming a victim. The median home price in Winterville is $188,500, making it a safe and affordable place to live.
4. Davidson
If you’re looking for a safe suburb near Charlotte, Davidson is a great option. It sits just outside of Charlotte and has a population of 15,106. The crime rate in Davidson is 819 per 100,000 people, which makes it 69% lower than the North Carolina average. In 2022 there were zero murders, zero robberies, and three assaults. Property crime is low as well, with only 11 burglaries and only a few dozen incidents of theft. The median home price in Davidson is $393,300, which is 113% higher than the national average.
5. Pinehurst
Located in Moore County, Pinehurst has a population of 15,124 and a crime rate of 903 per 100,000 people making this city 66% safer than the North Carolina average. In 2020 there were a total of 152 crimes, 19 of which were violent and 133 were property crimes. Of the violent crime rate, there was one murder, one robbery, and fifteen assaults. Property crimes were somewhat higher, with 43 burglaries, 81 incidents of theft, and nine incidents of vehicle theft. The average home price is $496,000, making this one of the richest cities in North Carolina.
6. Waxhaw
Waxhaw is located in Union County and has a crime rate of 993 per 100,000 people making this city of 20,000 58% safer than the national average. The chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 2,282, with no more than 9 violent crimes being reported in 2020. The most common types of property crime were 27 burglaries and 140 thefts. The median home price in Waxhaw is $273,900, which makes it one of the the most affordable and safest cities in NC.
7. Cary
Located in central North Carolina near Raleigh, Cary has a crime rate of 1,013 per 100,000 people, which is 57% lower than the national average. Cary is home to approximately 177k residents, making it one of the largest cities in NC. The city experienced one murder, 25 robberies, and 75 assaults in 2023, making it extremely safe. Although Cary is one of the safest cities in North Carolina, it's also one of the most expensive. The median home price in the city is $626,500, which is much higher than the North Carolina average.
8. Holly Springs
Located in Wake County, Holly Springs has a population of 41,239 and a crime rate of 1,013 per 100,000 people. The overall crime rate is 63% lower than the North Carolina average, and residents have a 1 in 99 chance of becoming a victim. Assaults are the most common type of crime, with only one murder being reported in 2020. Out of 373 property crimes committed in 2021, there were 30 burglaries, 315 thefts, and 7 motor vehicle thefts. The median home price in Holly Springs is $269,500.
9. Concord
Concord is also among the safest cities in North Carolina. Located about 25 miles northeast of Charlotte, Concord is one of the largest cities in the metro areas with a population of 105,240 residents. It’s known for being a pleasant Charlotte suburb that is home to notable attractions like the Mustang Owners Museum and Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s also a very safe city with a crime rate that is 53% lower than the national average. The violent crime rate is 71% lower than the rest of the country, while the property crime rate is 50% lower. Your odds of being the victim of a crime in Charlotte 1 in 92.
10. Apex
Apex is another one of the safest places in North Carolina. Situated in Wake County in the heart of North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, Apex has a population of 58,780. Nicknamed “the Peak of Good Living,” Apex is well known for its high quality of life, strong economy, affordable homes, and low crime rate. The total crime rate in Apex is 1,198 crimes per 100,000, which is 48% lower than the national average. The violent crime rate is also 85% lower than the rest of the country, and your odds of being the victim of a crime are 1 in 84.
11. Stallings
Stallings is safe NC located located in Mecklenburg county outside of Charlotte. The city has a population of 17,000 and the crime rate in Stallings is 1,109 per 100,000 people making the city safer than 62% of other North Carolina cities. The chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 925; in 2021, there was one murder, one robbery, and fifteen assaults. Property crimes were much lower than the North Carolina average, with residents having only a 1 in 132 chance of becoming a victim. The median home price in Stallings is $221,000.
12. Fuquay-Varina
Fuquay-Varina is also one of the safest cities in North Carolina. It has a population of 17,937 and a crime rate of 1,102 per 100,000 people making the town 58% lower than the North Carolina average. In 2023 there were a total of 329 crimes, 23 violent and 306 property crimes. The chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 1,485, with no more than 30 violent crimes committed in 2020. The median home price in Fuquay-Varina is $228,000.
Safest Cities in North Carolina Bottom Line
There are many extremely safe places to live in North Carolina. In the cities that made our list, crime is almost a non-factor, and you'll feel safe at home. It’s no secret that the low crime rate, great weather, beaches, and mountains make North Carolina an attractive destination for people looking to relocate.