Is Raleigh One of the Safest Major Metros in the U.S.?

by John Egan
January 09, 2017

Judging by new federal data, the Raleigh, NC, metro area is one of the safest major metros in the country.

Among 25 major metros featured in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Housing Survey, just 3.1 percent of residents in the Raleigh area reported a lot of serious crimes (such as sexual assault) occurring in their neighborhoods, with only 7 percent of residents reporting a lot of petty crimes (such as vandalism) near their homes. Those were the lowest percentages in both categories for any of the 25 metros.

The Census Bureau released the data in January 2017.

Crime Decreases in Raleigh

According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the overall rate for seven violent crimes and property crimes in the city of Raleigh decreased 7 percent from 2014 to 2015. Likewise, the overall crime rate fell during the same period in Raleigh’s four metro counties: Franklin, Nash, Orange and Wake. Statewide, the overall crime rate declined 3.5 percent.

Another sign of the relative safety of the Raleigh area: In the Census Bureau survey, just 2.1 percent of residents reported seeing security bars on the windows of buildings within half a block of their homes. That was the lowest percentage among the 25 metro areas surveyed.

Of course, the Raleigh area is not crime-free. NeighborhoodScout, a search engine for local data, says a resident of the city of Raleigh has a 1-in-238 chance of being the victim of a violent crime (like assault) and a 1-in-28 chance of being the victim of a property crime (like burglary). Both of those odds are below the statewide figures.

In the graphic below, you can see how Raleigh stacks up against other metro areas regarding residents’ perceptions regarding neighborhood crime.

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Top Photo: City of Raleigh

Is Raleigh One of the Safest Major Metros in the U.S.?

Crime Decreases in Raleigh

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