In contrast to just about the whole of America, North Carolina is widely considered one of the most desirable places in terms of standard of living, economic opportunity, and affinities for both urban spaces and nature. But we as humans have continuity so nothing in the world is perfect. And everything comes with its pros and cons, risks or dangers, etc! In this post, we use a methodical analysis to determine what the real safety level is in North Carolina and which dangers threaten the integrity of its residents or visitors.
Overall Crime Rates
Based on the latest FBI Crime statistics North Carolina currently ranks at 9 with a violent crime rate of 3.8/1000 of the population as well as a property crime rate of 27.3/1000 of the population. This is relatively less when compared to the national averages of 367 incidents per 100,000 people for violent crimes, and 220 per 100,000 people for property crimes.
In the violent crime category, North Carolina ranks 22nd, having a murder rate of 6.5 per 100000 people. This is slightly above the national average, as a general average for a developed country. This violence reveals that aggravated assault is the most frequent violent criminal occurrence, followed by robbery and rape.
Regarding property crimes, the rate in North Carolina is higher compared to the rate of the entire US, attributed to more cases of larceny/theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. The incidences of arson are not very high and not more than the average.
Thus, although property crime in North Carolina is seen as a little higher than in other states, violent crime is deemed to be at the mean level in the United States. Some of the safest metro statistical areas include Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill which records very low crime rates, while other areas such as Lumberton and Rocky Mount record relatively high crime rates in the state.
What Places Should Be Avoided in North Carolina?
Yet, most sources seem to concur that North Carolina’s safest metro regions and cities are in the heavily populated center of Piedmont which contains the I 85 corridor of Raleigh Durham Chapel Hill Greensboro, and Winston-Salem.
The city of Raleigh is in the Research Triangle Park region, and the region is popular with professionals and families due to its economic activity and high literacy levels. Newspaper accounts of crime also indicate that Raleigh has the lowest rates of violent crime and consistently features among the Top 10 safest cities in the United States. Notably, both the neighboring Durham and Chapel Hill perform averagely in this index.
Another factor that can be considered as a safety indicator is that suburban areas within a radius of a reasonable distance to large urban centers have relatively low property and violent crime rates, while more peripheral counties with lower population density have higher rates of fatal transport accidents, drug overdose, domestic violence, and other health-related problems. While tourist areas such as the Blue Ridge Mountains and Outer Banks may have limited violent crime occurrences they do attract property criminals who are on the lookout for easy targets.
What Safety Concerns Exist in North Carolina?
While North Carolina is generally safe, there are a handful of public safety issues present that residents and visitors should be aware of:
Opioid Addiction – Similar to the rest of the region, including much of the Appalachian and the Southeast regions of the United States, opioid use has also led to health crises, including overdoses. Despite this, deaths have only reduced at a relatively slow rate in the past few years.
Traffic Fatalities - North Carolina is among the few states that register high rates of car-related deaths; this is because some drivers speed, drink under the influence, and some passengers do not wear seat belts. Drivers and pedestrians should be in safe behavior.
Hurricane Risk -The coastal areas of the Caribbean experience hurricanes and flooding during the hurricane seasons. Other regions are also in line for increased exposure than previously as the climate change impact is leading to more tropical systems extending their range further north along the Atlantic coast.
Discrimination Concerns – The charges of housing, lending, policing, and employment discrimination towards minorities have been reported in the various regions of the state. Local ordinances would reflect that diversity protection is usually more pronounced in urban settings.
Hence, as noted earlier, the quality of life in North Carolina is quite high, but the state’s residents are not immune to facing public health and environment-related risks that governments at the state and local levels continue to engage in efforts to mitigate through enacting relevant laws, constructing necessary physical facilities and infrastructure, and promoting the development of healthy communities.
What If One Wants to Visit North Carolina?
Tourism in North Carolina is a booming industry and it was estimated that more than 57 million travelers visited North Carolina to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf; history; wines; parks; and cities in 2021. Perception of North Carolina as a safe destination in the South is a very significant aspect of the tourist economy.
Even though violence against visitors has been rarely reported, auto-related incidents and accidents during recreational activities cost the state 600 lives per year. Drivers should ensure they observe traffic regulations when driving along the mountains, and hikers, swimmers, and anyone walking into backcountry sites such as waterfalls or hiking trails should ensure they avoid dangerous falls.
Tourists with ordinary measures of care in the selection of an Uber, for instance, or in walking through a city at night are not going to have interactions of violent crime. North Carolina is a state in the south of the US and the people are very welcoming, so visitors may feel quite safe here. However, the lack of legal cannabis or open container laws can pose problems to younger individuals who have no experience regarding local etiquette or local authorities.
The Final Word on Safety in North Carolina
Using such criteria to measure safety, North Carolina emerges as a fairly safe place to start fresh, raise children, build or buy a company, and live out one’s golden years. Although alarming figures can be observed in the contexts of traffic fatalities, substance abuse emergencies, and violent crime, the latter does not seem as significant a problem in the region as in other places. All in all, the Tar Heel State performs adequately for a comparable Southeastern state in preserving communities and the tourism economy safe.
Identifying and concentrating on state resources on the regions showing the worst downward slides can assist North Carolina in enhancing the quality of life even more. Further development of urbanization and updates in infrastructures and healthcare provisions in rural regions of the state may gradually enhance the state’s future safety rates in comparison with both lower and upper national averages.
