Wilmington, NC Crime: Latest Stats & Safety Insights 2024
Is Wilmington, North Carolina, a city grappling with a crime problem? The data indicates that Wilmington's crime rates are significantly higher than both national and state averages, painting a complex picture of safety and security for its residents.
The city of Wilmington, North Carolina, continues to be a focal point for discussions about public safety, with recent crime statistics fueling ongoing debates. While some metrics suggest improvement, the overall picture remains challenging. Understanding these figures requires a deep dive into the available data, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of the current situation.
The Wilmington Police Department (WPD) recently released its 2023 crime data, which offers a snapshot of the city's safety landscape. According to these figures, there was a 1% decrease in the overall crime rate compared to 2022, a positive development. However, this single statistic does not tell the whole story.
In analyzing the data, we observe a multifaceted scenario. While the overall crime rate saw a slight decrease, specific areas of concern persist, demanding further scrutiny. For example, according to WPD reports, the downtown area witnessed an increase in crime, with a 48% surge. This is particularly concerning considering the area, which spans between the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and the Isabel Holmes Bridge, is a hub of activity for residents and visitors alike.
Furthermore, certain types of crime saw a decline. WPD reports showed a 15% decrease in murders compared to 2023, and a 26% decrease in robberies, which is encouraging news. Additionally, officers saw 5% fewer homicides/murders, with the WPD responding to a total of 11 incidents. This suggests an improvement in the handling and prevention of the most severe violent crimes. Property crime burglaries decreased by 22% (118 incidents) and arson decreased by 20% (two incidents).
However, the situation isnt uniformly positive. There were 158 more larcenies reported, and the overall rate of violent crime went up by 2%. This indicates that, despite some successes, other types of crime remain problematic. Also, according to recent statistics, the violent crime rate in Wilmington is 35.4, significantly higher than the national average of 22.7. Wilmington, NC has a higher overall crime rate (55.75 per 1000 people) compared to the national average (33.37 per 1000 people), with both violent and property crime rates also exceeding national averages.
Comparing Wilmington to other cities further reveals the complex nature of its crime situation. The cost of crime per resident in Wilmington is $216 per year. This is $80 more than the national average and $74 more than North Carolina's state average, showing that Wilmington is notably more impacted by crime than other localities. In contrast, the cost of crime in Enfield, NC, stands at $349 per person, which is $133 more than in Wilmington, demonstrating that, while significant, Wilmingtons situation is not necessarily the worst in the region.
The projected cost of murder in Wilmington for 2025 is estimated at $17,888,673. This translates to approximately $107 per resident and $237 per household. This cost, which considers the financial implications of violent crime, is a heavy burden on the community. This is further demonstrated by the cost of crime\u2122 in Wilmington, NC, and the cost of crime\u2122 in South Side, Wilmington, NC where the total projected cost of crime in South Side for 2025 is $14,304,117, translating to approximately $1,610 per resident and $3,040 per household.
The available data also allows for a comparison of crime rates within the city. The violent crime rate in Wilmington is significantly higher than the national average, meaning a resident has a higher chance of being a victim of violent crime in Wilmington. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Wilmington is 1 in 205 and property crime is 1 in 29. The southeast part of the city has the fewest incidents, with approximately 218 crimes annually, suggesting that crime is not uniformly distributed throughout the city.
Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime). In Wilmington (zip code 28401), the violent crime rate is 63.0 (the US average is 22.7), and property crime is 71.1 (the US average is 35.4).
Spotcrime crime map shows crime incident data down to neighborhood crime activity including, reports, trends, and alerts. You can explore detailed maps and statistics on violent crime rates in Wilmington, NC. This information is readily available to the public to help residents understand and assess their safety.
According to the reports Spotcrime receives from local police agencies, crime overall in Wilmington, North Carolina is currently down by 22% when compared to the previous month. The previous month crime map in Wilmington, North Carolina showed 154 assaults, 1 shootings, 57 burglaries, 344 thefts, 8 robberies, 14 vandalism, and 292 arrests.
The information also reveals that crime overall in Wilmington, North Carolina, is currently down by 22% when compared to the previous month. This information is based on reports Spotcrime receives from local police agencies.
The presence of Wrightsville Beach, however, offers a different perspective. The boardwalk at Carolina Beach can get crowded. Wilmington, North Carolina, is one of the most populous and culturally diverse city centers, and it can be used as an example to investigate broader national trends.
If you are wondering if Wilmington is a safe place to live, check out the crime rate and safety statistics for the city. There are many ways to help keep our community safe. If you see something suspicious, always call 911.
| Wilmington, NC - Crime Data Analysis | |
|---|---|
| Overall Crime Rate (per 100,000 residents) | 46% higher than the national average |
| 2023 Crime Rate Change (vs. 2022) | Fell by 1% |
| Violent Crime Rate | 35.4 (significantly higher than the national average of 22.7) |
| Murders (2023) | 15% decrease compared to 2023 |
| Robberies (2023) | 26% decrease |
| Downtown Crime Increase | 48% increase |
| Cost of Crime per Resident (Wilmington) | $216 per year ($80 more than the national average, $74 more than NC average) |
| Total Projected Cost of Murder (2025) | $17,888,673 |
| Cost per Resident (Murder, 2025) | Approximately $107 |
| Cost per Household (Murder, 2025) | Approximately $237 |
| Chance of Being a Victim of Violent Crime | 1 in 205 |
| Chance of Being a Victim of Property Crime | 1 in 29 |
| Areas with Least Crime (approx.) | Southeast part of the city (218 crimes annually) |
Important Note: The city of Wilmington, North Carolina, does not have FBI crime statistics. The closest similar-sized city with FBI crime data can be used for comparison.
Violent crime, including rape, murder, robbery, and aggravated assault, dropped 6% to 603 incidents from 644 the previous year, according to Wilmington police data.
In Wilmington, North Carolina, the intricacies between crime rates, income levels, and racial demographics paint an interesting portrait of the city's socioeconomic landscape.
Daily crime reports for Wilmington, NC are available. There were a total of 5 incident reports to the Wilmington Police Department on one occasion, and there were a total of 1 incident report to the Wilmington Police Department on other occasions.
The Wilmington Police Department recently released its report of the crime data from 2023, which included a few important data points you should know: Violent crime overall decreased from a rate of 617 in 2022 to a rate of 587 in 2023.
Explore detailed maps and statistics on violent crime rates in Wilmington, NC. Learn which areas are safest, compare crime grades, and understand crime trends across the city.
Discover detailed crime rates and maps for Wilmington, NC. Explore the safest neighborhoods, compare crime statistics, and understand crime trends in the city.
Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Wilmington, NC are available.
Explore recent crime in Wilmington, NC.
