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Best for Safety in North Carolina

8 cities ranked · Lowest crime rates per FBI UCR — best for families sensitive to violent and property crime.

Top Cities in North Carolina

  1. #1
    B

    Wilmington

    Best for Safety score 81 · MoveScore 70

  2. #2
    C

    Fayetteville

    Best for Safety score 76 · MoveScore 62

  3. #3
    B

    Cary

    Best for Safety score 70 · MoveScore 78

  4. #4
    B

    Charlotte

    Best for Safety score 62 · MoveScore 73

  5. #5
    B

    Durham

    Best for Safety score 59 · MoveScore 71

  6. #6
    B

    Winston-Salem

    Best for Safety score 50 · MoveScore 71

  7. #7
    C

    Greensboro

    Best for Safety score 49 · MoveScore 66

  8. #8
    B

    Raleigh

    Best for Safety score 49 · MoveScore 74

Other North Carolina Rankings

Best Overall Cities in North Carolina

Highest MoveScore composite — safest overall balance of all six livability dimensions.

Best for Water Quality in North Carolina

Cleanest drinking water per EPA SDWIS — fewest violations, highest safety scores.

Best for Air Quality in North Carolina

Cleanest air per EPA AQS — lowest median AQI and fewest unhealthy days.

Best for Public Schools in North Carolina

Strongest public school performance per NCES/EDFacts — highest average proficiency.

Best Fiscal Health in North Carolina

Strongest municipal fiscal health per Census ASPEP — sustainable per-capita spending.

Best for Hospital Care in North Carolina

Highest-rated hospitals per CMS HCAHPS — best patient experience scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city in North Carolina ranks highest for best for safety?

Wilmington, NC ranks #1 in North Carolina for best for safety with a sub-score of 81/100 (MoveScore 70, grade B).

How many cities in North Carolina are compared?

8 North Carolina cities have enough federal data for this ranking. Cities need at least three of six sub-scores for inclusion.

How is this ranking calculated?

Lowest crime rates per FBI UCR — best for families sensitive to violent and property crime. Sub-scores are normalized to 0-100 and the highest scores rank first.

Sources: FBI UCR, EPA, NCES, Census ASPEP, CMS HCAHPS
Last updated:

North Carolina-specific ranking using the crime sub-score, normalized to 0-100. Cities need at least three federal sub-scores to be included.