Looking for Wilmington, NC crime data? Here’s what the official numbers say and where to find them. In 2024, the Wilmington Police Department reported 604 violent crimes, about 482 per 100,000 residents; North Carolina’s statewide rate was about 388 (NC SBI). In 2025, WPD reported overall crime down 16% and violent crime down 17%. City-only rates aren’t directly comparable to statewide averages, and the data varies block to block, so the most useful step is looking up the specific addresses you’re considering.
I’m Tabi, a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage. “Is Wilmington safe?” is one of the first questions I get from people thinking about moving here. It’s a fair question. As a REALTOR®, I don’t label any area safe or unsafe, but you deserve real sources instead of a sales pitch. So this post sticks to official, city-wide numbers with dates, explains what they do and don’t tell you, and shows you where to look up the data yourself.
The numbers: Wilmington crime in 2024
These figures come from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s official 2024 report (published October 2025), which counts crimes reported to the Wilmington Police Department inside city limits:
- Total index crimes: 5,003, up about 1% from 4,930 in 2023.
- Violent crimes: 604. That includes 7 murders, 57 rapes, 91 robberies and 449 aggravated assaults.
- Property crimes: 4,399. That includes 452 burglaries, 3,581 larcenies and 366 motor vehicle thefts.
To put those in context, I used the Census Bureau’s estimate of Wilmington’s July 2024 population, about 125,400 people:
- Wilmington violent crime rate, 2024: about 482 per 100,000 residents.
- North Carolina violent crime rate, 2024: about 388 per 100,000 (NC SBI).
- U.S. violent crime rate, 2024: about 363 per 100,000 (FBI, revised figure).
A note on the homicide number: you may see different counts for 2024 depending on the source. The SBI’s official count uses the standard FBI definition of murder. WPD’s own January 2025 report counted 11 homicide incidents, which included two traffic deaths and one justifiable homicide. I use the SBI numbers here because they follow the same definitions as the state and national figures.
The trend: 2025 and 2026 so far
- 2025: WPD reported overall crime down 16% and violent crime down 17% compared with 2024, with larceny down 20% and motor vehicle theft down 22% (WECT, March 26, 2026). The FBI also reported a record one-year national drop in violent crime for 2025.
- 2026 so far: no full year-to-date totals have been published yet. In September 2026, Wilmington’s police chief said overall crime was down compared with both last year and the five-year average, while also acknowledging more homicides in the first months of 2026 than in the same period of 2025 (Port City Daily, September 15, 2026).
I’ll update this post when the state’s official 2025 report and WPD’s 2026 numbers come out.
How to read these numbers fairly
Before you compare Wilmington to other places, here are a few things that matter:
- City rates aren’t the same as metro or state rates. Wilmington’s numbers only cover the area inside city limits. State and national averages blend cities with suburbs and rural areas, which usually have lower reported rates. Comparing a city to a statewide average isn’t apples to apples.
- Visitors count in the crimes but not the population. Wilmington is the regional hub for shopping, jobs, nightlife, hospitals and tourism. Crimes involving commuters and visitors are counted, but the rate is calculated using residents only, which pushes the rate up.
- The FBI itself warns against ranking places by crime data alone. Its guidance says rankings ignore the unique factors of each community.
- Different agencies cover different areas. WPD covers the city. The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office covers unincorporated parts of the county, and Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach each have their own police departments. Leland and Hampstead fall under their own local agencies too.
Why I don’t rank neighborhoods by safety
You’ll find websites that give every Wilmington neighborhood a “safety score” or a letter grade. I don’t use them, and I’d encourage you not to rely on them either. Most are built with algorithms and estimates, not the actual reports for that area, and they can paint whole communities unfairly.
As a REALTOR®, I also follow fair housing law, which means I can’t steer anyone toward or away from any area. What I can do is show you how to look up the official data for any address and help you understand it. My guide on how to research any Wilmington neighborhood before you buy walks through the exact tools, step by step.
Where to look up the data yourself
- Wilmington Police Department Police to Citizen portal: wilmingtonnc.policetocitizen.com
- New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (unincorporated county): nhcgov.com
- NC State Bureau of Investigation annual crime reports: ncsbi.gov
- FBI Crime Data Explorer: cde.ucr.cjis.gov
- Pender County Sheriff’s Office crime map (Hampstead and Pender County): pendersheriff.com
- Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office (unincorporated Brunswick County; Leland has its own police department): brunswicksheriff.com
Everyday safety on the coast: storms and water
For a lot of people moving here, the bigger safety questions are about hurricanes and flooding. Those deserve just as much homework. My Wilmington flood zones guide shows how to check flood risk for any address, and the Wilmington hurricane guide covers what to do before and during a storm.
The bottom line
Official city-wide data showed about 482 violent crimes per 100,000 Wilmington residents in 2024 (NC SBI), and WPD reported violent crime down 17% in 2025. City-wide numbers can’t describe any one street or neighborhood. Look at the official data for the specific addresses you’re considering, visit at different times of day, and make the call that’s right for you.
If you’re thinking about a move and want help pulling the data for a specific home, I’m happy to help.
Call or text Tabi: 910-983-8963 · www.makingilmhome.com
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find crime data for a Wilmington address?
Start with the Wilmington Police Department’s Police to Citizen portal for addresses inside city limits. For city-wide totals, use the NC SBI’s annual reports and the FBI Crime Data Explorer. The SBI’s 2024 figures work out to about 482 violent crimes per 100,000 Wilmington residents (North Carolina’s statewide rate was about 388), and WPD reported violent crime down 17% in 2025. City-only rates aren’t directly comparable to state averages, so review the data for the specific addresses you’re considering.
What was Wilmington’s crime rate in 2024?
The NC SBI’s 2024 report shows 5,003 index crimes reported to the Wilmington Police Department: 604 violent and 4,399 property crimes. With a population of about 125,400, that’s roughly 482 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
Is crime going down in Wilmington, NC?
According to the Wilmington Police Department, overall crime fell 16% and violent crime fell 17% in 2025 compared with 2024. In September 2026, the police chief said overall crime was down compared with last year and the five-year average, though homicides were up early in the year.
Which agency’s crime data covers my Wilmington-area address?
Use the Wilmington Police Department’s Police to Citizen portal for addresses inside city limits and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office for unincorporated areas. Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach have their own police departments. For Hampstead and the rest of Pender County, check the Pender County Sheriff’s Office; for unincorporated Brunswick County, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.
Can a real estate agent tell me which Wilmington neighborhoods are safe?
Fair housing law bars agents from steering buyers toward or away from any area. A good agent will show you where to find official crime data and help you understand it so you can decide for yourself.
Tabetha Klein, REALTOR® | Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage · 910-983-8963 · www.makingilmhome.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity. Sources: NC State Bureau of Investigation, Crime in North Carolina 2024 (October 2025); U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 city population estimates; FBI, Reported Crimes in the Nation 2024 and 2025 (August 2026); Wilmington Police Department 2024 and 2025 crime reports as reported by WECT (January 2025, March 26, 2026), WWAY and Port City Daily (April 8 and September 15, 2026). Rates per 100,000 are calculated by the author from the SBI counts and Census estimates. This article is general information and does not characterize any neighborhood.
Sources: NC SBI: 2024 Annual Summary · Census QuickFacts: Wilmington · FBI: 2025 Reported Crimes in the Nation · FBI: UCR Statistics, Their Proper Use · WECT: 2025 crime statistics (Mar 26, 2026) · Port City Daily: Q&A with the police chief (Sept 15, 2026) · WECT: WPD 2024 crime statistics (Jan 2025)
