Chapel Hill, NC has safety grade B, a population of about 61,912, an overall crime rate near 439 per 100k as of 2026. For real estate investors, safety is only half the picture: pair these crime statistics with rental demand and returns to judge whether Chapel Hill, NC is a sound place to buy. See the investment overview for Chapel Hill, NC for median prices, rental yield and Pulse Score, or run the numbers in the ROI analyzer.
Chapel Hill, NC Crime Rate and Safety Report
Chapel Hill, NC crime snapshot: safety grade B, violent crime rate 2.00 per 1,000 residents, property crime rate 2.00 per 1,000 residents. Compare nearby zip codes, hotspots, and safety recommendations below.
Safety Score
B
Somewhat Safe
Violent Crime Rate
2.00
per 1000 residents
Safety Analysis & Recommendations
View DetailsOverall Assessment
Chapel Hill, NC shows good safety standards with a A rating. While some crime exists, the area maintains reasonable safety levels for most residents.
Safety Recommendations
Given the higher rate of violent crimes (48.9% of total incidents), residents should prioritize personal safety measures, avoid walking alone at night, and stay informed about local safety alerts.
Trend Analysis
The relatively low crime count of 272 incidents suggests Chapel Hill maintains good community safety standards.
Comparison Insights
Chapel Hill demonstrates crime rates well below national averages, showcasing effective community safety initiatives.
Chapel Hill, NC Crime Analysis
Okay, based on the provided crime data for the area represented by GEOID 16000US3711800, we observe a total crime count of 272 incidents. The most prevalent crime category is assault, accounting for 129 incidents, all classified as Assault Offenses. Property crime is also significant, with a total of 117 incidents, broken down into Burglary/Breaking & Entering (25), Larceny/Theft Offenses (65), Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property (14), Stolen Property Offenses (8), and Motor Vehicle Theft (5). Other categories include "others" with 16 incidents, encompassing Counterfeiting/Forgery (1), Fraud Offenses (11), Extortion/Blackmail (3), and Embezzlement (1). Sex offenses account for 6 incidents, including Sex Offenses, Non-forcible (1), Sex Offenses (2), and Kidnapping/Abduction (3). Robbery is the least frequent category, with 4 incidents, all classified as Robbery. To provide a more comprehensive analysis, we need to associate the GEOID with a specific location. GEOID 16000US3711800 corresponds to North Carolina. Without more granular data, it's difficult to pinpoint the exact city or town. However, assuming this data represents a specific municipality within North Carolina, we can infer further insights if we had access to the city name, population, and median income. For example, if we knew the population of the area, we could calculate the crime rate per 100,000 residents, providing a standardized measure for comparison with other areas. Similarly, the median income could help us understand potential socioeconomic factors contributing to the observed crime patterns. A higher incidence of property crime in a lower-income area, for instance, might suggest economic hardship as a contributing factor. Furthermore, a safety score and grade could be calculated based on the overall crime rate and the severity of the offenses. Violent crime rate can be calculated by adding the total count of assault, sex offenses, and robbery, then dividing by the population (if known) and multiplying by 100,000. Property crime rate can be calculated similarly using the total count of property crimes. Finally, a crime map could be generated by plotting the locations of reported incidents (if available), allowing for the identification of crime hotspots and the development of targeted prevention strategies. Zip code level data would provide a more granular view of crime distribution within the area.
Related analysis for Chapel Hill, NC
Explore related real estate, safety, and education data for Chapel Hill, NC.
FAQ about crime in Chapel Hill, NC
Crime rates are normalized per 1,000 residents based on reported incidents in FBI UCR and local agency feeds. We split incidents into violent, property, and other categories so you can see where the risk concentrates.
The “Safest Zip Codes” section above ranks nearby zip codes by safety score, while the “High Crime Zip Codes” section highlights areas with elevated reported crime in Chapel Hill, NC.
Crime data is refreshed on a rolling basis as updated reports are published by the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer and partnering agencies.
Combine this crime report with the market overview for Chapel Hill, NC and the school report linked in the “Related analysis” section to assess both safety and investment fundamentals.
Data sources & further reading
PulseReal’s analysis is built on top of these public, authoritative datasets.
Official UCR crime statistics by state and agency from the FBI.
Population, demographics, housing, and income data from the US Census Bureau.
Encyclopedic overview of the city, history, and notable landmarks.
Housing affordability, fair-market rents, and market reports from HUD.
Local unemployment and employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Bureau of Justice Statistics publications on US crime victimization.
Get Complete Insights or Analytics
Access comprehensive real estate data, crime analysis, short term rental data, and detailed zip code reports across the United States.
✓ Analyze real estate data ✓ Neighborhood safety ratings ✓ Detailed crime statistics
Disclaimer: All investment decisions involve risks, and the information provided by Pulsereal is for informational purposes only. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes, returns, or profitability. Users are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence and consult with a financial advisor or real estate professional before making any investment decisions. Pulsereal is not responsible for any losses or damages arising from the use of the platform or reliance on the provided information.
Copyright © 2026 Pulse Real LLC.