Updated April 2026 · 15 cities · 6 data sources
North Carolina Data Profile 2026: Crime, Schools, Water, Air, Hospitals & City Spending
Crime & Safety
North Carolina has an average safety score of 62/100 across 8 cities, above the national average of 61.5/100.
Safest Cities
| City | Safety Score | Grade | Violent Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 81 | A | 183.2 |
| Fayetteville | 76 | B | 225.4 |
| Cary | 70 | B | 219.5 |
| Charlotte | 62 | C | 548.1 |
| Durham | 59 | C | 403.0 |
Most Dangerous Cities
| City | Safety Score | Grade | Violent Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro | 49 | D | 718.1 |
| Raleigh | 49 | D | 718.1 |
| Winston-Salem | 50 | C | 701.0 |
| Durham | 59 | C | 403.0 |
| Charlotte | 62 | C | 548.1 |
School Quality
North Carolina cities average a school score of 70.6/100 across 5 cities.
Top School Districts
| City | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 71 | B |
| Cary | 71 | B |
| Elkin | 71 | B |
| Huntersville | 70 | B |
| Boone | 70 | B |
Lowest-Rated Schools
| City | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Huntersville | 70 | B |
| Boone | 70 | B |
| Durham | 71 | B |
| Cary | 71 | B |
| Elkin | 71 | B |
Water Safety
North Carolina cities average a water safety score of 83.3/100 across 4 cities.
Cleanest Water
| City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 100 | A | 0 |
| Raleigh | 80 | A | 0 |
| Durham | 78 | B | 2 |
| Greensboro | 75 | B | 5 |
Most Water Violations
| City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro | 75 | B | 5 |
| Durham | 78 | B | 2 |
| Charlotte | 100 | A | 0 |
| Raleigh | 80 | A | 0 |
Air Quality
North Carolina cities average a median AQI of 52 across 1 cities.
Hospital Quality
North Carolina cities have an average hospital quality rating of 3.6/5 across 15 cities with a total of 31 hospitals tracked.
Top-Rated Hospital Cities
| City | Avg Quality | Hospital Count |
|---|---|---|
| Cary | 5/5 | 1 |
| Chapel Hill | 5/5 | 1 |
| Raleigh | 4.5/5 | 4 |
| Asheville | 4.5/5 | 2 |
| Durham | 4.3/5 | 4 |
City Spending
North Carolina cities average $15,186.9 in per-capita spending with an average fiscal health score of 67.5/100.
Most Fiscally Efficient
| City | Fiscal Score | Per Capita |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 90/100 | $13,444 |
| Winston-Salem | 89/100 | $12,544 |
| Raleigh | 76/100 | $13,911 |
| Huntersville | 72/100 | $6,810 |
| Cary | 70/100 | $16,057 |
Biggest Spenders (Per Capita)
| City | Per Capita | Fiscal Score |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | $31,264 | 66/100 |
| Asheville | $21,304 | 65/100 |
| Greensboro | $19,352 | 58/100 |
| Burlington | $16,628 | 55/100 |
| Concord | $16,213 | 54/100 |
According to data compiled by CitySpend.org from 6 federal sources, North Carolina has 15 tracked cities with an average safety score of 62, school score of 70.6, and water safety score of 83.3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on FBI crime data, Wilmington is the safest city in North Carolina with a safety score of 81/100 (Grade A).
Durham has the highest average school score in North Carolina at 71/100 (Grade B).
Charlotte has the highest water safety score in North Carolina at 100/100 with 0 violations.
Wilmington has the highest fiscal health score in North Carolina at 90/100 with per-capita spending of $13,444.
Durham has the best air quality in North Carolina with a median AQI of 52 (Grade C).
Cross-site data compiled from CrimeContext, WaterSafe, AirHistory, SchoolGrades, HospitalCosts, and CitySpend databases. Scores reflect the most recent federal data available for each dimension.