Moving to a new place is always a little bit nerve-wracking. Before you move, it’s a good idea to know at least a little bit about the area you’re considering. If you’re thinking of moving to Wilmington, you may be asking yourself: How safe is Wilmington, NC really?
There’s more than one way to measure safety, and some spaces are certainly safer than others. Below, we’ll compare a variety of neighborhoods and discuss Wilmington’s overall safety statistics.
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Wilmington’s Crime Statistics
TravelSafe-Abroad, a website that ranks cities’ safety levels around the world, gives Wilmington, NC an 84 out of 100 for safety. This means the overall risk of being involved in any sort of crime is relatively low.
Wilmington is highly involved in tourism–it’s close to popular beach destinations and is known for its involvement in a number of popular TV shows and movies including One Tree Hill, Dawson’s Creek, Iron Man 3, and The Conjuring. Because of its emphasis on tourism, the city of Wilmington has a strong desire to keep things as safe as possible for everyone.
Despite TravelSafe-Abroad’s ranking, however, another website, NeighborhoodScout, which analyzes and compares crime reports directly from local reports, ranks Wilmington quite low on the safety scale, especially in comparison to places of similar size and location.
According to its description, “when you compare Wilmington to other communities of similar population, the Wilmington crime rate (violent and property crimes combined) is quite a bit higher than average.” For more information about safety rankings for each Wilmington neighborhood, check out this map.
In general, Wilmington, NC has a crime rate that is higher than the national average.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that Wilmington isn’t right for you–it just means you should be aware of the risks before you commit to moving.
Wilmington Neighborhoods
Of all Wilmington’s neighborhoods, the ones closest to the city center rank less safe than the ones closer to the beaches.
While you’re deciding if Wilmington, NC is a safe place to live you may want to visit Wilmington yourself, check local Facebook groups, ask your employer, look at blogs, or chat with any friends you have in the area about their local perspective on neighborhoods before you seriously consider a certain location.
It’s also not a bad idea to check out the top areas you’re interested in on Google Maps. If visiting isn’t possible before you move, using the “street view” tool can give you a good feeling of neighborhoods without seeing them in person. (Just check the date on the photos or videos to make sure they’re recent.)
If you’re looking for a simple list of the safest neighborhoods right off the bat–there are ten that rank highest.
Top Ten Safest Neighborhoods in Wilmington, NC
- Dolphin Bay/Inlet Point Harbor
- Kirkland
- Murraysville
- Sentry Oaks/Deer Crossing
- Cypress Island
- Woodlake
- Bent Tree/Brookefield
- Masonboro
- Ogden
- Silverlake
Other Things To Consider: Is Wilmington, NC safe?
As we mentioned before, safety is measured in a number of ways. Wilmington’s crime statistics is only one piece of the puzzle you should consider before moving. Let’s talk about the other pieces.
Natural disasters
Not unlike the rest of the eastern coast of the United States, North Carolina is prone to specific natural disasters–especially hurricanes.
Hurricane season is a big deal on the East Coast of the US. Although most long-term East Coasters have experienced their fair share of hurricanes, and many people will act nonchalantly about the season, hurricanes should still be taken seriously.
If you’re unfamiliar with hurricanes or hurricane preparations, you probably don’t want to learn on the spot.
Hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th every year. Weather stations start reporting on potential hurricanes early on in the season, and keep a close watch throughout the year.
Most years, only a few storms grow into something larger than a tropical storm. If a tropical storm does eventually reach hurricane status, you may need to prepare your home or evacuate.
Most locals, especially those who have lived through many seasons, are happy (and maybe a little proud) to give advice about hunkering down. City and state officials and local news outlets will also likely inform you what precautions you should be taking.
Knowing the evacuation route for your town, making sure you have an essentials kit ready, and being proactive is often enough to get you through in perfect safety.
If you’re wondering if there are any reasons why you shouldn’t move to North Carolina, hurricanes may be one for you.
Why You Shouldn’t Move To North Carolina – Some Other Concerns
It’s important to preface here, that some of the other potential problems you may want to think about before moving to North Carolina aren’t specific to just North Carolina.
There are lots of issues that are regional and span across state boundaries–North Carolina is of course no exception. You should do your own research to decide which issues are important to you and your needs.
That said, here are the remaining two points that might help you decide: Is Wilmington, NC safe?
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1. Water Safety
There has been some discourse about North Carolina, and Wilmington’s, water safety over the past decade. In 2017, a local newspaper broke a story about the Cape Fear River being contaminated by harmful cancer-causing chemicals.
There has been some acknowledgment of the problem, and there are many nonprofits devoted to ensuring clean-up efforts are being made.
The Environmental Working Group stated on its website that, “for the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2021 – March 2021), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.” They stress that the legality does not necessarily guarantee total safety, however.
2. Opioid Epidemic
We’d like to re-emphasize that this problem is not North Carolina-specific. Many places in the United States struggle with opioid-related issues, unfortunately. The Appalachian region and its neighbors are the hardest hit.
North Carolina ranks in the middle on Drug Overdose Mortality in the United States. It’s certainly not the most affected state (West Virginia), but the problem is significant enough that local police forces carry Narcan (a drug that stops someone from overdosing) regularly.
According to the CDC, North Carolina’s Drug Overdose Mortality rate is ~31 deaths per 100,000 people.
Please call the National Opioid & Opiate Addiction Hotlines for more information and resources.
Wilmington Safety Tips
If you’ve answered yes to the question ”Is Wilmington, NC safe?”, and you’re ready to move, here are our final tips and some additional information to make you feel safe and sound.
Download the Wilmington Police Department App
You can submit any crime tips if you need to and remain anonymous if you’d like. If you don’t want to add the app, you can also text 847411 using the keyword WPDNC.
Alternatively, you can reach the Wilmington Police Department directly by calling 910-343-3600 or 911 for emergencies.
Be Careful of Beach Traffic
There are lots of famous beaches close to Wilmington, NC and many newcomers have moved to the area in recent years. Traffic can be intense, so make sure you’re driving as safely as possible.
Check the Beach Flags
If you’re visiting one of the famous beaches on North Carolina’s coast, make sure you pay attention to the flags that are flying. There should be a sign guide for flag meanings– some of them indicate unsafe swimming conditions. Ask a lifeguard or local for help if you need to.
Conclusion
Moving to any new place comes with risks and safety can be measured in a number of different ways.
If you’re considering moving to Wilmington, NC you should consider all the elements before deciding whether or not it’s the right place for you.
In general, Wilmington, NC is a relatively safe place– keep in mind that your safety always varies slightly depending on location among many other factors.
Regardless of where you live and travel, it’s always smart to utilize good safety practices.
FAQs
Wilmington, NC has mixed safety ratings. TravelSafe-Abroad gives Wilmington an 84 out of 100 for safety, indicating a relatively low overall risk of being involved in any sort of crime. However, NeighborhoodScout ranks Wilmington lower in safety compared to cities of similar size, with higher than average rates of violent and property crimes. It’s important to consider these factors and assess specific neighborhoods when determining safety in Wilmington.
The safest neighborhoods in Wilmington, NC, include Dolphin Bay/Inlet Point Harbor, Kirkland, Murraysville, Sentry Oaks/Deer Crossing, Cypress Island, Woodlake, Bent Tree/Brookefield, Masonboro, Ogden, and Silverlake.
Wilmington, NC is considered more dangerous than some cities of similar size due to higher than average rates of violent and property crimes. NeighborhoodScout highlights that Wilmington’s crime rate, when compared to other communities with similar populations, is significantly higher. This elevated crime rate contributes to its perception as a dangerous city.
Grace currently lives in Nashville, TN. She grew up in the Southeastern United States and graduated from College of Charleston, in Charleston, South Carolina. Her degree is in Political Science with a focus in International Relations, but she has a passion for all things communication and writing.
