Gastonia, NC has a F safety grade (0/100) with a violent crime rate of 850 per 100,000 — 1103% above the national average.

FBI UCR 2024 Per-capita rates FBI UCR + NIBRS

Gastonia, NC Crime Rate & Safety

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents, drawn directly from FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. Compare against state and national averages.

Crime data sourced from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program, covering violent crime, property crime, and individual offense categories. Safety grades reflect a composite analysis of violent and property crime rates benchmarked against national averages. For context on how crime statistics are collected and what they mean for community safety, read our guide to understanding FBI crime data.

Is Gastonia, NC safe? Gastonia has a violent crime rate of 849.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, according to FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data — 1103% higher than the national average and 7161% above the North Carolina average. The city receives a safety grade of F (High Risk). Property crime rate: 3514.2/100K. Population: 85,112.

FBI UCR Data Snapshot: Gastonia, NC

Gastonia, NC — reporting population 85,112 in 2024 — recorded 723 violent crimes and 2,991 property crimes in the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program's Table 8 city-level submissions. The city's violent crime rate works out to 849.5 per 100,000 residents, while the property crime rate reaches 3514.2 per 100,000. Combining those two rates against national benchmarks yields a composite safety grade of F (High Risk), scoring 0 out of 100.

Within the violent crime count, aggravated assault accounted for 582 incidents, robbery 105, murder 4, and rape 32 in 2024. Property crime splits into larceny-theft (2,202), burglary (436), motor vehicle theft (353), and arson (22). Larceny-theft and other property offenses typically dominate city crime counts, and larceny-theft leads Gastonia's mix at 59.3% of all Part I offenses.

Against the national violent crime average, Gastonia runs 1103% above the US benchmark, and 7161% above the North Carolina statewide rate. Translated to per-capita risk, the 2024 figures imply roughly a 1 in 23 statistical chance of being named in a crime report that year, narrowing to 1 in 118 for a violent offense. UCR figures reflect offenses reported to and submitted by local law enforcement and may undercount unreported crime.

Is Gastonia, NC Safe? Safety Assessment

Based on 2024 FBI crime data, Gastonia, NC receives a safety grade of F (High Risk) with a composite safety score of 0/100. Violent crime is 1103% above the national average, indicating substantially higher risk than most US cities.

Your statistical chance of being a crime victim in Gastonia is approximately 1 in 23 , with a 1 in 118 chance of being a violent crime victim. The most common crime type is larceny-theft, accounting for 59% of all reported offenses.

Safety assessments are based on FBI UCR reported crime statistics. Actual safety varies by neighborhood, time of day, and individual circumstances. Crime reporting rates differ across jurisdictions.

Safety Overview

Safety Grade
F
High Risk
Score: 0/100
Violent Crime Rate
849.5/100K
violent crimes per 100K residents
+1103% vs US
Property Crime Rate
3514.2/100K
property crimes per 100K residents
+924% vs US
Total Crimes
3,714
reported in 2024
Population
85,112
2024 Census-based estimate

Crime Breakdown (2024)

Category Count Rate /100K
Violent Crime 723 849.5
Murder 4 4.7
Rape 32 37.6
Robbery 105 123.4
Aggravated Assault 582 683.8
Property Crime 2,991 3514.2
Burglary 436 512.3
Larceny-Theft 2,202 2587.2
Motor Vehicle Theft 353 414.7
Arson 22 25.8

Per-Capita Risk Assessment

Overall Crime Risk
1 in 23
Statistical chance of being a crime victim based on 2024 data
Violent Crime Risk
1 in 118
Statistical chance of being a violent crime victim

These are statistical averages based on reported crimes. Actual risk varies significantly by neighborhood, time of day, and individual circumstances.

Crime Type Distribution (2024)

Larceny-Theft 2,202 (59.3%)
Aggravated Assault 582 (15.7%)
Burglary 436 (11.7%)
Motor Vehicle Theft 353 (9.5%)
Robbery 105 (2.8%)
Rape 32 (0.9%)
Arson 22 (0.6%)
Murder 4 (0.1%)

Gastonia vs North Carolina vs National Average

Gastonia
Violent849.5/100K
Property3514.2/100K
GradeF
North Carolina
Violent11.7/100K
Property62/100K
National Average
Violent70.6/100K
Property343.3/100K

Nearby Cities in North Carolina

Compare Gastonia against neighboring cities in the same state, or use our side-by-side compare tool to benchmark two cities directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the crime rate in Gastonia, NC?
Gastonia has a violent crime rate of 849.5 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3514.2 per 100,000, based on 2024 FBI UCR data.
Is Gastonia, NC safe?
Gastonia receives a safety grade of F (High Risk), with a safety score of 0/100. The violent crime rate is 1103% above the national average and 7161% above the North Carolina average.
What is the population of Gastonia, NC?
The reporting population for Gastonia is 85,112 as of 2024.
How many crimes were reported in Gastonia?
In 2024, Gastonia reported 723 violent crimes and 2,991 property crimes, for a total of 3,714 reported offenses.
What are the odds of being a crime victim in Gastonia?
Based on 2024 data, the statistical chance of being a crime victim in Gastonia is approximately 1 in 23, with a 1 in 118 chance of being a violent crime victim. These are statistical averages and actual risk varies by neighborhood and circumstance.
What is the most common crime in Gastonia?
The most common crime type in Gastonia is larceny-theft, accounting for 59.3% of all reported crimes (2,202 incidents in 2024).

Understanding Crime Data

Explore More Data for NC

Data as of 2024. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.

Crime rates are calculated per 100,000 population. Not all agencies report complete data. FBI Crime in the United States (CIUS) Table 8. Population figures referenced from U.S. Census Bureau estimates where noted; state-level comparisons cross-check against state UCR programs. Verify with FBI.gov UCR, Census.gov QuickFacts, and HUD.gov fair-market rents.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

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