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Safe, vibrant cities abound in North Carolina

On Behalf of | May 9, 2014 | General |

Greensboro, NC – According to the last Census, North Carolina was the 6th fastest growing state in the nation.

And according to safewise, a website that rates home security systems, that’s no surprise.

Safewise chalks up the growth in the Tar Heel State to an abundance of affordable housing, a diverse landscape and cutting-edge tech industries. And it has compiled a list of the 50 safest cities in North Carolina as well.

The website paired the most recent FBI Crime Report with its own independent examination to find the top 50 safest cities here. Presumably, that’s for prospective immigrants to the Old North State, but it might provide some food for thought for current residents as well.

Image / feiheli

 It’s no surprise that small cities (or as most folks call them, “towns”) led the way. And several could be found right here in the Triad – although to give credit where it’s due, the capital city of Raleigh made the cut.

To make the list, a city had to have a population of over 5,000 as of 2012 and needed to meet criteria regarding both violent and property crimes, according to FBI statistics from 2012. The website analyzed the number of violent crimes, consisting of aggravated assault, forcible rape, murder, and robbery, as well as property crimes, consisting of arson, burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. They then calculated the chance of these crimes happening out of 1,000 in order to equalize the results for the different populations of each city.

Pinehurst ranked No. 1. The golfer’s paradise was credited with some of the nation’s leading medical facilities and an award-winning police department.

But closer to home, the towns in the vicinity of Greensboro grabbed some attention as well. Mebane made the grade at No. 50. It was described as having safe neighborhoods and a pro-active police department with a forward-thinking approach to community-oriented policing. Mebane police offer a property checklist that gives patrolling officers information needed to keep an extra watch on homes when they are vacant, and also provides an anonymous online form for reporting drug activity.

Elon’s police department could boast of an impressive use of technology. Its website offers residents a vacation home check or filing a minor incident online. Elon, ranked No. 3, had very low crime rate: .41 for violent crimes per 1,000, and 2.28 for property crimes.

Archdale weighed in at No. 15, known for its strategic location for building a business. Its easy access to the highway system and travel within its city limits makes crime emergency response quick and efficient.

Also hitting the chart were Sanford (No. 31) known for a vibrant downtown, Kernersville (No. 32) a community rich in activities, Siler City (No. 38) a town committed to the arts, and Lexington (No. 44) known of course for its barbecue, but also for its safe streets and historic architecture.

It’s good to know that we Tar Heels appreciate our state as a mighty fine place to be, offering natural beauty from the mountains to the sea, but that it is a safe place to be as well.