Moving your family, or soon to be family, to a big city like Charlotte might seem overwhelming. While there are many factors to consider, one major feature that you can check off your list this year is safety. According to SafeWise, an independent review site and expert on home security and safety, several Charlotte-area suburbs rank among the list of top 20 safest cities in North Carolina.
In order to identify the top safest cities, SafeWise reviewed 2016 FBI crime report statistics against population data. In order to easily compare crimes occurring in a particular area, SafeWise calculated the rate of crimes per 1,000 residents. The data does not factor in cities that fell below identified population thresholds or cities that failed to submit complete crime reports to the FBI.
Below we’ll break down the suburbs located under an hour from Charlotte that ranked among the top 20 list of safest cities in North Carolina.
Just 30 minutes north of Charlotte is the charming, Southern college town of Davidson, ranking No. 4 on the list. The town offers a variety of shops, restaurants, wide sidewalks and is proud to be pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Davidson has more than 12 miles of green-ways and bike lanes, parks, national arboretum, a farmers market, and was one of just 72 North Carolina communities (3,000 nationwide) to receive its first Tree City USA designation.
Population: 12,469
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.72
Property crimes per 1,000: 10.99
Total crime: 6.57% violent, 93.43% property
Another close suburb of Charlotte is the Town of Stallings, about 30 minutes south of the Queen City. Stallings is a mid-sized city complex along the Catawba River known for its diverse economy, educated population, and entertainment.
Population: 15,569
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.90
Property crimes per 1,000: 13.30
Total crime: 6.76% violent, 93.24% property
Ranking No. 11, Huntersville is full of outdoor attractions, offering history-rich trails and close interactions with protective wildlife. Huntersville is 20 minutes north of Charlotte and borders Lake Normal and is a great place for families interested in the outdoors or seeking a little retail therapy.
Population: 53,932
Violent crimes per 1,000: 1.17
Property crimes per 1,000: 21.45
Total crime: 5.45% violent, 94.55% property
Located on the outskirts of Charlotte, Mint Hill offers an all-American town feel with plenty of family-friendly activities including an annual carnival, parade, mouthwatering treats, music and a fireworks show! Mint Hill also offers many civic organizations including Mint Hill Arts and Mint Hill Historical Society. Mint Hill ranked No. 14 safest city in North Carolina.
Population: 26,221
Violent crimes per 1,000: 1.37
Property crimes per 1,000: 24.10
Total crime: 5.70% violent, 94.30% property
A small town nestled just outside of Charlotte, Concord has a ton of character and ranked No. 16 on the list! Concord features speedways, water parks, wineries and breweries and a blend of history and excitement.
Population: 89,446
Violent crimes per 1,000: 1.39
Property crimes per 1,000: 24.65
Total crime: 5.62% violent, 94.38% property
A friendly, prosperous town where history and creativity build an enduring, safe, and healthy community for people of all ages, Waxhaw is a great place to learn, work, place and grow a business.  Ranking No. 17 on the list, Waxhaw is located about 45 minutes south of Charlotte.
Population: 14,367
Violent crimes per 1,000: 1.39
Property crimes per 1,000: 10.09
Total crime: 13.79% violent, 86.21% property
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