North Carolina : Safety by City
- Apex
- Asheville
- Boone
- Cary
- Chapel Hill
- Charlotte
- Cornelius
- Corolla
- Davidson
- Duck
- Durham
- Elizabeth City
- Gastonia
- Goldsboro
- Greensboro
- Hatteras
- Hickory
- High Point
- Hope Mills
- Kannapolis
- Kill Devil Hills
- Kitty Hawk
- Manteo
- Mooresville
- Morehead City
- New Bern
- Raleigh
- Rocky Mount
- Rodanthe
- Statesville
- Wilmington
- Winston-Salem
Greensboro is a city in the Piedmont area of North Carolina, and part of a group of three cities called The Triad, which includes High Point and Winston Salem.
Greensboro is an old city, and for years was a center of the tobacco and textile trades.
As those industries faded, Greensboro sought more high-tech businesses, and many have moved here.
Greensboro is about halfway between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.
It is an hour from the state capital of Raleigh.
The city was started in 1808 and today has around 300,000 people.
The city is host to many tournaments and athletic events and is known for its many athletic facilities.
It also has a lot of parks and natural areas.
It has several small colleges, along with an active culture and nightlife as well.
It is one of the most popular tourist areas in the state.
Warnings & Dangers in Greensboro
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Greensboro has its share of crime as any large city would, but overall, it is a safe city. Greensboro's crime rate is near or below the national average. A lot of high-tech industries, along with colleges, give the town an upscale feel and there are not a lot of high-poverty areas. The safe areas are very safe, and there are areas to be avoided.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Taxis are available from the airport into town and to all areas of the city. There is a bus line that provides transportation throughout the city and has discounts for seniors and college students. The downtown is easy to navigate on foot or by bicycle. It is an easy town to get around, and there are few incidents reported.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
This crime is fading in popularity because people are carrying less cash, and stolen cards are harder to use. There are few incidents reported, but they do happen. It is a good idea to keep your wallet or purse in a safe place when you are in crowded situations. For the most part, there is little risk of being the victim of a pickpocket.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
There are tornadoes at times, but they are not common. If there is a warning, you should still seek shelter. The area has had very few earthquakes or significant floods. In winter there can be ice storms that can wreak havoc on the roadways and make travel dangerous if not impossible.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
In the tourist areas, there are very few muggings that happen. Those that do are in isolated areas at night, and it's fairly easy to avoid those. There are some bad areas of town where your risk will go up sharply, and those areas are best avoided, especially at night. If you stay in tourist areas and don't go out at night alone, your risk is very small.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Cities can be a target of terrorists, and Greensboro could be a target because of its tech industries. However, there have been no incidents thus far. It is a good idea to remain vigilant, however. There have been some protests, and there is concern about domestic terrorism from extremist groups, but so far they have not attacked.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
Taxis are metered, but a driver might try to take the long way to get a higher fare, but even that is not common. There are fake tickets to events sold at times, so it is not good to buy those on the street. In general, there are few scams on the streets, but if anything seems too good to be true, there is probably a problem.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Women travelers are common in Greensboro, and there is no indication there is more danger for women than there is for men. If you don't go out at night alone, there is little chance of having a problem. Basic safety precautions are usually good enough to keep women safe in Greensboro.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
The city of Greensboro provides water that exceeds state and federal requirements. There are very few incidents of water even getting contaminated in the piping of buildings. You can safely drink tap water in Greensboro without concern.
Safest Places to Visit in Greensboro
There are a lot of interesting things in Greensboro, and those areas are generally safe.
One natural area is called the Bog Garden, wetlands with flowers, birds, and an elevated wooden boardwalk.
The Guilford Courthouse is now a national military park and a historical site that dates back to the American Revolution.
It has interactive displays from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, as well as the civil rights struggle.
There are several small colleges with interesting sights as well.
The city also has a lot of sports venues where you can watch sports, or participate in sporting events.
The northwest area, with a lot of shopping centers, is generally regarded as the safest area of the city.
Places to Avoid in Greensboro
The central area of Greensboro is the most dangerous, and some areas are not even safe in the daytime.
In the central part of town, your chance of being a crime victim is one in 11.
The southwest section of town also has a relatively high crime rate, but not as high as the downtown.
Some neighborhoods have the highest crime rates, which include Greentree, Oak Grove, Dudley Heights, and Woodlea Lakes.
Greentree is a small area of only a few hundred people, but this area has the lowest median income and the highest rate of crime in the entire city.
Some older sections of the downtown area have areas that have historic homes that may be in fairly dangerous areas.
If you go there, do not go alone, and don’t go at night.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Greensboro
- Lock your car. We all know this, but it is easy to forget when you are out exploring. Thieves look for opportunities and have been known to check car doors in a parking lot. They will usually pass up a locked car. Don’t give them an opportunity.
- Park smart. Park your car in well-lit areas, and the main parking lots as much as possible. Avoid parking in dark areas or at the far edges of parking lots. Coming back to your car late at night could be dangerous in some areas. Think about what it will be like returning to your car.
- Hide your stuff. Keep valuables out of sight. Electronics or portable GPS devices should be hidden when you leave your car, even if it is locked. In some cases, people will break into cars to steal something valuable. Put valuable items in the trunk, or cover them, when leaving your vehicle.
- Check out your car. Check your tires, fluid levels, lights, and so forth before you set out for the day’s adventures. Making sure everything is OK will help you avoid unexpected issues that can arise on the road. Even a rental car can have sudden issues.
- Stay alert. Pay attention to what is going on around you. Most areas are safe, but keeping your eyes open can avoid problems that can arise even in those areas. People are looking for an opportunity, so be careful about leaving your property lying around where someone could pick it up.
- Know the area. Study crime maps before you go and get to know the basic areas that are safe and those that are not. Ask at your hotel what areas should be avoided. Being familiar with where the bad areas are will help you avoid going to them.
- Watch the weather. Pay attention to weather forecasts to avoid unpleasant surprises while you are out visiting the city. In spring there can be thunderstorms and tornadoes, and there can be snow and ice in winter. Plan your days around what the weather is predicted to be.
- Don’t go alone. Avoid going out at night alone in areas you are not familiar with. Many tourist areas are relatively safe even at night, but a person alone is someone a thief might be willing to take a chance at robbing.
- Avoid excessive alcohol. Avoid getting intoxicated, especially if you are by yourself. Don’t accept open drinks from anyone, and keep an eye on the drink you have. It is even more important to drink sensibly when you are away from home.
- Stay hydrated. The summers can get very hot and humid, and there are a lot of outdoor activities to enjoy in Greensboro. In light of that, be sure to drink plenty of water, and always take some with you. It is easy to get overheated and be in danger of heatstroke before you realize you are in trouble.
So... How Safe Is Greensboro Really?
Greensboro has a crime rate above the national and state averages.
It also has a crime rate higher than nearby Winston Salem, which is among the safest in the state.
For a few years, gun violence was rising, but it seems to be falling now.
In 2020, there were 54 shooting deaths in the city, and just 22 last year.
The crime rate remains high in the city, however.
There were 19 murders per 100,000 last year, which is far above the national average of 6.5.
One bright spot is the number of rapes, 32 per 100,000, which is below the national average of 38.
Assaults are about double the national average of 280 per 100,000.
Burglaries, theft, and auto theft are also about twice the national average.
In a large survey, 37 percent of residents said there is not a lot of crime, while 63 percent said there was.
A full 40 percent rated it as awful. Only 18 percent of residents felt safe walking alone outside at night.
Almost 60 percent said they would not feel safe at all at night outside by themselves.
Overall, the crime rate is 92 percent above the national average, and violent crime is 133 percent above the national average.
The tourist areas seem pretty safe though, as little crime is reported there.
Those areas are not large though.
There are larger areas of the city, such as downtown, and the west side, that have a significant amount of crime.
The tourist areas, while not the largest area of the city, are safe enough in the daytime.
How Does Greensboro Compare?
City | Safety Index |
---|---|
Greensboro | 77 |
Los Angeles | 56 |
Oakland | 57 |
New Orleans | 57 |
Baltimore | 56 |
Boston | 67 |
Washington DC | 56 |
Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 60 |
Vancouver (Canada) | 82 |
Useful Information
Visas
You will need a visa to enter the United States, but once in the country, you will not need it to get around. You will get your visa in your own country.
Currency
The U.S. Dollar is the standard currency. No other cash is accepted. You may use a credit card from any country. You may make the exchange at any bank, or the airport.
Weather
Summers can be hot and humid, so wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Winters can get cold and there is snow at times. In spring, the weather can change very fast.
Airports
There is an international airport a few miles from town. Taxis and buses are available for your hotels. There are also small regional airports with flights to cities in North Carolina.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is something worth buying and you hope you never use it. Having it will give you peace of mind, and some protection if things go wrong.
Greensboro Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High °C | 9 | 11 | 16 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 27 | 21 | 16 | 11 |
Low °C | -3 | -1 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
High °F | 48 | 52 | 61 | 72 | 79 | 86 | 88 | 86 | 81 | 70 | 61 | 52 |
Low °F | 27 | 30 | 37 | 46 | 57 | 64 | 68 | 66 | 61 | 48 | 37 | 32 |
North Carolina - Safety by City
City | Safety Index |
---|---|
Apex | 84 |
Asheville | 57 |
Boone | 82 |
Cary | 83 |
Chapel Hill | 81 |
Charlotte | 56 |
Cornelius | 75 |
Corolla | 81 |
Davidson | 82 |
Duck | 79 |
Durham | 84 |
Elizabeth City | 79 |
Gastonia | 61 |
Goldsboro | 46 |
Greensboro | 77 |
Hatteras | 82 |
Hickory | 68 |
High Point | 62 |
Hope Mills | 53 |
Kannapolis | 82 |
Kill Devil Hills | 77 |
Kitty Hawk | 79 |
Manteo | 75 |
Mooresville | 77 |
Morehead City | 78 |
New Bern | 77 |
Raleigh | 74 |
Rocky Mount | 52 |
Rodanthe | 85 |
Statesville | 78 |
Wilmington | 84 |
Winston-Salem | 47 |
And what caucasian wrote this 🤣🤣 because only 1 of those neighborhoods are bad. Most caucasians think all black neighborhoods are bad or scary or assume it is dangerous. Y’all need to stop believing everything you read. Never fear the people who’s back this country was built on. It’s so many unconsciously racist people that misunderstand black peoples motives. If you wake up you’d see those people you call black, aka the 9 ether are the true inheritances of the earth. Every gene starts from melanated people, and we are the new majority. Respect our royalties. Our spiritual gifts are all coming back, and our history and culture is being brought back and revealed.