National city homicide rankings are out. Where do Raleigh and Durham stand?

Aaron Sánchez-Guerra
·2 min read

A study looking at criminal homicides during the first quarter of the past three years has put Durham sixth in the nation for killings.

Durham’s 4.66 homicides per 100,000 people in the first three months of this year and how that number compared to the first quarter during the previous two years placed it at No. 6 on the list of 45 cities, data from the U.S. Census Bureau and local crime statistics show.

Durham ranked just below Detroit and above Dallas, according to the rankings published Wednesday by personal finance website WalletHub, which bills itself as providing “honest and straightforward” data-based reviews for consumers.

Durham’s homicide ranking was based on:

▪ 4.66 homicides per 100,000 people in the first quarter of 2023. Durham ranked 14th on this figure alone.

▪ An increase of 1.79 homicides per 100,000 since the first quarter of 2022 and also since 2021. Durham ranked third and fourth on these figures alone, respectively.

In comparison, Raleigh ranked 41st for its comparatively low 0,87 first quarter homicide rate, combined with its decrease in homicides from the first quarters of the previous two years.

Overall reported violent crime in Durham, however, fell 10% last year, Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews recently told the City Council.

Last year, there were:

▪ 45 homicides (down 8%)

▪ 135 rapes (up 11%)

▪ 574 robberies (up 8%)

▪ 1,171 aggravated assaults (down 18%)

Fewer people being shot in Durham

There have been 16 homicides, including 15 fatal shootings, in Durham this year (as of April 15), according to Durham Police Department crime statistics published online.

There were 45 homicides in the city in 2022 and a possible record 50 homicides in 2021.

Fewer people have been shot so far this year: 55 as of April 15, compared to 76 and 63 by the same date during the previous two years, respectively.

Arrests have been made in more than three-quarters, or 76%, of all Durham homicides as of March 31 this year, according to data requested by The News & Observer.

Mary Helen Moore contributed to this report.

Source: WalletHub