New Hanover County is a coastal county in southeast North Carolina that is home to about 200,000 people. The county is home to Wilmington, the state’s biggest city and a major port. New Hanover County has a lot of great things about it, like a lot of history and culture.
However, it does have some safety and crime issues, just like any other place. FBI crime statistics from 2019 show that 25.1 serious crimes for every 100,000 people living in New Hanover County. The national average rate was 22.7 per 100,000 people, so this rate was higher. In 2019, there were 69.2 property crimes for every 100,000 people in the county.
This was a lot more than the national average of 35.4 crimes for every 100,000 people. The crime rates in different parts of the county can be very different. There are places where crime is more likely to happen than others, but overall, some places are better than others. With help from CrimeGrade.org and crime maps, here is a list of the five most dangerous areas in New Hanover County:
Wrightsville Beach
This South Carolina town on the coast, which borders New Hanover County, has about 2,600 people living in it and a lot of guests all year long. The town is very famous, but it has a big problem: it has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the county, with 1,176.5 crimes for every 100,000 people living there in 2019.
Carolina Beach
This beach town is on the coast and shares a border with New Hanover County and South Carolina. With a population of about 4,800, it offers a wide range of services and fun things to do for both locals and tourists. But it has a problem: it has one of the highest rates of property crime in the county, with 2,905.1 crimes per 100,000 people in 2019.
Boiling Spring Lakes
This neighborhood by Wilmington has about 5,400 people living in it. It is near Lake Norman, which is famous for its beautiful scenery and fun things to do. Even though it has these good points, it has one of the highest rates of severe crime in the county, which affects both men and women.
Topsail Beach
This beach town is on an island near the coast of North Carolina. It is next to New Hanover County and South Carolina. About 500 people live here, and surfers and boats like it a lot.
Southport
This town has about 2,400 people and is close to Wilmington. The old downtown area and the Seafood Festival that happens every year make it popular.
How Does The Crime Rate of New Hanover County Compare to Other Counties in North Carolina
New Hanover County has a lower crime rate than North Carolina and the whole country as a whole. The table below shows how the crime rates in New Hanover County relate to those in other North Carolina counties with about the same number of people.
It is safer in New Hanover County than in Brunswick, Columbus, Harnett, Moore, Onslow, and Pender counties. But it has more property crimes than all of them except Pender County.
| County | Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000) | Property Crime Rate (per 100,000) |
| New Hanover | 25 | 69 |
| Brunswick | 29 | 76 |
| Columbus | 30 | 76 |
| Harnett | 31 | 77 |
| Moore | 31 | 78 |
| Onslow | 32 | 79 |
| Pender | 33.2 | 80 |
Read More: Discover the 5 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Union County, North Carolina!
Summary
There are some dangerous places in New Hanover County, but there are also many safe neighborhoods that offer a good quality of life and lots of things to do for both locals and tourists.
Know what’s going on and stay alert to get the most out of your time here. It’s important to be aware of your surroundings and take steps to protect yourself from crime. Remember that not all places are safe for everyone.