Durham violent crime rate ranks 7th among like-sized Southeast cities

The Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau compiles the numbers to help local leaders put crime in perspective for visitors and newcomers.

Posted 9:31 p.m. Jul 9, 2008 — Updated 1:02 a.m. Jul 10, 2008

DURHAM, N.C. — Durham ranks below six comparably sized cities, including Greensboro, in violent crime per 100,000 people, the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau says in a new report.

The bureau used 2007 crime statistics to create the latest edition of its annual report, issued Wednesday.

When the city and county are taken together, the bureau said, the crime rate drops from 798 per 100,000 to 733, putting Winston-Salem higher.

The bureau said it developed the report with Durham police to provide civic, business and neighborhood leaders with annual information to put crime in perspective for visitors and newcomers.

The report covers 10 Southeastern cities and 29 nationally.

Raleigh is lowest in violent crime among the Southeastern communities.

Violent crime includes homicides, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

The list for 2007 crime is:

Chattanooga - 1,294
Columbia, SC - 1,267
Greensboro - 971
Richmond - 958
Norfolk, VA - 844
Ft. Lauderdale - 810
Durham (City Only) 798
Winston-Salem - 772
Durham (City and County) - 733
Savannah (includes Chatham County) - 633
Raleigh - 571

Durham City ranked 22nd for violent crime out of 29 cities nationwide. Raleigh and Mobile, Ala., tied for the lowest violent-crime ranking in cities surveyed.

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