New report reveals differences in violent crime trends across the Triad, High Country

A new report from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety shows significant differences in violent crime trends across Forsyth, Guilford, and Watauga Counties.

In Forsyth, violent crime declined by 16% last year, bringing the rate to 484 incidents per 100,000 residents. That is significantly higher than the statewide average of 312.  Still, the county appears to be on the right track in some areas — Forsyth also reported a five-year low in firearm-related emergency room visits. 

Guilford County’s numbers have remained relatively stable, rising just 1% in 2023, the most recent year available in the research. The report analyzed more than 2,500 incidents, with most classified as aggravated assaults and robberies.

In both Triad counties, firearms were major drivers of violence. The study shows guns were involved in roughly 80% of homicides over the past decade. 

Watauga County, with a much smaller population, saw a 21% increase in violent crime. But the total number of reported incidents remained low at just 46. That’s a fraction of the thousands recorded in Guilford and Forsyth. 

More detailed data for all of North Carolina’s 100 counties is available on the NCDPS website.