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Apex, North Carolina: Population Growth Outpaces Modest Rise in Violent Crime
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Apex, located in North Carolina, has experienced significant population growth in recent years, reaching 71,064 residents in 2022. This analysis examines the violent crime trends in the city from 2011 to 2022, during which time the total number of violent crimes increased by 50%, from 24 in 2011 to 36 in 2022. Despite this increase, it's important to note that the population grew substantially over the same period, potentially affecting crime rates per capita.
Murder trends in the city have remained relatively stable and low over the years. From 2011 to 2022, there were only two reported murders: one in 2016 and one in 2020. This translates to an extremely low murder rate per 1,000 people, effectively zero for most years. The percentage of state murders attributed to the city was 0.38% in 2016 and 0.19% in 2020, indicating that Apex contributes minimally to North Carolina's overall murder statistics.
Rape incidents have shown some fluctuation over the years. In 2011, there were 2 reported rapes, representing 0.17% of the state's total. By 2022, this number had increased to 11, accounting for 0.58% of the state's rapes. The rate per 1,000 people increased from approximately 0.03 in 2011 to 0.15 in 2022. This uptick suggests a need for increased awareness and prevention efforts in the community.
Robbery trends have been relatively consistent, with some fluctuations. In 2011, there were 8 robberies, representing 0.11% of the state's total. By 2022, this number had increased slightly to 9, accounting for 0.18% of the state's robberies. The rate per 1,000 people actually decreased from approximately 0.11 in 2011 to 0.13 in 2022, due to the significant population growth outpacing the increase in robberies.
Aggravated assault cases have shown an overall increase, though with some variability. In 2011, there were 14 reported cases, representing 0.11% of the state's total. By 2022, this number had increased to 16, but the percentage of state crimes decreased to 0.07%. The rate per 1,000 people decreased from approximately 0.20 in 2011 to 0.23 in 2022, again due to the population growth outpacing the increase in assaults.
When examining correlations between violent crime trends and other factors, a notable relationship emerges with population density. As the population density increased to 2,835 people per square mile in 2022, there was a corresponding increase in the total number of violent crimes. This suggests that the growing urbanization of Apex may be contributing to the rise in violent crime incidents.
Applying predictive models to forecast violent crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), it's projected that the total number of violent crimes may continue to increase modestly, potentially reaching around 45-50 incidents annually. However, this increase is expected to be proportionally lower than the anticipated population growth, potentially resulting in a decreasing per capita crime rate.
In summary, Apex has experienced an increase in violent crimes that appears to be largely in proportion with its significant population growth. While the absolute numbers have risen, the per capita rates for most crime categories have remained relatively stable or even decreased. The city's contribution to state-wide crime statistics remains low, particularly for serious offenses like murder. As Apex continues to grow, maintaining focus on community-based crime prevention strategies will be crucial to manage the modest upward trend in violent crime incidents while ensuring the safety and security of its expanding population.
