The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Alabama


The most dangerous places in Alabama are Bessemer and Tarrant for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Most dangerous cities in Alabama research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data using Saturday Night Science to determine the most dangerous cities in Alabama.

We examined the violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 90 Alabama cities. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The most dangerous city in Alabama is Bessemer based on the most recent FBI crime data.

  • The violent crime rate in Alabama is 1,820 per 100k people.

  • The property crime rate in Alabama is 7,409 per 100k people.

  • The safest city in Alabama is Tuscumbia.

  • Alabama is the 12th most dangerous state in the United States.

Most Dangerous Cities In Alabama Map


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Methodology | FAQs | References


The Yellowhammer State is the 12th most dangerous state in the country, so no one should be too surprised that there are some very dangerous places in Alabama. And because we think it’s essential to provide transparent information to the public, we created a list of the most dangerous places in Alabama for 2024.

How did we determine the most dangerous places in Alabama? We consulted the FBI’s latest crime report for violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 90 Alabama cities.

The most dangerous cities in Alabama have crime rates that are anywhere from three to four times higher than the Alabama average.

The Most Dangerous Cities In Alabama For 2024

  1. Bessemer
  2. Tarrant
  3. Atmore
  4. Birmingham
  5. Anniston
  6. Dothan
  7. Alexander City
  8. Phenix City
  9. Clanton
  10. Mobile

What is the most dangerous place in Alabama for 2024? The most dangerous city in Alabama is Bessemer.

Some of Alabama’s most dangerous places are some of the states cheapest places to live. And cheaper cities like Tuscumbia and Hamilton are becoming less safe.

For more Alabama reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Alabama For 2024

Bessemer, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Bobak Ha’Eri | CC BY 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 25,265
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,820 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 7,409 (Second most dangerous)
Murders: 10
More on Bessemer: Data | Cost Of Living

Bessemer, the most dangerous place to live in Alabama, is plagued by high crime rates. With a population of 25,265, this city in Jefferson County has experienced 460 violent crimes, including 10 murders, 15 rapes, 75 robberies, and 360 aggravated assaults. The property crime rate is also alarmingly high, with 1,872 reported incidents.

While the city’s location in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area offers economic opportunities, it also attracts criminal activity. The presence of iron ore, coal, and limestone deposits historically led to a strong steelmaking industry. However, this prosperity has been marred by rising crime rates.

Tarrant, AL

Source: Wikipedia User | CC BY-SA 4.0

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 5,913
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,519 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,566 (Seventh most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Tarrant: Data | Cost Of Living

We’re heading just ten minutes north of Birmingham to reach Alabama’s second most dangerous place to call home, Tarrant.

You might want to padlock your picnic basket if you’re going for a day out at Greenwood Park because the city had the seventh highest property crime rate statewide.

That includes the 11th highest burglary rate in Alabama. All of which makes it easy to see why Tarrant featured on our list of Alabama’s worst cities.

Atmore, AL

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 8,536
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,487 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,276 (Ninth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Atmore: Data | Cost Of Living

Atmore, a city in Escambia County, Alabama, ranks as the third most dangerous place to live in the state. The crime statistics in Atmore are concerning, with a high number of violent crimes and property crimes. There were 127 incidents of violent crime reported. The property crime rate was also alarming, with 365 reported incidents, including 53 burglaries.

The city is currently working on economic development projects, such as the new Rivercane development along the I-65 corridor, which may help improve its residents’ overall safety and well-being.

Birmingham, AL

Source: Flickr User argusfoto | CC BY-ND 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 195,050
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,681 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,172 (Tenth most dangerous)
Murders: 142
More on Birmingham: Data | Cost Of Living

You didn’t think we forgot about Birmingham, did you? Alabama’s 3rd biggest city is also its fourth most dangerous.

Folks in Birmingham had a 1 in 59 chance of being the victim of an aggravated assault, rape, murder, or robbery in 2022, enough to give the city the third highest violent crime rate statewide. Including a shocking 142 murders.

Property crime is also all too common here, with 1,799 stolen cars reported in 2024. We just hope nobody steals a racecar from the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, or the police may have a tough time catching the guy.

All that being said, this is a big city, so if you stay away from Birmingham’s worst neighborhoods, you should be relatively safe.

Anniston, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Rivers Langley; SaveRivers | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 21,007
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 842 (12th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,483 (Third most dangerous)
Murders: 4
More on Anniston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Anniston may occupy the #5 position on this list, but it actually has the fourth highest overall crime rate in Alabama, outstripping the national average by over 300%.

Part of that is down to having the eighth highest burglary rate statewide. We just hope nobody’s planning a heist of one of Anniston’s museums.

The real issue in Anniston is violent crime, which ranks as the 12th highest worst in Alabama. That includes the 19th highest rate of rape cases and 19th highest murder rate. Overall, residents faced a 1 in 118 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in 2024.

Dothan, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Jillreading | GFDL

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 71,196
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,052 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,772 (14th most dangerous)
Murders: 14
More on Dothan: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Dothan, Alabama, is ranked as the sixth most dangerous place to live in the state for 2024. With a population of 71,196, Dothan has seen a total of 749 violent crimes reported, including 14 murders. The property crime rate is also a concern, with 2,686 crimes reported.

The location of Dothan in southeastern Alabama, near the borders of Georgia and Florida, may contribute to its crime rate due to its proximity to major highways and the state border.

Alexander City, AL

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 14,476
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 794 (15th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,628 (Sixth most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Alexander City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Alexander City, located in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, has unfortunately earned the reputation of being one of the most dangerous places to live in the state. The city’s crime statistics paint a concerning picture, with a total of 5,422/100k reported crimes per capita. This includes 794/100k violent crimes and 4,628/100k property crimes per capita.

Alexander City has experienced a notable number of murders, with 2 homicides reported. Additionally, the city has seen 115 cases of violent crimes, including rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Phenix City, AL

Source: Wikipedia User Shark96z at English Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 38,076
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 877 (Tenth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,697 (15th most dangerous)
Murders: 10
More on Phenix City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Phenix City, located in Lee County, Alabama, ranks as the eighth most dangerous place to live in the state. With a population of 38,076, this city faces significant crime challenges, with a total of 334 violent crimes reported. Property crime remains a pressing issue, with 1,408 incidents reported, including 186 burglaries.

Phenix City’s location plays a role in its safety challenges. Situated across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia, Phenix City’s economic ties to its neighboring city impact its safety dynamics.

Clanton, AL

Source: Flickr User ralph and jenny | CC BY 2.0

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 8,799
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 534 (24th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,466 (Eighth most dangerous)
Murders: 3
More on Clanton: Data | Cost Of Living

Clanton, the ninth most dangerous place to live in Alabama, has earned this ranking due to its concerning crime statistics. With a population of 8,799, the city has experienced 47 violent crimes, including 3 murders.

Situated in Chilton County, Clanton is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area and is near the geographic center of Alabama.

Mobile, AL

Source: Public domain

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 239,323
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 926 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,013 (25th most dangerous)
Murders: 41
More on Mobile: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Mobile, Alabama, is ranked as the tenth most dangerous place to live in the state. With a population of 239,323, Mobile has a high crime rate, particularly regarding violent crime. In 2024 alone, there were 2,218 incidents of violent crime reported, including 41 murders, 124 rapes, 135 robberies, and 1,918 aggravated assaults.

Crime By City In Alabama

Rank City Population Total Crimes Per 100K Violent Crimes Per 100K Property Crimes Per 100K Murders
1 Bessemer 25,265 9,230 1,820 7,409 10
2 Tarrant 5,913 7,086 2,519 4,566 0
3 Atmore 8,536 5,763 1,487 4,276 0
4 Birmingham 195,050 5,854 1,681 4,172 142
5 Anniston 21,007 6,326 842 5,483 4
6 Dothan 71,196 4,824 1,052 3,772 14
7 Alexander City 14,476 5,422 794 4,628 2
8 Phenix City 38,076 4,575 877 3,697 10
9 Clanton 8,799 5,000 534 4,466 3
10 Mobile 239,323 3,939 926 3,013 41
11 Gadsden 33,521 4,447 563 3,884 6
12 Brewton 5,251 3,694 876 2,818 0
13 Attalla 5,840 8,253 376 7,876 2
14 Demopolis 6,885 3,979 726 3,253 1
15 Andalusia 8,699 4,460 482 3,977 2
16 Jasper 14,312 5,149 419 4,730 1
17 Valley 10,475 4,181 515 3,665 4
18 Sylacauga 12,205 3,883 606 3,277 3
19 Ozark 14,299 3,958 524 3,433 0
20 Opelika 32,010 3,548 809 2,739 7
21 Tuscaloosa 101,280 3,519 637 2,882 12
22 Robertsdale 7,116 5,803 337 5,466 0
23 Monroeville 5,797 3,277 897 2,380 3
24 Florence 40,063 3,227 581 2,645 1
25 Hueytown 16,313 3,794 429 3,365 5
26 Lanett 6,716 3,201 506 2,695 0
27 Talladega 15,448 3,087 647 2,440 3
28 Jacksonville 13,025 2,917 921 1,996 0
29 Enterprise 29,936 3,009 574 2,435 1
30 Oneonta 6,798 4,133 279 3,854 0
31 Prichard 18,936 2,936 829 2,107 3
32 Arab 8,550 3,719 327 3,391 0
33 Eufaula 12,528 2,977 454 2,522 2
34 Tuskegee 8,600 2,465 953 1,511 8
35 Guntersville 8,858 3,431 327 3,104 1
36 Decatur 57,831 3,013 418 2,595 12
37 Troy 17,639 2,925 413 2,511 0
38 Selma 17,296 2,387 768 1,618 7
39 Lincoln 7,256 2,728 468 2,260 0
40 Muscle Shoals 16,917 2,801 360 2,441 0
41 Oxford 22,318 3,145 232 2,912 0
42 Opp 6,641 2,574 466 2,108 0
43 Wetumpka 7,317 3,567 164 3,403 1
44 Orange Beach 8,530 2,790 375 2,415 0
45 Irondale 13,528 2,823 280 2,542 0
46 Gulf Shores 16,274 2,752 331 2,421 1
47 Cullman 19,065 3,713 125 3,587 0
48 Bay Minette 8,000 2,125 512 1,612 0
49 Gardendale 16,861 2,532 361 2,170 0
50 Athens 28,438 2,897 207 2,690 1

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Alabama for 2024?

Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Alabama. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Alabama, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.

For our analysis, we focused on the 2022 data, specifically the 2022 Crime In The United States Report for Alabama.

So what criteria did we use? Have a look:

  • Violent Crimes Per Capita
  • Property Crimes Per Capita

In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Alabama cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 90 cities in Alabama.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 90 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.

Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.

Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Alabama — Bessemer. Any ties went to the smaller city.

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Alabama and is updated for 2024.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In Alabama FAQs

Yes, Alabama is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #12 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Alabama ranks 14th most dangerous in the United States — 22.65% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Heart of Dixie ranks 19th most dangerous in the United States — 9.33% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.

No, Huntsville is not a dangerous city. Huntsville ranks as the #55 safest out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Huntsville might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Huntsville ranks 239th highest in America — 46.02% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 275th highest in the United States — 44.8% better than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.

Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Alabama

Most Dangerous Cities In Alabama Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In Alabama

So what is the most dangerous city in Alabama? After analyzing 90 cities in Alabama, Bessemer takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Alabama based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2022.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Bessemer ranks as the most dangerous city in Alabama for 2024.

The most dangerous cities in Alabama are .

We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Bessemer and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.

What is the most dangerous place in Alabama for 2024? The most dangerous city in Alabama is Bessemer.

Some of Alabama’s most dangerous places are some of the states cheapest places to live. And cheaper cities like Tuscumbia and Hamilton are becoming less safe.

Learn more about the safest places in Alabama.

If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

Here are the safest cities in Alabama:

  1. Vestavia Hills (Pop. 38,515)
  2. Glencoe (Pop. 5,406)
  3. Headland (Pop. 5,320)
  4. Margaret (Pop. 5,685)
  5. Satsuma (Pop. 6,811)
  6. Mountain Brook (Pop. 21,910)
  7. Rainsville (Pop. 5,685)
  8. Southside (Pop. 9,524)
  9. Hamilton (Pop. 6,621)
  10. Tuscumbia (Pop. 9,081)

For more Alabama reading, check out:

References

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

8 thoughts on “The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Alabama

  1. So, with all the homicides and violent crimes in Birmingham, you mean to tell me that city is no where on the list? Somebody need to do a little more research

  2. Not from Alabama, but I visit the state a lot. I have never read a more poorly written article. It was a struggle to read!

  3. How can Fairfield be one of the best places for singles yet it is also one of the most dangerous places to live. Being single in an unsafe place is not appealing.

  4. Statistics can be misleading. Many of these “violent crimes” come from people who know each other and endless domestic disputes. Alcohol plays a huge role. Always has.

  5. Your list has Muscle Shoals above Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, and Huntsville. That alone shows how bad this list is.

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