Top 10 most dangerous cities in Alabama

Steeped in history and Southern tradition, this state offers a variety of cultural and natural attractions. Known for its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, it is home to significant landmarks such as the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. The diverse landscape ranges from the white sandy beaches of the Gulf Shores to the lush forests of the Appalachian foothills. Cities like Huntsville, with its U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and Mobile, known for its vibrant Mardi Gras celebrations, reflect the unique character of the state. However, amid its historical significance and natural beauty, certain areas face challenges in terms of safety. The most dangerous cities in Alabama are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where residents and visitors should remain vigilant. Despite these issues, Alabama's blend of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and Southern hospitality continues to attract those who appreciate its deep history and dynamic communities.

Within Alabama, the issue of safety remains a concern for both residents and visitors. Urban areas, in particular, tend to have higher crime rates compared to rural regions. The state’s efforts to address these concerns include community policing initiatives and various social programs aimed at reducing violence. Nevertheless, awareness and caution are advised, especially in the most dangerous cities in Alabama. These areas, while challenged by higher crime rates, also present opportunities for improvement and revitalization, showcasing the resilience and potential for positive change within the community.

Bessemer Population: 26,063 2,368 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 6.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 42 Total Crimes / 100k: 10,299

Bessemer, AL holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Alabama with 2,368 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,991), robbery (297), rape (44) and homicide (36) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 486% higher than the Alabama average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Atmore Population: 9,269 1,769 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 57 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,608

The second most dangerous city is Atmore. With a population of 9,269 and a violent crime rate that is 338% higher than the Alabama average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Atmore are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,769 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 57 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Birmingham Population: 210,928 1,549 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 65 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,113

Home to 210,928 residents, Birmingham, AL ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Alabama. Unfortunately for residents of Birmingham, crime is widespread, with more than 1,549 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 4.24 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 284% higher than the Alabama violent crime rate.

Prichard Population: 21,618 1,247 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.42 chance of being a victim: 1 in 80 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,811

With a violent crime rate that is 209% higher than the Alabama average, it's not hard to see why Prichard made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (182), assault (963), rape (27) and homicide (75). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Prichard more vulnerable to high crime.

Demopolis Population: 6,724 947 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.59 chance of being a victim: 1 in 106 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,913

The ongoing battle with crime in Demopolis, AL, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 947 and a 1 in 106 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Demopolis has a violent crime rate that is 135% higher than the Alabama average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Demopolis.

Dothan Population: 68,608 916 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.51 chance of being a victim: 1 in 109 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,304

Dothan, AL comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 916 per 100,000 people, which is 127% higher than the Alabama average. Dothan has a population of 68,608, which translates to 2.51 crimes per day and 1 in 109 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Dothan which are much safer than others.

Anniston Population: 21,518 904 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 111 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,928

A 1 in 111 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.48 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Anniston makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 904 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 124% higher than the Alabama average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (647), robbery (133), rape (76) and homicide (48).

Mobile Population: 189,994 902 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.47 chance of being a victim: 1 in 111 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,389

Mobile, AL is another one of the most dangerous cities in Alabama and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 189,994 and a violent crime rate of 902 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 790 counts of assault, 63 counts of robbery, 35 counts of rape and 14 counts of homicide. All told, the Mobile violent crime rate is 123% higher than the Alabama average.

Phenix City Population: 36,461 887 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 113 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,747

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Phenix City, AL comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Alabama with a violent crime rate of 887 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.43 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 113 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Jacksonville Population: 12,796 869 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.38 chance of being a victim: 1 in 115 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,600

Rounding out our list at #10 is Jacksonville, AL. With a population of 12,796 and a violent crime rate of 869 per 100,000 people (115% higher than the Alabama average), some parts of Jacksonville are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 814 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 55 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 115 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Alabama

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Bessemer	26,063	2,368	10,299
2	Atmore	9,269	1,769	5,608
3	Birmingham	210,928	1,549	6,113
4	Prichard	21,618	1,247	3,811
5	Demopolis	6,724	947	4,913
6	Dothan	68,608	916	4,304
7	Anniston	21,518	904	5,928
8	Mobile	189,994	902	3,389
9	Phenix City	36,461	887	4,747
10	Jacksonville	12,796	869	2,600
11	Talladega	15,405	848	4,307
12	Tuskegee	8,443	846	2,365
13	Selma	17,762	823	2,759
14	Alexander City	14,515	777	5,219
15	Brewton	5,210	771	5,380
16	Attalla	5,885	771	7,450
17	Enterprise	28,170	744	3,491
18	Semmes	5,780	713	7,404
19	Opelika	30,589	698	3,536
20	Bay Minette	9,297	694	2,824
21	Sylacauga	12,132	659	3,466
22	Lanett	6,220	629	3,476
23	Gadsden	35,224	629	4,515
24	Monroeville	5,812	594	2,760
25	Tuscaloosa	100,633	560	3,498
26	Hueytown	15,446	526	2,734
27	Florence	40,652	499	2,840
28	Chickasaw	5,757	497	2,484
29	Eufaula	11,878	493	3,167
30	Gulf Shores	12,550	490	2,643
31	Decatur	54,344	490	2,903
32	Troy	18,995	488	3,774
33	Guntersville	8,531	454	4,254
34	Orange Beach	6,130	453	2,636
35	Northport	25,970	433	2,276
36	Leeds	12,555	429	2,720
37	Greenville	7,478	425	4,181
38	Andalusia	8,719	422	4,268
39	Clanton	8,719	419	4,480
40	Valley	9,195	401	4,252
41	Jasper	13,584	393	4,795
42	Lincoln	6,805	389	2,949
43	Opp	6,405	388	2,745
44	Pell City	14,081	344	2,355
45	Robertsdale	6,776	323	2,749
46	Gardendale	14,021	318	2,732
47	Fultondale	9,247	303	2,766
48	Arab	8,405	298	3,788
49	Albertville	21,620	297	2,110
50	Millbrook	16,037	294	3,612

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Alabama is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Alabama cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.