Top 10 most dangerous cities in Georgia

Georgia, a state known for its Southern hospitality and rich cultural heritage, offers a diverse range of attractions. From the historic city of Savannah with its cobblestone streets and antebellum architecture to the bustling metropolis of Atlanta, Georgia provides a unique blend of old-world charm and modern amenities. The state's natural beauty is evident in locations such as the Blue Ridge Mountains and the coastal islands. However, despite its many positives, Georgia faces safety challenges in certain areas. The most dangerous cities in Georgia are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, indicating regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Georgia's cultural richness and urban crime issues highlights the state's diverse landscape.

Addressing safety concerns in Georgia involves a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs designed to reduce violence and improve public safety. These initiatives are crucial in tackling the safety issues that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Georgia. While these areas present significant challenges, they also showcase the potential for positive change and community revitalization. Georgia's ongoing efforts to improve safety, coupled with its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, continue to make it an appealing place to live and visit. The balance between addressing safety concerns and promoting the state's numerous attractions reflects Georgia's commitment to fostering a secure and vibrant community.

Cordele Population: 10,600 1,712 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 4.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 58 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,476
Cordele, GA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Georgia with 1,712 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,541), robbery (111), rape (30) and homicide (30) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 367% higher than the Georgia 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.
College Park Population: 14,479 1,559 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 4.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 64 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,759
The second most dangerous city is College Park. With a population of 14,479 and a violent crime rate that is 325% higher than the Georgia average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in College Park are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,559 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 64 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.
Brunswick Population: 16,231 1,392 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 3.82 chance of being a victim: 1 in 72 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,928
Home to 16,231 residents, Brunswick, GA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Georgia. Unfortunately for residents of Brunswick, crime is widespread, with more than 1,392 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.82 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 279% higher than the Georgia violent crime rate.
Griffin Population: 22,724 1,337 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 3.66 chance of being a victim: 1 in 75 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,928
With a violent crime rate that is 264% higher than the Georgia average, it's not hard to see why Griffin made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (38), assault (1,211), rape (59) and homicide (29). 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 Griffin more vulnerable to high crime.
Americus Population: 15,319 1,246 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 3.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 80 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,909
The ongoing battle with crime in Americus, GA, 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 1,246 and a 1 in 80 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Americus has a violent crime rate that is 240% higher than the Georgia 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 Americus.
Newnan Population: 40,227 1,213 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 3.32 chance of being a victim: 1 in 82 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,253
Newnan, GA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,213 per 100,000 people, which is 231% higher than the Georgia average. Newnan has a population of 40,227, which translates to 3.32 crimes per day and 1 in 82 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 Newnan which are much safer than others.
Fort Valley Population: 8,817 1,196 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 3.28 chance of being a victim: 1 in 84 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,617
A 1 in 84 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.28 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Fort Valley makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,196 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 226% higher than the Georgia average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (984), robbery (134), rape (22) and homicide (56).
Fitzgerald Population: 8,747 1,138 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 3.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,134
Fitzgerald, GA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Georgia and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 8,747 and a violent crime rate of 1,138 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 1,060 counts of assault, 22 counts of robbery, 45 counts of rape and 11 counts of homicide. All told, the Fitzgerald violent crime rate is 210% higher than the Georgia average.
Garden City Population: 8,957 1,034 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 2.83 chance of being a victim: 1 in 97 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,752
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, Garden City, GA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Georgia with a violent crime rate of 1,034 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.83 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 97 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.
Forest Park Population: 19,884 898 violent crimes per 100k
violent crimes per day: 2.46 chance of being a victim: 1 in 111 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,728
Rounding out our list at #10 is Forest Park, GA. With a population of 19,884 and a violent crime rate of 898 per 100,000 people (145% higher than the Georgia average), some parts of Forest Park are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 581 counts of assault, 230 counts of robbery, 77 counts of rape and 10 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 111 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Georgia

Rank Location Population Violent Crimes /100k Total Crimes /100k 
1 Cordele 10,600 1,712 6,476
2 College Park 14,479 1,559 8,759
3 Brunswick 16,231 1,392 6,928
4 Griffin 22,724 1,337 4,928
5 Americus 15,319 1,246 4,909
6 Newnan 40,227 1,213 3,253
7 Fort Valley 8,817 1,196 4,617
8 Fitzgerald 8,747 1,138 5,134
9 Garden City 8,957 1,034 4,752
10 Forest Park 19,884 898 5,728
11 Waycross 13,638 888 5,429
12 Rome 36,518 844 4,759
13 Waynesboro 5,453 843 3,551
14 Atlanta 497,642 841 4,589
15 Moultrie 14,086 837 5,452
16 Milledgeville 18,526 830 5,409
17 Vidalia 10,380 751 5,893
18 Covington 14,113 749 4,426
19 Warner Robins 76,967 717 4,376
20 Morrow 7,061 678 9,564
21 Bainbridge 12,200 666 4,663
22 Douglasville 33,035 658 5,709
23 LaGrange 30,494 656 5,024
24 Columbus 195,418 630 2,981
25 Hinesville 33,304 621 3,270
26 Cedartown 10,062 596 2,876
27 Gainesville 41,464 557 3,340
28 Chamblee 29,874 527 2,827
29 Eastman 5,110 506 5,182
30 Norcross 16,876 496 3,976
31 Cartersville 21,331 481 2,812
32 Clarkston 12,747 480 2,798
33 Brookhaven 54,727 464 2,717
34 Thomaston 8,771 454 3,151
35 Doraville 10,244 447 5,078
36 Marietta 60,687 440 2,912
37 Thomasville 18,530 430 4,348
38 Stone Mountain 6,376 397 2,538
39 Carrollton 26,857 374 3,017
40 Lawrenceville 30,125 372 2,329
41 Dalton 33,515 371 2,836
42 Toccoa 8,328 369 3,743
43 McDonough 25,572 361 2,713
44 Cairo 9,395 355 2,676
45 Winder 17,054 350 1,984
46 Valdosta 56,320 350 2,639
47 Smyrna 56,333 341 2,017
48 Albany 72,634 334 1,090
49 Monroe 13,568 328 3,327
50 Fairburn 15,956 317 1,640

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Georgia 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 Georgia 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.