When it comes to crime, Alabama has definitely seen its fair share. Sure, this wonderful state is home to many quiet towns that are reminiscent of Mayberry. However, it’s also home to many of the most dangerous towns in Alabama, where a variety of criminal activities take place. RoadSnacks.net researched the most current FBI data to find out the most dangerous cities in Alabama. For this analysis, RoadSnacks.net referred to the second release of the FBI’s 2019 data, Uniform Crime Report. It is one of two data sets released by the bureau annually. However, according to the report, Alabama did not submit data to the FBI for 2019, and the 2018 data was used for the report and for this story. According to the findings, the following 10 cities are considered to be the most dangerous in Alabama. Keep in mind, only cities with a population of more than 5,000 residents were used to compile this list.
1. Fairfield-2022 Population 10,749 | Median Income $41,439 | Poverty Rate 23.7%
Fairfield City Council Office, 4701 Gary Ave, Fairfield, AL 35064, USA
Fairfield is a city in western Jefferson County, and a part of the Birmingham metropolitan area. It is located southeast of Pleasant Grove. In 2018, eight murders took place in the city of Fairfield, giving it the highest murder rate statewide. Residents had a 1-in-47 chance of being attacked, raped, robbed, murdered, or a victim of aggravated assault. This statistic earned the city a Violent Crime Rank of 3. The Property Crime Rank is 1, with two crimes a day and five burglaries a week.
2. Anniston-2022 Population 21,518 | Median Income $41,439 | Poverty Rate 21.3%
Anniston City Hall 4309 McClellan Boulevard, Anniston, Alabama 36206
This Calhoun County city had the highest overall crime rate, violent crime rate and the second-highest burglary rates in the state, in 2018. Residents of Anniston had a 1-in-33 chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime, earning a Violent Crime Rank of 1. And folks had a 1-in-13 chance of being a victim of a property crime, with a Property Crime Rank of 3.
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3. Lanett-2022 Population 6,220 | Median Income $34,785 | Poverty Rate 22.6%
Lanett City Hall 401 North Lanier Avenue Lanett, AL 36863-2019
Lanett, in Chambers County, is located on Interstate-85 on the shores of the Chattahoochee River on the Alabama-Georgia line. In 2018, Lanett averaged slightly under one larceny case a day and about one rape case per month. This earned the city the highest rate of rape cases in Alabama. Zero murders took place that year. One-in-71 people had a chance of being a victim of violent crime, and 1-in-13 of property crime.
The Property Crime Rank is 2 and the Violent Crime Rank is 9.
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4. Birmingham-2022 Population 210,928|Median Income $38,832|Poverty Rate 24.7%
Birmingham City Hall, 710 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203, USA
Sitting in Jefferson County, Alabama's second biggest city is no stranger to crime. In 2018, 1-in-52 residents of Birmingham was a victim of violent crime, with a staggering 88 murders, totaling a Violent Crime Rank of 4. And 1-in-16 was a victim of property crime, with 1,752 stolen cars reported, giving a Property Crime Rank of 7.
5. Tarrant-2022 Population 6,216 | Median Income $34,032 | Poverty Rate 29.1%
Tarrant City Hall 1133 East Lake Blvd | Tarrant, AL 35217
This city in Jefferson County borders Birmingham to the north. In 2018, Tarrant shows a 1-in-57 chance of being a victim of violent crime, earning a Violent Crime Rank of 6. A 1-in-17 chance of being a victim of property crime, gave a Property Crime Rank of 8.
Gadsden, in Etowah County, is located on the Coosa River about 56 miles northeast of Birmingham. Today, 1-in-5 homes here is vacant, and as a result, the people in the populated homes have to deal with high burglary rates. Overall, folks in 2018 had a 1-in-14 chance of being the victim of larceny, car theft, burglary, or arson. Residents also had a 1 in 14 chance of being a victim of property crime, with a Property Crime Rank of 5. A 1-in-95 chance of violent crime brought the
Violent Crime Rank to 12.
7. Troy-2022 Population 18,995 | Median Income $34,603 | Poverty Rate 26.4%
Troy City Hall, 306 E Academy St, Troy, AL 36081, USA
Pike County is home to Troy, where in 2018 its residents faced a 1-in-63 chance of being the victim of a violent crime, and a 1-in-20 chance of being the victim of a property crime. The Violent Crime Rank is 7, and the Property Crime Rank is 14.
8. Andalusia-2022 Population 8,719 | Median Income $41,410 | Poverty Rate 19.7%
As of 2018, Andalusia, in Covington County, is the least violent city on the list. Residents here have a 1-in-107 chance of being the victim of a violent crime, and a 1-in-19 chance of being the victim of a property crime. The town experienced one larceny each day. The Violent Crime Rank is 16, and the Property Crime Rank is 10.
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9.
Greenville
-2022 population 7,478 | Median Income $41,012 | Poverty Rate 23.3%
Greenville City Hall, 119 E Commerce St, Greenville, AL 36037, USA
The city of Greenville, in Butler County, boasts the lowest crime rate on this list. Residents had a 1-in-69 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in 2018, with about 95% of those aggravated assaults. They also had a 1-in-22 chance of being victims of property crime. The
Violent Crime Rank is 8, with a Property Crime Rank of 20.
10. Lincoln- 2022 Population 6,805 | Median Income 63,824 | Poverty Rate 11.7%
Lincoln City Hall 150 Magnolia Street Lincoln, Alabama 35096
In 2018, residents of Lincoln, in Talladega County, had a 1-in-95 chance of being violently attacked, and a 1-in-20 chance of being the victim of a property crime. The
Violent Crime Rank is 13, and the Property Crime Rank is 16.
For a closer look at how this list of the most dangerous cities in Alabama was compiled, have a look here and scroll to the bottom. As you can see, Alabama is no stranger to danger, and hopefully this list of the most dangerous places to avoid will help. Do you live in one of these dangerous cities? Did any of the cities on this list surprise you? Share your thoughts with us! For a list of Alabama’s safest cities, have a look here.
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More to Explore
Most dangerous towns in Alabama
Carolyn Harmon|April 19, 2022
What are some of the most dangerous towns in Alabama?
The city of Gadsden has a high burglary rate, due to the fact that 1-in-5 homes there are vacant. And in 2018, Lanett averaged slightly under one larceny case a day and about one rape case per month, earning the city the highest rate of rape cases in the state. Alabama's second biggest city, Birmingham, is no stranger to crime either. In 2018, 1-in-52 residents was a victim of violent crime, with a staggering 88 murders, totaling a Violent Crime Rank of 4.
What are some dangerous places to avoid in Alabama?
Fairfield is a city in western Jefferson County, and a part of the Birmingham metropolitan area. In 2018, eight murders took place there, giving it the highest murder rate statewide. Over in Calhoun County, Anniston has the highest overall crime rate in 2018. And Lanett, in Chambers County, earned the state's highest rate of rape cases in 2018, with about one per month.
