Some places have charm.
Others have property crime rates triple the national average.
But here’s the deal: being historic doesn’t excuse having a 1 in 11 chance of becoming a crime victim.
These 20 towns prove that Spanish moss and high crime rates aren’t mutually exclusive.
1. Anniston, Alabama
Anniston tops the list with a violent crime rate of 2,992 per 100,000 people.
That’s 68% higher than the national average.
The city of 22,400 residents has one of the highest murder rates in the nation across all city sizes.
Residents face a 1 in 111 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime and a 1 in 20 chance of experiencing property crime.
The city’s struggles with crime have remained consistent over the past decade despite visible police presence.
Why It’s On This List: Anniston has 3,434 violent crimes per capita, making it safer than just 0% of U.S. cities.
2. Bessemer, Alabama
Bessemer ranks as Alabama’s most dangerous city with a crime rate of 102.49 per 1,000 residents.
The violent crime rate reaches 23.57 per 1,000 residents, six times the national median.
This Birmingham suburb has more than 1,400 reported thefts annually.
Property crime occurs at 78.92 per 1,000 residents, four times higher than the national median.
Gang violence drives 4.3 aggravated assaults per 1,000 people.
Crime Impact: Bessemer earned the title of America’s most dangerous city in 2023 and remains safer than 0% of U.S. cities.
3. Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham leads Alabama’s major cities with 14.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.
The city’s 196,644 residents face 52.6 property crimes per 1,000 people.
Downtown experiences frequent carjackings while the West Precinct accounts for 38% of shootings.
Economic disparities plague the city, with a 33% high school dropout rate correlating with elevated crime.
The estimated per capita crime cost reaches $11,392 for residents and businesses.
Safety Concern: Multiple mass shootings occurred in Birmingham during 2024, with crime bleeding into surrounding suburbs like Brighton.
4. Fairfield, Alabama
Fairfield’s crime rates exceed the Alabama average by 219%.
The small city of 11,039 residents reports crime rates 308% greater than the U.S. average.
Recent statistics show 1,181 violent crimes and 880 property crimes annually.
High poverty rates and limited employment opportunities fuel the city’s crime problems.
Fairfield ranks as the 34th worst place to live in the entire United States.
Dangerous Reality: Violent and property crimes have remained steady over the past few years with no significant improvement trends.
5. Selma, Alabama
Selma has a lengthy history of drug trade, crime, and gang violence.
The city of 20,276 residents experiences 13.70 violent crimes per 1,000 people.
Property crime reaches 105.05 incidents per 1,000 individuals.
Gang wars in the early 2000s resulted in numerous shootings that still impact the community.
Police presence remains sparse in specific areas of town, especially at night.
Progress Note: Crime has fallen 5% recently, making Selma just 7% safer than other U.S. cities, but challenges persist.
6. Mobile, Alabama
Mobile documents 11.5 violent crimes and 45.2 property crimes per 1,000 residents.
The city’s entertainment district sees 42% of all assault incidents.
Residents face a 1 in 115 chance of becoming a violent crime victim.
Property crime occurs at a rate of 25 per 1,000 population.
High-end security cameras at docks recently cut cargo theft by 22%.
Crime Hotspot: FBI data reported Mobile as one of America’s deadliest cities per capita, though targeted improvements show progress.
7. Prichard, Alabama
Prichard’s 22,475 residents face a crime index of 4,398.
The city experiences 1,511 violent crimes per 100,000 people.
Property crimes occur at 4,484 per 100,000 residents.
Economic challenges and unemployment drive much of the criminal activity.
The city struggles with limited resources for law enforcement and community programs.
Regional Impact: As a Mobile suburb, Prichard shares similar crime patterns but with concentrated poverty affecting smaller neighborhoods.
8. Lanett, Alabama
Lanett has a crime rate three times higher than the national average.
The tiny town of 6,200 residents faced gang violence and gang wars 20 years ago.
Local government focused on removing gang presence in the early 2010s.
Violent crime has increased recently despite the lack of gang activity.
Residents have a 1 in 11 chance of becoming crime victims.
Neighborhood Safety: Crowds gather in alleyways and on street corners at night, making staying home the safer option.
9. Tarrant, Alabama
Tarrant’s 6,331 residents experience a crime index of 4,399.
The small city faces challenges with both violent and property crimes.
Economic decline has created conditions that fuel criminal activity.
Limited job opportunities contribute to the city’s ongoing safety issues.
The crime rate significantly exceeds both state and national averages.
Economic Link: Tarrant’s industrial decline mirrors other Alabama cities where job losses directly correlate with rising crime rates.
10. Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery has a crime rate of 32 per 1,000 residents.
The state capital experiences violent crime at one of the nation’s highest rates.
Residents face a 1 in 175 chance of becoming violent crime victims.
Property crimes occur at 26 per 1,000 population, with a 1 in 38 victim chance.
Car break-ins jumped almost 36% compared to the previous year.
Rising Trend: Montgomery has one of the highest motor vehicle theft rates in the nation, with robberies at businesses up 180% year over year.
11. Gadsden, Alabama
Gadsden has 33,229 residents and an overall crime rate of 44.93 per 1,000 people.
The violent crime rate reaches 6.26 per 1,000 residents.
Property crimes occur at 38.67 per 1,000 residents, twice the national median.
Annual reports show 4 murders, 13 rapes, 28 robberies, and 163 assaults.
Residents face a 1 in 160 chance of becoming violent crime victims.
Property Crime Alert: The property crime rate is double the national median, with vehicle thefts and burglaries being particularly common.
12. Dothan, Alabama
Dothan reports 3,069 total crimes with an overall rate of 43.07 per 1,000 residents.
The violent crime rate stands at 9.16 per 1,000 people.
Residents have a 1 in 109 chance of experiencing violent crime.
Property crimes reach 33.90 per 1,000 residents with victim chances at 1 in 29.
The city struggles with theft and burglary problems affecting businesses and homes.
Crime Statistics: With 71,239 residents, Dothan’s crime rates remain consistently higher than state averages despite recent enforcement efforts.
13. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa has 111,338 residents and a crime rate of 37.61 per 1,000 people.
The violent crime rate is 5.84 per 1,000 residents, 46% higher than the national median.
Property crimes occur at 31.77 per 1,000 residents.
Recent improvements show a 38% reduction in criminal homicides year over year.
Robbery and carjacking incidents dropped by 32% in 2025.
Positive Trend: Tuscaloosa saw significant crime reductions in 2025 due to increased police presence and community policing initiatives.
14. Alexander City, Alabama
Alexander City has one of the highest crime rates in America at 52 per 1,000 residents.
The violent crime rate ranks among the nation’s highest across all community sizes.
Residents face a 1 in 128 chance of becoming violent crime victims.
Property crime chances reach 1 in 22, with 45 incidents per 1,000 people.
Motor vehicle theft rates rank among the nation’s highest at 1 in 337 chance.
Vehicle Theft Problem: Alexander City experiences exceptionally high car theft rates compared to cities of all sizes nationwide.
15. Phenix City, Alabama
Phenix City’s violent crime rate ranks among the nation’s highest.
Residents have a 1 in 114 chance of becoming violent crime victims.
The city experiences one of the higher murder rates nationally.
Property crime occurs at 38 per 1,000 residents with victim chances at 1 in 26.
The city sits on the Georgia border, creating unique law enforcement challenges.
Border Challenges: Its location along the Chattahoochee River across from Columbus, Georgia complicates crime enforcement and tracking.
16. Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee has 8,624 residents with a crime rate 6.1% higher than the national average.
The violent crime rate reaches 953 per 100,000 people, 157.8% above the national average.
Murder rates stand at 93 per 100,000 residents, one of the nation’s highest.
Assault crimes occur at 742 per 100,000 people, nearly triple the national rate.
Residents face a 1 in 105 chance of becoming violent crime victims.
Murder Rate Concern: Tuskegee ranks in the bottom 10% of all U.S. cities for safety with exceptionally high murder rates.
17. Troy, Alabama
Troy has 17,836 residents with a crime rate of 40 per 1,000 people.
The city ranks as Alabama’s fourth most dangerous city.
Violent crime chances reach 1 in 196 while property crime hits 1 in 29.
Troy experiences one of the higher murder rates nationwide for cities its size.
More than 91% of Alabama communities have lower crime rates than Troy.
College Town Danger: Despite being home to Troy University, the city struggles with violent crime rates exceeding most similarly sized communities.
18. Opelika, Alabama
Opelika has 30,589 residents with a violent crime rate of 7.0 per 1,000 people.
The city experiences 1 in 143 chances of violent crime victimization.
Property crimes reach 28 per 1,000 residents with 1 in 35 victim chances.
Opelika ranks sixth for murders per capita in Alabama.
Residents had a 1 in 14 chance of being crime victims in recent years.
Murder Statistics: The city’s murder rate ranks among the highest in Alabama, significantly impacting overall safety perceptions.
19. Talladega, Alabama
Talladega had the fifth highest property crime rate in Alabama in recent years.
The city experiences over 2,300 burglaries per 100,000 residents.
Violent crime rates rank 13th per capita statewide.
Theft accounts for the majority of property crimes reported annually.
The city ranks sixth for total crimes per capita across Alabama.
Burglary Problem: Talladega’s burglary rate significantly exceeds state averages, making home security a major concern for residents.
20. Jasper, Alabama
Jasper has a violent crime rate higher than most American communities.
Residents face a 1 in 258 chance of violent crime victimization.
Property crimes occur at 43 per 1,000 residents with 1 in 23 victim chances.
Motor vehicle theft ranks among the nation’s highest rates.
Car theft chances reach 1 in 219 for Jasper residents.
Auto Theft Warning: Jasper has one of America’s highest motor vehicle theft rates, requiring extra security precautions for vehicle owners.