B
23%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
64%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
39%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleDecatur/100k peopleGeorgia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime691n/a (estimate)2,8482,0582,324
Murder1n/a4.18.26.3
Rape8n/a33.036.440.0
Robbery10n/a41.243.666.1
Assault13n/a53.6278.8268.2
Violent crime32n/a (estimate)132367370
Burglary44n/a181.4217.8269.8
Theft573n/a2,362.01,266.51,401.9
Vehicle theft42n/a173.1206.5282.7
Property crime659n/a (estimate)2,7171,6911,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Decatur, GA

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Decatur is 22.6% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 32 violent crimes reported in Decatur, equivalent to 132 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average by 64.3%. Additionally, Decatur recorded 659 property crimes, amounting to 2717 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 39%.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Decatur?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Decatur. Based on the results of the surveys (41 responses), 29% of people felt that there was very little crime in Decatur and felt safe walking alone at night. While 71% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Decatur a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Decatur, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Decatur presents a total crime rate that is 23% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Decatur experiences an average of 1.89 daily crimes, comprising 0.09 violent incidents and 1.81 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in Decatur Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Decatur. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Decatur has increased by 6.1%. Violent crimes have decreased by 44.8%, while property crimes have increased by 11.1%. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, authorities and communities can identify trends and patterns in criminal activity. This helps in understanding whether crime is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable over time.

Potential Causes for Crime in Decatur

The economic prosperity of a city's inhabitants exerts substantial influence on crime stats. Elevated poverty rates and income inequality can precipitate heightened criminal activity, as individuals may turn to illicit means to fulfill their fundamental requirements. While lower poverty rates could lead to lower Decatur crime rates. In Decatur, the poverty rate stands at 8.3%, diverging from the national average of 15.1%.

If employment opportunities are limited or if many jobs offer low wages, it can lead to higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, which could lead to an increase in Decatur crime rates. Areas where individuals struggle with unemployment or low wages, may be more susceptible to an increase in criminal activities as a result of financial insecurity. While lower rates of unemployment or a surplus of job opportunities could lead to a decrease in crime as their basic needs are being met. Decatur has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, compared to a national average of 4.7%.

The quality of housing and neighborhood conditions can influence crime rates. Neglected or run-down neighborhoods with poorly maintained properties may be more susceptible to criminal activities. In areas with housing affordability challenges, crime can emerge as a prominent issue. Certain individuals and families may find themselves residing in cramped or inadequate housing settings, amplifying stress levels and potentially fostering domestic conflicts and associated criminal incidents. It's worth noting that the median home price in Decatur stands at $547,300, a contrast to the national average of $184,700.

Decatur crime map



The Decatur crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Decatur as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Decatur crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Decatur crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Decatur, GA Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Decatur crime rates are 23% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Decatur are 64% lower than the national average
      • In Decatur you have a 1 in 36 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Decatur is safer than 46% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Decatur has increased by 15%

      Decatur, GA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Decatur

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        Daily Crime In Decatur (per 100,000 people)

        The graph above looks at the comparison of crimes committed in Decatur on a daily basis (per 100,000 people) to crimes committed throughout the state of Georgia and the USA. According to the latest crime statistics, daily crimes in Decatur (which include property crimes as well as violent crimes), when compared to Georgia, are 1.38 times more than the state average and 1.23 times more than than national average. Violent crimes committed in Decatur on a daily basis are 2.78 times less than than Georgia average and 2.80 times less than the average nationwide. Daily property crime rates in Decatur are 1.61 times more than the daily state average and 1.39 times more than the daily national numbers.

        How Safe is Decatur (higher is better)

        Are people any safer living in Decatur in comparison to other Georgia communities and all other areas throughout the United States? When we look at all cities across America, is Decatur safe? The evidence provided by these graphs show Decatur being safer than 56% of cities in Georgia and 46% of cities across the United States. This is evident by tracking Georgia cities as well as all US cities over a one year period to contrast crime statistics as they relate to Decatur. In conclusion, Decatur ranks below average compared to the rest of the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Decatur

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Decatur is 1 in 759
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Decatur is 1 in 37
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Decatur is 1 in 36
        Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In Decatur, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 759. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 37 chance of being the victim of a property crime such as vehicle theft, personal property theft, and burglary. Your overall risk of becoming a crime victim in Decatur is 1 in 36.

        Year Over Year Crime In Decatur (per 100,000 people)

        A good indicator of whether Decatur is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Decatur has decreased by 40%, while the property crime rate in Decatur has increased by 21% year over year. The number of total crimes in Decatur has increased by 15% year over year.

        Decatur police department

        Item Decatur Georgia National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)4811,364558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.44.03.3
        There are a total of 48 Decatur police officers. This results in 2.4 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 38.6% less than the Georgia average and 25.3% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Georgia

        State Total offenders Georgia /100K National /100K
        Georgia23,117275266
        There are a total of 23,117 sex offenders in Georgia. This yields a total of 275 sex offenders in Georgia per 100,000 residents which is 3% greater than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Berkeley Lake, GA2,32452237289
        Avondale Estates, GA3,14270322392
        Vinings, GA12,546140644784
        Druid Hills, GA8,525140644784
        North Decatur, GA15,833150690840
        North Druid Hills, GA18,074150690840
        Mountain Park city, GA638152702855
        Decatur, GA24,8141322,7172,848

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Paris, TX24,8147752,6653,440
        Hazleton, PA24,8044242,2452,669
        Clinton, MS24,797931,1001,193
        Ardmore, OK24,8348802,8883,768
        Rosemount, MN24,79247567614
        Decatur, GA24,8141322,7172,848
        Source: The Decatur, GA crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.