Top 10 most dangerous cities in Georgia

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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.

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Americus Population: 15,319 1,654 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.53 chance of being a victim: 1 in 60 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,585

Americus, GA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Georgia with 1,654 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,467), robbery (90), rape (64) and homicide (32) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 408% 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 1,387 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 72 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,731

The second most dangerous city is College Park. With a population of 14,479 and a violent crime rate that is 326% 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 1,387 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 72 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

East Point Population: 35,031 1,204 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 83 Total Crimes / 100k: 7,870

Home to 35,031 residents, East Point, GA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Georgia. Unfortunately for residents of East Point, crime is widespread, with more than 1,204 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.30 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 270% higher than the Georgia violent crime rate.

Moultrie Population: 14,086 1,162 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.18 chance of being a victim: 1 in 86 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,070

With a violent crime rate that is 257% higher than the Georgia average, it's not hard to see why Moultrie made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (124), assault (969), rape (55) and homicide (14). 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 Moultrie more vulnerable to high crime.

Cordele Population: 10,600 1,106 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.03 chance of being a victim: 1 in 90 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,327

The ongoing battle with crime in Cordele, 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 1,106 and a 1 in 90 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Cordele 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 Cordele.

Waycross Population: 13,638 1,033 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.83 chance of being a victim: 1 in 97 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,061

Waycross, GA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,033 per 100,000 people, which is 217% higher than the Georgia average. Waycross has a population of 13,638, which translates to 2.83 crimes per day and 1 in 97 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 Waycross which are much safer than others.

Griffin Population: 22,724 965 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 104 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,287

A 1 in 104 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.65 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Griffin makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 965 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 196% higher than the Georgia average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (780), robbery (91), rape (83) and homicide (12).

Albany Population: 72,634 824 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.26 chance of being a victim: 1 in 121 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,432

Albany, GA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Georgia and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 72,634 and a violent crime rate of 824 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 686 counts of assault, 53 counts of robbery, 59 counts of rape and 26 counts of homicide. All told, the Albany violent crime rate is 153% higher than the Georgia average.

Garden City Population: 8,957 811 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.22 chance of being a victim: 1 in 123 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,024

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 811 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.22 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 123 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Rome Population: 36,518 782 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.14 chance of being a victim: 1 in 128 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,976

Rounding out our list at #10 is Rome, GA. With a population of 36,518 and a violent crime rate of 782 per 100,000 people (140% higher than the Georgia average), some parts of Rome are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 612 counts of assault, 81 counts of robbery, 81 counts of rape and 8 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 128 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	Americus	15,319	1,654	5,585
2	College Park	14,479	1,387	8,731
3	East Point	35,031	1,204	7,870
4	Moultrie	14,086	1,162	6,070
5	Cordele	10,600	1,106	5,327
6	Waycross	13,638	1,033	6,061
7	Griffin	22,724	965	4,287
8	Albany	72,634	824	2,432
9	Garden City	8,957	811	4,024
10	Rome	36,518	782	3,976
11	Vidalia	10,380	718	5,390
12	Hinesville	33,304	687	3,118
13	Warner Robins	76,967	666	3,646
14	Thomasville	18,530	661	3,944
15	Covington	14,113	648	4,465
16	LaGrange	30,494	630	5,111
17	Chamblee	29,874	626	4,179
18	Milledgeville	18,526	613	3,889
19	Columbus	195,418	604	2,839
20	Forest Park	19,884	572	3,437
21	Doraville	10,244	563	5,786
22	Valdosta	56,320	556	4,634
23	Morrow	7,061	555	7,040
24	Newnan	40,227	552	2,295
25	Stone Mountain	6,376	538	2,414
26	Douglasville	33,035	532	5,168
27	Gainesville	41,464	488	2,789
28	Bainbridge	12,200	486	3,631
29	Athens	124,962	406	2,683
30	Fitzgerald	8,747	392	3,755
31	McRae-Helena	8,338	388	1,485
32	Stockbridge	29,446	385	2,580
33	Conyers	15,705	375	2,851
34	Statesboro	32,115	371	2,610
35	Cedartown	10,062	368	2,360
36	McDonough	25,572	335	2,960
37	Lawrenceville	30,125	324	2,497
38	Monroe	13,568	320	1,952
39	Eastman	5,110	307	5,670
40	Brookhaven	54,727	303	2,544
41	Thomaston	8,771	303	2,739
42	Marietta	60,687	298	2,109
43	St. Marys	18,321	292	1,428
44	Norcross	16,876	280	2,778
45	Cartersville	21,331	262	1,950
46	Locust Grove	7,525	259	3,223
47	Hampton	7,887	254	593
48	Kennesaw	34,232	253	1,099
49	Alpharetta	66,566	249	1,401
50	Dalton	33,515	243	2,146

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.