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: 15,729 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: 15,035 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 15,035 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: 36,363 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 36,363 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: 14,536 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: 10,933 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: 13,957 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 13,957, 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: 23,351 965 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: 74,905 824 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 74,905 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: 9,315 811 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: 37,605 782 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 37,605 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	15,729	1,654	5,585
2	College Park	15,035	1,387	8,731
3	East Point	36,363	1,204	7,870
4	Moultrie	14,536	1,162	6,070
5	Cordele	10,933	1,106	5,327
6	Waycross	13,957	1,033	6,061
7	Griffin	23,351	965	4,287
8	Albany	74,905	824	2,432
9	Garden City	9,315	811	4,024
10	Rome	37,605	782	3,976
11	Vidalia	10,687	718	5,390
12	Hinesville	34,062	687	3,118
13	Warner Robins	79,068	666	3,646
14	Thomasville	19,040	661	3,944
15	Covington	14,585	648	4,465
16	LaGrange	31,218	630	5,111
17	Chamblee	30,502	626	4,179
18	Milledgeville	18,956	613	3,889
19	Columbus	201,240	604	2,839
20	Forest Park	20,312	572	3,437
21	Doraville	10,449	563	5,786
22	Valdosta	57,835	556	4,634
23	Morrow	7,240	555	7,040
24	Newnan	41,765	552	2,295
25	Stone Mountain	6,567	538	2,414
26	Douglasville	34,322	532	5,168
27	Gainesville	42,333	488	2,789
28	Bainbridge	12,552	486	3,631
29	Athens	128,427	406	2,683
30	Fitzgerald	8,995	392	3,755
31	McRae-Helena	8,643	388	1,485
32	Stockbridge	30,260	385	2,580
33	Conyers	16,084	375	2,851
34	Statesboro	33,360	371	2,610
35	Cedartown	10,305	368	2,360
36	McDonough	26,228	335	2,960
37	Lawrenceville	31,316	324	2,497
38	Monroe	13,903	320	1,952
39	Eastman	5,227	307	5,670
40	Brookhaven	55,874	303	2,544
41	Thomaston	9,024	303	2,739
42	Marietta	62,336	298	2,109
43	St. Marys	18,720	292	1,428
44	Norcross	17,351	280	2,778
45	Cartersville	21,814	262	1,950
46	Locust Grove	7,692	259	3,223
47	Hampton	8,188	254	593
48	Kennesaw	35,226	253	1,099
49	Alpharetta	69,031	249	1,401
50	Dalton	34,537	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.