Top 10 most dangerous cities in Georgia

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.

College Park Population: 14,479 1,771 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 56 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,635

College Park, GA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Georgia with 1,771 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,283), robbery (315), rape (79) and homicide (93) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 403% 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.

Cordele Population: 10,600 1,757 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 57 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,477

The second most dangerous city is Cordele. With a population of 10,600 and a violent crime rate that is 400% higher than the Georgia average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Cordele are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,757 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 57 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Americus Population: 15,319 1,353 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.71 chance of being a victim: 1 in 74 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,997

Home to 15,319 residents, Americus, GA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Georgia. Unfortunately for residents of Americus, crime is widespread, with more than 1,353 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.71 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 285% higher than the Georgia violent crime rate.

Griffin Population: 22,724 1,029 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.82 chance of being a victim: 1 in 97 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,411

With a violent crime rate that is 193% higher than the Georgia average, it's not hard to see why Griffin made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (126), assault (819), rape (67) and homicide (17). 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 Griffin more vulnerable to high crime.

Fitzgerald Population: 8,747 1,017 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.79 chance of being a victim: 1 in 98 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,096

The ongoing battle with crime in Fitzgerald, 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 1,017 and a 1 in 98 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Fitzgerald has a violent crime rate that is 189% 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 Fitzgerald.

Albany Population: 72,634 999 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.74 chance of being a victim: 1 in 100 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,325

Albany, GA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 999 per 100,000 people, which is 184% higher than the Georgia average. Albany has a population of 72,634, which translates to 2.74 crimes per day and 1 in 100 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 Albany which are much safer than others.

Rome Population: 36,518 973 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.67 chance of being a victim: 1 in 103 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,912

A 1 in 103 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.67 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Rome makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 973 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 177% higher than the Georgia average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (805), robbery (84), rape (66) and homicide (18).

Forest Park Population: 19,884 951 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.61 chance of being a victim: 1 in 105 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,167

Forest Park, GA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Georgia and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 19,884 and a violent crime rate of 951 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 728 counts of assault, 156 counts of robbery, 31 counts of rape and 36 counts of homicide. All told, the Forest Park violent crime rate is 170% higher than the Georgia average.

Moultrie Population: 14,086 950 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.60 chance of being a victim: 1 in 105 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,774

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, Moultrie, GA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Georgia with a violent crime rate of 950 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.60 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 105 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Vidalia Population: 10,380 943 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.58 chance of being a victim: 1 in 106 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,883

Rounding out our list at #10 is Vidalia, GA. With a population of 10,380 and a violent crime rate of 943 per 100,000 people (168% higher than the Georgia average), some parts of Vidalia are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 792 counts of assault, 104 counts of robbery, 28 counts of rape and 19 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 106 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	College Park	14,479	1,771	9,635
2	Cordele	10,600	1,757	6,477
3	Americus	15,319	1,353	4,997
4	Griffin	22,724	1,029	4,411
5	Fitzgerald	8,747	1,017	5,096
6	Albany	72,634	999	3,325
7	Rome	36,518	973	4,912
8	Forest Park	19,884	951	5,167
9	Moultrie	14,086	950	5,774
10	Vidalia	10,380	943	5,883
11	Garden City	8,957	805	3,851
12	Atlanta	497,642	707	4,600
13	Chamblee	29,874	707	5,010
14	Bainbridge	12,200	679	3,698
15	Thomasville	18,530	674	4,315
16	Conyers	15,705	670	3,879
17	Warner Robins	76,967	668	4,215
18	Eastman	5,110	643	4,306
19	Milledgeville	18,526	640	4,137
20	Waycross	13,638	637	5,501
21	Newnan	40,227	611	2,553
22	Doraville	10,244	571	5,577
23	LaGrange	30,494	559	4,845
24	Covington	14,113	547	4,319
25	Morrow	7,061	476	8,908
26	Douglasville	33,035	467	5,215
27	Toccoa	8,328	437	4,420
28	Athens	124,962	431	2,951
29	Monroe	13,568	412	2,499
30	Cartersville	21,331	392	2,524
31	Gainesville	41,464	373	2,929
32	Norcross	16,876	371	3,446
33	Statesboro	32,115	368	2,893
34	Brookhaven	54,727	361	2,866
35	Cedartown	10,062	358	2,694
36	Stockbridge	29,446	309	2,452
37	McDonough	25,572	305	3,050
38	Sylvester	5,809	294	1,709
39	Smyrna	56,333	291	1,904
40	Kingsland	17,523	289	1,606
41	Eatonton	6,661	286	2,150
42	Lawrenceville	30,125	281	2,460
43	Alpharetta	66,566	280	1,607
44	Carrollton	26,857	280	2,331
45	Thomaston	8,771	273	3,371
46	Winder	17,054	271	1,686
47	Kennesaw	34,232	262	1,070
48	Stone Mountain	6,376	258	1,760
49	Byron	5,170	246	1,935
50	Centerville	7,821	231	1,909

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.