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.

Cordele Population: 10,600 1,712 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 58 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,476

Cordele, GA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Georgia with 1,712 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,541), robbery (111), rape (30) and homicide (30) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 367% 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 1,559 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 64 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,759

The second most dangerous city is College Park. With a population of 14,479 and a violent crime rate that is 325% 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 1,559 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 64 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Brunswick Population: 16,231 1,392 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.82 chance of being a victim: 1 in 72 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,928

Home to 16,231 residents, Brunswick, GA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Georgia. Unfortunately for residents of Brunswick, crime is widespread, with more than 1,392 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.82 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 279% higher than the Georgia violent crime rate.

Griffin Population: 22,724 1,337 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.66 chance of being a victim: 1 in 75 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,928

With a violent crime rate that is 264% 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 (38), assault (1,211), rape (59) and homicide (29). 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.

Americus Population: 15,319 1,246 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 80 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,909

The ongoing battle with crime in Americus, 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 1,246 and a 1 in 80 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Americus 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 Americus.

Newnan Population: 40,227 1,213 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.32 chance of being a victim: 1 in 82 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,253

Newnan, GA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 1,213 per 100,000 people, which is 231% higher than the Georgia average. Newnan has a population of 40,227, which translates to 3.32 crimes per day and 1 in 82 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 Newnan which are much safer than others.

Fort Valley Population: 8,817 1,196 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.28 chance of being a victim: 1 in 84 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,617

A 1 in 84 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 3.28 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Fort Valley makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 1,196 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 226% higher than the Georgia average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (984), robbery (134), rape (22) and homicide (56).

Fitzgerald Population: 8,747 1,138 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 88 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,134

Fitzgerald, GA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Georgia and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 8,747 and a violent crime rate of 1,138 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 1,060 counts of assault, 22 counts of robbery, 45 counts of rape and 11 counts of homicide. All told, the Fitzgerald violent crime rate is 210% higher than the Georgia average.

Garden City Population: 8,957 1,034 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.83 chance of being a victim: 1 in 97 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,752

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 1,034 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.83 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 97 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Forest Park Population: 19,884 898 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.46 chance of being a victim: 1 in 111 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,728

Rounding out our list at #10 is Forest Park, GA. With a population of 19,884 and a violent crime rate of 898 per 100,000 people (145% higher than the Georgia average), some parts of Forest Park are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 581 counts of assault, 230 counts of robbery, 77 counts of rape and 10 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 111 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	Cordele	10,600	1,712	6,476
2	College Park	14,479	1,559	8,759
3	Brunswick	16,231	1,392	6,928
4	Griffin	22,724	1,337	4,928
5	Americus	15,319	1,246	4,909
6	Newnan	40,227	1,213	3,253
7	Fort Valley	8,817	1,196	4,617
8	Fitzgerald	8,747	1,138	5,134
9	Garden City	8,957	1,034	4,752
10	Forest Park	19,884	898	5,728
11	Waycross	13,638	888	5,429
12	Rome	36,518	844	4,759
13	Waynesboro	5,453	843	3,551
14	Atlanta	497,642	841	4,589
15	Moultrie	14,086	837	5,452
16	Milledgeville	18,526	830	5,409
17	Vidalia	10,380	751	5,893
18	Covington	14,113	749	4,426
19	Warner Robins	76,967	717	4,376
20	Morrow	7,061	678	9,564
21	Bainbridge	12,200	666	4,663
22	Douglasville	33,035	658	5,709
23	LaGrange	30,494	656	5,024
24	Columbus	195,418	630	2,981
25	Hinesville	33,304	621	3,270
26	Cedartown	10,062	596	2,876
27	Gainesville	41,464	557	3,340
28	Chamblee	29,874	527	2,827
29	Eastman	5,110	506	5,182
30	Norcross	16,876	496	3,976
31	Cartersville	21,331	481	2,812
32	Clarkston	12,747	480	2,798
33	Brookhaven	54,727	464	2,717
34	Thomaston	8,771	454	3,151
35	Doraville	10,244	447	5,078
36	Marietta	60,687	440	2,912
37	Thomasville	18,530	430	4,348
38	Stone Mountain	6,376	397	2,538
39	Carrollton	26,857	374	3,017
40	Lawrenceville	30,125	372	2,329
41	Dalton	33,515	371	2,836
42	Toccoa	8,328	369	3,743
43	McDonough	25,572	361	2,713
44	Cairo	9,395	355	2,676
45	Winder	17,054	350	1,984
46	Valdosta	56,320	350	2,639
47	Smyrna	56,333	341	2,017
48	Albany	72,634	334	1,090
49	Monroe	13,568	328	3,327
50	Fairburn	15,956	317	1,640

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.