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When you go to sleep at night, you want to feel secure that you are falling asleep in a safe space. You don't want to have to constantly worry about whether or not you locked all four locks on your door and that your wooden window jam is securely in place.
However, how do you know if where you are moving to is safe or not? If you are moving to Georgia, then there are definitely some safe places and there are definitely some areas that are not as safe. Georgia is full of beautiful landscapes, gorgeous beaches, and historical towns. But it also has a few cities that have areas that may not be as beautiful at night. Those would be the most dangerous places in live in Georgia.
And that's what we've done here -- identify the most dangerous cities in Georgia for 2022 based on FBI data. Specifically, we looked at violent and property crimes per capita for the 76 cities over 5,000 people. The idea being that you want to know where crime occurs so that you can make an informed decision. However, we are not saying anything about the efficacy of local law enforcement and there are definitely safe areas in every city we talk about.
With all that in mind, Georgia as a whole is actually on the dangerous side of American states, ranking in the top third. So these cities contribute to an overall sense of danger in Georgia.
So grab some chicken and dumplings, you favorite local craft brew, and read on.
The Most Dangerous Cities In Georgia For 2022
We analyzed 76 cities in Georgia using the most recent FBI crime data to determine which cities are the most dangerous in the state.
The most dangerous city in Georgia? College Park ranks as the most dangerous city in Georgia for 2022 based on the most recent FBI data.
Located on the southside of Atlanta, College Park is a city you may want to avoid if you are new to Georgia. In fact, the southside of Atlanta is home to several of the most dangerous cities on our list. East Point, Union City, and College Park, the top three most dangerous cities in Atlanta, are all located just south of Atlanta.
Interested to see how your favorite city in Georgia stacked up? Read on for more information about our methodology and to learn more about why these cities made the top 10.
Learn more about the safest places in Georgia.
If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
For more Georgia reading, check out:
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Georgia For 2022
Located on the south side of Atlanta, College Park once again features at the top of Georgia's most dangerous cities. It might be home to the world's busiest airport, but College Park is also home to a whole lot of crime.
College Park is the most violent place in Georgia, with the 16th highest rate of rape cases and the highest murder rate. Property crime isn't much better, considering that 213 of College Park's residents had their cars stolen in 2020.
To be fair, It's important to remember that the FBI bases its crime data on where the crimes occurred and the police department for College Park covers places Clayton and Fulton County associated with the city and not just the city proper.
That being said, Ludacris, 2 Chainz, and Jung Joc all came from College Park and they don't sing about rainbows and butterflies.
/10
Population: 15,204
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,756 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,143 (Second most dangerous)
More on College Park: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Earning the second place medal for Georgia's most dangerous places is Americus, a city of 14,910 in Sumter County. Americus had the 13th highest rate of rape cases in the state and 161 total violent crimes reported in 2020.
Murder and burglary rates in Americus are also the 22nd highest and 15th highest statewide as well, so make sure you keep your guard up and your doors locked here.
Americus is the home of the Habitat for Humanity international headquarters, so if they could steer some charitable energy towards reducing local crime rates, we're sure the city can get itself off this list in no time.
/10
Population: 14,910
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,079 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,231 (Fifth most dangerous)
More on Americus: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
What sounds better than living in Garden City? The name conjures visions of strolling among fragrant flowers as the setting sun casts a golden hue among the glistening leaves lining a shady walk. And the location seems ideal as well, located as it is on the outskirts of picturesque Savannah, with it's old-time charm.
But names can be deceiving. Garden City comes with a dark side. Specifically, this town represents the number 3 most dangerous place in all of Georgia. Beyond the lack of those promised fragrant flowers, your strolls in the city might get decidedly rough. The city has the number 3 highest rate of violent crime in the state.
/10
Population: 8,716
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,376 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,612 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Garden City: | Cost Of Living
Georgia's 7th biggest city, Albany, ranks as the fourth most dangerous place to call home in the Peach State. Residents faced a 1 in 58 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in 2020 -- yikes. For the record, that's the second highest violent crime rate in Georgia.
And being attacked isn't the only thing to be worried about in Albany. The city also has the second highest burglary rate in Georgia, with about two burglaries happening each day, on average.
So while Chehaw Park & Zoo might have loads of scary carnivores, there's a lot more terrifying stuff going down on the streets of Albany.
/10
Population: 71,567
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 1)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,724 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,398 (Tenth most dangerous)
More on Albany: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Waycross, located in the southeast section of Georgia, is all about travel. The town's name comes from its location as a central railroad hub in the 19th century -- it was the place where six rail lines crossed. Get it? Waycross -- where a bunch of ways crossed.
Even now, it forms an important nerve center for regional travel, sitting at the nexus of several important highways.
Good thing too. You might need to make a quick getaway. Those escape routes exist whether you're one of the prolific local criminals or just a concerned citizen looking for a break from Georgia's number 5 highest crime rate.
/10
Population: 13,363
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 965 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,672 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Waycross: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
If you're a legal scholar, you may have heard of Griffin. The city appears as one of the participants in an important First Amendment case from 1938, known as Lovell v. City of Griffin. In that proceeding, the court sided with Alma Lovell, who had been arrested in town for handing out religious literature.
Maybe the city should worry less about people handing out leaflets and more about old-fashioned criminals. At least that's true these days, when the community counts among Georgia's most dangerous locations.
Rather than ladies handing out Bible verses, the main trouble in today's Griffin has more to do with larcenies and burglaries. The city ranks among the top five in the state in rates of both those crimes.
/10
Population: 22,773
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,132 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,786 (Eighth most dangerous)
More on Griffin: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Located just south of Atlanta, Forest Park is a place with a whole lot of crime. There were 124 car thefts in Forest Park in 2020, quite high for a city with a population of 20,202.
There were also 634 larceny cases, so make sure nobody pilfers your produce after a day out at the farmer's market.
Violent crime rates in Forest Park are also quite high, as Forest Park ranks in the top ten statewide for both rape and murder rates.
Forest Park wasn't on this list last year, so hopefully, they can turn things around and get off this list by next year.
/10
Population: 20,202
Rank Last Year: 4 (Down 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,004 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,341 (11th most dangerous)
More on Forest Park: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Cordele presents an amazing summer draw. The community markets itself as the Watermelon Capital of the World. What's more, you can celebrate that informal status every June, when the town attracts crowds to its annual Watermelon Festival.
Just watch your wallet as you wander the event. Larceny represents a major problem in the area, with 450 such crimes in a population of just 10,451. That's the number 5 highest pace in the state.
You'll also need to worry about more serious attacks as well. Cordele also reported 10 sexual assaults over the course of a year.
/10
Population: 10,451
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 688 (16th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,042 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Cordele: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Located within a short drive of the Alabama border, LaGrange has its share of charms. Interested in history? Head to the Bellevue Mansion or the Hills & Dales Estate. Want a little culture? You can tour the LaGrange Art Museum. Looking for a little outdoor fun? Check out parks near West Point Lake.
But these amenities mask a dark secret about this community in west-central Georgia. LaGrange represents the number 9 most dangerous spot in the state. Violent crime remains largely under wraps in the area. However, property crime runs rampant. The larceny rate sits at number 2 on the list of highest places in the state.
/10
Population: 30,406
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 578 (20th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,686 (Third most dangerous)
More on LaGrange: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Ever been to a Stuckey's? They're famous for their pecan log roll. Well, the chain got its start in Eastman. So, the town has that going for it.
But this community of 5,018 people in a rural part of central Georgia has another distinction as well -- one that's not quite as sweet. Yes, it ranks as the number 10 most dangerous spot in the Peach State.
People must be jonesing for those pecan rolls. They'll do anything for them. That includes burglary, with 34 such crimes in a year, and robbery, with 6 events in a 12-month period.
/10
Population: 5,018
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 916 (Tenth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,925 (15th most dangerous)
More on Eastman: | Cost Of Living | Crime Report
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Georgia for 2022?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets, a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in the country, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the JUST released 2020 data, specifically the 2020 Crime In The United States Report. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2022.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Georgia cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 76 cities in Georgia.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 76 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one "Dangerous Index".
Finally, we ranked every city on the "Dangerous Index" with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Georgia -- College Park. Any ties went to the smaller city. You can download the data here.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Georgia FAQs
Is Georgia a dangerous state?
No, Georgia is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #29 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in georgia ranks 22nd highest in the United States -- 3.17% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Peach State ranks 24th highest in the United States -- 2.51% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.
Is Atlanta, GA a dangerous city?
Yes, Atlanta is a dangerous city. Atlanta ranks as the #30 most dangerous out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Atlanta might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Midtown is the safest in Atlanta, while West End is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Atlanta ranks 73rd highest in America -- 40.06% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 23rd highest in the United States -- 75.26% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
No, Georgia is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #29 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in georgia ranks 22nd highest in the United States -- 3.17% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Peach State ranks 24th highest in the United States -- 2.51% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.
"}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Is Atlanta, GA a dangerous city?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "
Yes, Atlanta is a dangerous city. Atlanta ranks as the #30 most dangerous out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Atlanta might be considered dangerous you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Midtown is the safest in Atlanta, while West End is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Atlanta ranks 73rd highest in America -- 40.06% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 23rd highest in the United States -- 75.26% worse than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
"}}]}
Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Georgia
Summary: Locking It All Up In Georgia
So what is the most dangerous city in Georgia? After analyzing 76 cities in Georgia, College Park takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Georgia based on the most recently reported FBI data -- 2020.
The latest FBI crime data shows that College Park ranks as the most dangerous city in Georgia for 2022.
We want to point out again that there's still safes places in College Park and that this isn't a comment on the people that live there. So please don't beat us up.
We analyzed 76 cities in Georgia using the most recent FBI crime data to determine which cities are the most dangerous in the state.
The most dangerous city in Georgia? College Park ranks as the most dangerous city in Georgia for 2022 based on the most recent FBI data.
Located on the southside of Atlanta, College Park is a city you may want to avoid if you are new to Georgia. In fact, the southside of Atlanta is home to several of the most dangerous cities on our list. East Point, Union City, and College Park, the top three most dangerous cities in Atlanta, are all located just south of Atlanta.
Interested to see how your favorite city in Georgia stacked up? Read on for more information about our methodology and to learn more about why these cities made the top 10.
Learn more about the safest places in Georgia.
If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
Here are the safest cities in Georgia:
- Folkston (Pop. 5,072)
- Jefferson (Pop. 12,349)
- Braselton (Pop. 13,758)
- McRae-Helena (Pop. 8,246)
- Peachtree City (Pop. 36,421)
- Douglas (Pop. 11,696)
- Hampton (Pop. 8,201)
- Tyrone (Pop. 7,575)
- Milton (Pop. 40,368)
- Johns Creek (Pop. 85,408)
For more Georgia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Georgia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Georgia
- Most Dangerous Places In Georgia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Georgia
- Safest Places In Georgia
- Worst Places To Live In Georgia
Crime By City In Georgia
Rank | City | Population |
---|---|---|
1 | College Park | 15,204 |
2 | Americus | 14,910 |
3 | Garden City | 8,716 |
4 | Albany | 71,567 |
5 | Waycross | 13,363 |
6 | Griffin | 22,773 |
7 | Forest Park | 20,202 |
8 | Cordele | 10,451 |
9 | LaGrange | 30,406 |
10 | Eastman | 5,018 |
11 | Morrow | 7,327 |
12 | Douglasville | 34,409 |
13 | Bainbridge | 12,006 |
14 | Monroe | 13,761 |
15 | Warner Robins | 78,508 |
16 | Milledgeville | 18,751 |
17 | Cedartown | 10,020 |
18 | South Fulton | 100,658 |
19 | Moultrie | 14,199 |
20 | Fitzgerald | 8,611 |
21 | Fort Valley | 8,877 |
22 | Covington | 14,330 |
23 | Newnan | 42,658 |
24 | Athens-Clarke County | 128,152 |
25 | Marietta | 61,348 |
26 | Valdosta | 56,628 |
27 | Toccoa | 8,312 |
28 | Snellville | 20,282 |
29 | Calhoun | 17,387 |
30 | Waynesboro | 5,308 |
31 | Gainesville | 44,398 |
32 | Vidalia | 10,398 |
33 | Clarkston | 12,697 |
34 | Brookhaven | 56,248 |
35 | Cairo | 9,340 |
36 | McDonough | 27,338 |
37 | Stone Mountain | 6,332 |
38 | Smyrna | 57,317 |
39 | Villa Rica | 16,296 |
40 | Eatonton | 6,753 |
41 | Byron | 5,304 |
42 | Cartersville | 21,995 |
43 | Lilburn | 12,941 |
44 | Dunwoody | 49,687 |
45 | Port Wentworth | 10,281 |
46 | Fayetteville | 18,202 |
47 | Bremen | 6,685 |
48 | Roswell | 95,396 |
49 | Centerville | 7,960 |
50 | Rincon | 10,525 |
How Is Your Town In ?
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