The Ultimate Guide to Crime Rates in Georgia

When it comes to crime, Georgia tends to avoid standing out. This state ranks 23rd for its violent crime rates, making it neither extremely dangerous nor extremely safe.

Just like anywhere else, crime in Georgia still happens. Being informed about potentially dangerous areas can help you be more proactive and reduce the risk of becoming a victim.

Common types of crimes in Georgia

In 2021, Georgia had a total reported crime rate of 187,977 crimes. This breaks down to 1,742.4 crimes per 100,000 Georgia residents.

That number might sound high, but fortunately, the rates of violent crime are comparatively low. Georgia’s violent crime rate is just 394 per 100,000 people, which is slightly lower than the national average of 400 violent crimes per 100,000 people.

A closer look at crime rates, breaking them down by type, will give you a more accurate picture of what crime in Georgia is really like. Crime rates for the most common types of crime committed in Georgia reveal:

• Larceny: 1,066 per 100,000 residents
• Aggravated assault: 242 per 100,000 residents
• Burglary: 179 per 100,000 residents
• Motor vehicle theft: 173 per 100,000 residents
• Violent robbery: 38 per 100,000 residents
• Rape: 29 per 100,000 residents
• Murder: 7 per 100,000 residents
• Arson: 6 per 100,000 residents

High and low crime rate cities in Georgia

Of course, not every part of Georgia has the same crime rates. Crime rates tend to vary based on factors like poverty level and local law enforcement policies. Here are some of the interesting ways that different areas can become affected by crime.

Most dangerous cities in Georgia

While people often assume crime in Georgia is most likely to occur in its biggest cities, rural areas also make the list of the most dangerous cities in Georgia. Compared to the rest of the state, these towns have unusually high crime rates per Neighborhood Scout statistics:

• College Park: Travel Safe-Abroad ranks College Park the most dangerous city in Georgia due to its very high property crime and violent crime rates. With a population of roughly 35,000 and a crime rate considerably higher than the Georgia average, residents of this city have a 1 in 18 chance of being a victim of a property crime.
• Cordele: Cordele also makes the list of the most dangerous Georgia cities. At one point, the city had the 4th highest murder rate and the 4th highest rate of property crimes in Georgia. Today, the city has a crime rate higher than the average for Georgia and residents have a 1 in 98 chance of being a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 25 chance of being a victim of a property crime.
• Griffin: Griffin, Georgia is a city that is high on the list of violent crimes and even higher on the list of property crimes. Residents have a 1 in 24 chance of becoming a victim of property crime and a 1 in 79 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.
• Brunswick: Located near the Georgia coast, Brunswick has a population of just over 15,000. Residents’ chances of becoming the victim of a property crime is 1 in 29 and is 1 in 78 for violent crimes.

Low crime rate cities in Georgia

If you're looking for peaceful areas without a lot of crime, check out small towns located in the suburbs of larger cities. Based on their low crime rates, these are the safest places to live in Georgia per Neighborhood Scout statistics.

• Peachtree City: Known for having some of the safest, most walkable streets in Georgia, Peachtree City has an overall crime rate that makes the city safer than 51% of cities in the nation. Residents have a 1 in 2,588 chance of being a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 109 chance of being a victim of a property crime.
• Alpharetta: Ranked by Money Magazine as the 24th best place to live in the U.S., Alpharetta is also one of the safest cities in Georgia and is safer than 35% of cities in the U.S. Residents have a 1 in 384 chance of being a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 87 chance of being a victim of a property crime.
• Perry: Perry, home of the annual Georgia National Fair, is also ranked as one of the safest places to live in Georgia. Residents of Perry have a 1 in 479 chance of being a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 45 chance of being a victim of a property crime.
• Dahlonega: Dahlonega, home of the University of North Georgia, is also ranked as one of the safest places to call home in Georgia. Its residents have a 1 in 739 chance of being a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 142 chance of being a victim of a property crime.

Crime rates in Atlanta, Georgia

Of course, as the largest city in Georgia, many people wonder, "What is the crime rate in Atlanta, Georgia?" Atlanta does have a higher crime rate than some of the smaller suburbs, but it is not Georgia’s most dangerous city. Ultimately, it ranks as the 10th most dangerous city in Georgia. It has an overall crime rate of 1,773 per 100,000 people. In other words, Atlanta residents have a 1 in 105 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime and a 1 in 25 chance of being a victim of property crime. Crime rates are higher if you live in the southern or southwestern regions of Atlanta.

Vehicle theft rates in Georgia

Vehicle theft rates are particularly high in Georgia. The state has roughly 18,680 car thefts per year. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, a motor vehicle theft happens in Georgia every 28 minutes. Compared to past crime rates in 2019 and 2020, car theft is on the rise in Georgia. Georgia tends to have higher rates of sports car theft and pickup truck theft compared to other states. The most frequently stolen vehicles in Georgia are:

• Ford pickup
• Chevrolet pickup
• Nissan Altima
• Honda Accord
• Toyota Camry
• Dodge Charger
• Toyota Corolla
• Jeep Cherokee
• Chevrolet Malibu
• Honda Civic

Protect your Georgia home with an automated security system

No matter where in Georgia you live, you might encounter crime. Vivint's security systems can help protect your home and family with:

• Security sensors: Security sensors and alarms on all your windows and doors give you total control over who enters and exits your home. You can easily see when anything is accidentally left open and get alerts if someone breaks in.
• Smart security cameras: Our security camera systems do more than just record crime and help you recover your belongings. They have special Smart Deter technology that identifies potential threats and uses light and sound to scare them away.
• Convenient automated controls: Why choose a Vivint smart home system? All of our devices connect to the Vivint Smart Hub and Vivint app. You can easily monitor and adjust all your home devices from one united system.
• Reliable monitoring: Vivint provides you with 24/7 monitoring, so even if you aren't around to notice any issues, our experts are. We check up on your home, let you know about potential issues, and take steps to resolve them.
• Professional installation: Our smart home professionals save you time and ensure that your system gets installed perfectly. You can be confident that everything is properly wired, connected, and mounted.

Let Vivint protect your home and vehicle

Georgia's crime rates are about on par with the rest of the nation, which means that Georgia residents may want to take extra precautions to safeguard their homes.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to lower your risk of being the victim of a crime. Vivint's home security systems can deter criminals and potentially aid police investigations if someone does target your home. Interested in learning more about our services? Contact Vivint at 855.822.1220 for a custom home security consultation.