AL · 5 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Alabama
Alabama recorded 353 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 7% above the national rate and down 12% since 2022. Of the 5 cities we cover, Birmingham, Mobile and Tuscaloosa have the highest rates and Huntsville the lowest. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Birmingham
Huntsville
Mobile
Montgomery
TuscaloosaFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Alabama, ranked
The 4 Alabama cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 4 of 4 run above the state average of 353. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
- 1
Birmingham
1,239 violent crimes per 100k
3.5× the state average
- 2
Mobile
588 violent crimes per 100k
1.7× the state average
- 3
Tuscaloosa
480 violent crimes per 100k
1.4× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham | 1,239 | 4,466 | 195,393 |
| 2 | Mobile | 588 | 1,478 | 255,927 |
| 3 | Tuscaloosa | 480 | 2,377 | 116,588 |
| 4 | Huntsville | 399 | 2,297 | 234,043 |
| Alabama average | 353 | 1,502 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported by each city's police department per 100,000 residents; most cities use 2025 data, and a small year next to a name marks a different latest complete year. Only cities with a neighborhood guide are included, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Not enough reliable data to rank: Montgomery. How we rank cities.
Alabama crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Alabama?
Of the 4 Alabama cities in our ranking, Birmingham has the highest violent crime rate: 1,239 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 3.5 times the state average. Mobile and Tuscaloosa come next. Even in Birmingham, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Birmingham guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Alabama?
Among the cities we rank, Huntsville has the lowest violent crime rate, at 399 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 13% above the state average. Tuscaloosa follows with 480. All 4 are large cities with rates above the Alabama average, so many smaller towns in the state are safer still.
Is Alabama safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Alabama recorded 353 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 7% above the national rate of 330. Crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods and hours rather than spread evenly, so knowing where those areas are matters more than the statewide figure; our 5 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Alabama cities have above-average crime?
4 of the 4 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Alabama average of 353 per 100,000 residents: Birmingham, Mobile, Tuscaloosa and Huntsville. The other 0 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Alabama?
Violent crime in Alabama went from 400 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 353 in 2025, down 12%. Property crime went from 1,730 to 1,502 over 2022–2025, down 13%.
Where do these crime figures come from?
From the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which collects the offenses reported by each police department. Rates are offenses per 100,000 residents, so cities of different sizes can be compared, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Our methodology explains the details.