GA · 8 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Georgia
Georgia recorded 304 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 8% below the national rate and down 22% since 2022. Of the 8 cities we cover, Macon, Atlanta and Columbus have the highest rates and Sandy Springs the lowest. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Atlanta
Savannah
Athens
Augusta
Columbus
Macon
Sandy Springs
South FultonFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Georgia, ranked
The 7 Georgia cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 6 of 7 run above the state average of 304. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
- 1
Macon
1,293 violent crimes per 100k
4.3× the state average
- 2
Atlanta
736 violent crimes per 100k
2.4× the state average
- 3
Columbus
614 violent crimes per 100k
1.9× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macon | 1,293 | 3,424 | 157,114 |
| 2 | Atlanta | 736 | 3,119 | 525,939 |
| 3 | Columbus2024 | 614 | 1,915 | 201,061 |
| 4 | Augusta2024 | 549 | 3,653 | 201,399 |
| 5 | South Fulton | 477 | 1,670 | 113,122 |
| 6 | Athens | 353 | 2,002 | 129,208 |
| 7 | Sandy Springs | 114 | 1,264 | 104,987 |
| Georgia average | 304 | 1,413 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Safest cities in Georgia we cover
At the other end of the list, these have the lowest violent crime rates of the 7 cities in this ranking.
- Sandy Springs114 per 100k · 62% below the state average
- Athens353 per 100k · 1.2× the state average
- South Fulton477 per 100k · 1.6× the state average
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: Savannah. How we rank cities.
Georgia crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Georgia?
Of the 7 Georgia cities in our ranking, Macon has the highest violent crime rate: 1,293 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 4.3 times the state average. Atlanta and Columbus come next. Even in Macon, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Macon guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Georgia?
Among the cities we rank, Sandy Springs has the lowest violent crime rate, at 114 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 62% below the state average. Athens follows with 353. A low citywide rate doesn't mean every block is the same, but day-to-day risk is lower.
Is Georgia safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Georgia recorded 304 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 8% below 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 8 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Georgia cities have above-average crime?
6 of the 7 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Georgia average of 304 per 100,000 residents: Macon, Atlanta, Columbus, Augusta, South Fulton and Athens. The other 1 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Georgia?
Violent crime in Georgia went from 392 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 304 in 2025, down 22%. Property crime went from 1,752 to 1,413 over 2022–2025, down 19%.
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.