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D

Is Decatur, Alabama Safe?

Population 58,056 · Safer than 16% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate below the national average, Decatur faces real safety challenges. It earns a D grade and ranks below 84% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 2,005 per 100K.

Decatur Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricDecaturAlabama AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate308.2309.7363.8
Property Crime Rate2379.42069.31,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate217.0--268.2
Theft Rate2005.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate531.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

268.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

308/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2379/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Decatur

Violent crime in Decatur is below the national average. The rate of 308.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2379.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 2,005 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Decatur Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault217
081% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery72
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary251
093% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft2,005
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft531
01.7x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Decatur Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Decatur
308.2
State
309.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Decatur
2379.4
State
2069.3
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Decatur Safety

Is Decatur safe?
Not especially. Decatur earns a D with a crime rate of 268.8 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Decatur?
268.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 308.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2379.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Decatur safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Decatur's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (2,005 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Decatur?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Decatur generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Decatur police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Decatur?
Crime rates have held steady in Decatur, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D grade.
How does Decatur compare to other cities in Alabama?
Below average for the state. Decatur ranks behind about 76% of Alabama cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Decatur to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Decatur?
Bad. A D grade and 268.8 per-thousand rate put Decatur below 84% of US cities. Violent crime at 308 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Decatur?
308.2 per 100,000, which is 15% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (217), robbery (72), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Alabama

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View all Alabama city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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