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D

Is Fort Payne, Alabama Safe?

Population 15,189 · Safer than 17% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate close to the national average, Fort Payne faces real safety challenges. It earns a D grade and ranks below 83% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,669 per 100K.

Fort Payne Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricFort PayneAlabama AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate369.4309.7363.8
Property Crime Rate2294.92069.31,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate233.0--268.2
Theft Rate1669.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate514.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

266.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

369/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2295/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Fort Payne

Violent crime in Fort Payne is close to the national average. The rate of 369.4 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2294.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,669 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Fort Payne Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault233
087% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery73
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary372
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,669
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft514
01.6x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Fort Payne Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Fort Payne
369.4
State
309.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Fort Payne
2294.9
State
2069.3
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Payne Safety

Is Fort Payne safe?
Not especially. Fort Payne earns a D with a crime rate of 266.4 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Fort Payne?
266.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 369.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2294.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Fort Payne safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Fort Payne's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,669 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Fort Payne?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Fort Payne generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Fort Payne police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Fort Payne?
No. Crime in Fort Payne has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Fort Payne compare to other cities in Alabama?
Below average for the state. Fort Payne ranks behind about 77% of Alabama cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Fort Payne to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Fort Payne?
Bad. A D grade and 266.4 per-thousand rate put Fort Payne below 83% of US cities. Violent crime at 369 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Fort Payne?
369.4 per 100,000, which is 2% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (233), robbery (73), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

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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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