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D-

Is Huntsville, Alabama Safe?

Population 233,627 · Safer than 12% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Huntsville has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D- safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 286.5 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,964 per 100K.

Huntsville Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricHuntsvilleAlabama AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate390.7309.7363.8
Property Crime Rate2474.02069.31,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate236.0--268.2
Theft Rate1964.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate224.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

286.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

391/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2474/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Huntsville

Violent crime in Huntsville is close to the national average. The rate of 390.7 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2474.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,964 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Huntsville Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault236
088% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery65
01.0x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary385
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,964
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft224
070% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Huntsville Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Huntsville
390.7
State
309.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Huntsville
2474.0
State
2069.3
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Huntsville Safety

Is Huntsville safe?
Not especially. Huntsville earns a D- with a crime rate of 286.5 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 Huntsville?
286.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 390.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2474.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Huntsville safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Huntsville's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,964 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Huntsville?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Huntsville generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Huntsville police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Huntsville?
Crime rates have held steady in Huntsville, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D- grade.
How does Huntsville compare to other cities in Alabama?
Below average for the state. Huntsville ranks behind about 83% of Alabama cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.4x the national rate.
How safe is Huntsville to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Huntsville?
Bad. A D- grade and 286.5 per-thousand rate put Huntsville below 88% of US cities. Violent crime at 391 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Huntsville?
390.7 per 100,000, which is 7% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (236), robbery (65), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Alabama

Similar-sized communities in Alabama. Compare crime rates across the state.

F
See crime rates in Mobile200,824 pop · Grade F
D-
See crime rates in Birmingham195,893 pop · Grade D-
D+
See crime rates in Montgomery195,300 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in Tuscaloosa114,316 pop · Grade D
C-
See crime rates in Hoover93,550 pop · Grade C-
D-
See crime rates in Auburn85,113 pop · Grade D-
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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