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C-

Is Muscle Shoals, Alabama Safe?

Population 17,666 · Safer than 25% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 17,666, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Muscle Shoals earns a C- with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,864 per 100K.

Muscle Shoals Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMuscle ShoalsAlabama AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate265.5309.7363.8
Property Crime Rate2138.42069.31,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate171.0--268.2
Theft Rate1864.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate227.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

240.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

266/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2138/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Muscle Shoals

Violent crime in Muscle Shoals is below the national average. The rate of 265.5 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2138.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,864 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Muscle Shoals Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault171
064% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery60
095% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary362
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,864
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft227
071% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Muscle Shoals Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Muscle Shoals
265.5
State
309.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Muscle Shoals
2138.4
State
2069.3
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Muscle Shoals Safety

Is Muscle Shoals safe?
Not especially. Muscle Shoals earns a C- with a crime rate of 240.4 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Muscle Shoals?
240.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 265.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2138.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Muscle Shoals safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Muscle Shoals's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,864 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Muscle Shoals?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Muscle Shoals generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Muscle Shoals police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Muscle Shoals?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Muscle Shoals's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C- grade overall.
How does Muscle Shoals compare to other cities in Alabama?
Below average for the state. Muscle Shoals ranks behind about 82% of Alabama cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Muscle Shoals to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Muscle Shoals?
Bad. A C- grade and 240.4 per-thousand rate put Muscle Shoals below 75% of US cities. Violent crime at 266 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Muscle Shoals?
265.5 per 100,000, which is 27% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (171), robbery (60), and murder (3.0) 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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