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D

Is Tuscaloosa, Alabama Safe?

Population 114,316 · Safer than 20% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

With a violent crime rate close to the national average, Tuscaloosa faces real safety challenges. It earns a D grade and ranks below 80% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,874 per 100K.

Tuscaloosa Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricTuscaloosaAlabama AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate309.4309.7363.8
Property Crime Rate2264.12069.31,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate242.0--268.2
Theft Rate1874.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate518.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

257.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

309/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2264/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Tuscaloosa

Violent crime in Tuscaloosa is close to the national average. The rate of 309.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2264.1 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,874 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Tuscaloosa Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault242
090% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery70
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary372
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,874
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft518
01.6x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Tuscaloosa Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Tuscaloosa
309.4
State
309.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Tuscaloosa
2264.1
State
2069.3
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Tuscaloosa Safety

Is Tuscaloosa safe?
Not especially. Tuscaloosa earns a D with a crime rate of 257.3 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 Tuscaloosa?
257.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 309.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2264.1 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Tuscaloosa safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Tuscaloosa's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,874 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Tuscaloosa?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Tuscaloosa generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Tuscaloosa police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Tuscaloosa?
No. Crime in Tuscaloosa has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Tuscaloosa compare to other cities in Alabama?
Below average for the state. Tuscaloosa ranks behind about 85% of Alabama cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Tuscaloosa to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Tuscaloosa?
Bad. A D grade and 257.3 per-thousand rate put Tuscaloosa below 80% of US cities. Violent crime at 309 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Tuscaloosa?
309.4 per 100,000, which is 15% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (242), robbery (70), and murder (6.0) 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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