The Yellowhammer State is the 26th most dangerous state in the country, so no one should be too surprised that there are some very dangerous places in Alabama. And because we think it’s essential to provide transparent information to the public, we created a list of the most dangerous places in Alabama for 2026.
How did we determine the most dangerous places in Alabama? We consulted the FBI’s latest crime report for violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 97 Alabama cities.
The most dangerous cities in Alabama have crime rates that are anywhere from three to four times higher than the Alabama average.
1,744 violent crimes /100k · 7,124 property crimes /100k · #1 most violent in Alabama
Located in
Jefferson County, Alabama
Bessemer, the most dangerous place to live in Alabama, is plagued by high crime rates. With a population of 24,720, this city in Jefferson County has experienced 431 violent crimes, including 11 murders, 15 rapes, 40 robberies, and 365 aggravated assaults. The property crime rate is also alarmingly high, with 1,761 reported incidents.
While the city’s location in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area offers economic opportunities, it also attracts criminal activity. The presence of iron ore, coal, and limestone deposits historically led to a strong steelmaking industry. However, this prosperity has been marred by rising crime rates.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
1,247 violent crimes /100k · 4,031 property crimes /100k · #3 most violent in Alabama
Located in
Shelby County, Alabama
You didn’t think we forgot about Birmingham, did you? Alabama’s 3rd biggest city is also its second most dangerous.
Folks in Birmingham had a 1 in 80 chance of being the victim of an aggravated assault, rape, murder, or robbery in 2024, enough to give the city the third highest violent crime rate statewide. Including a shocking 115 murders (that’s the second highest murder rate in Alabama).
Property crime is also all too common here, with 1,579 stolen cars reported in 2026. We just hope nobody steals a racecar from the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, or the police may have a tough time catching the guy.
All that being said, this is a big city, so if you stay away from Birmingham’s worst neighborhoods, you should be relatively safe.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
846 violent crimes /100k · 4,365 property crimes /100k · #7 most violent in Alabama
Located in
Calhoun County, Alabama
Anniston may occupy the #3 position on this list, but it actually has the fourth highest overall crime rate in Alabama, outstripping the national average by over 300%.
Part of that is down to having the second highest burglary rate statewide. We just hope nobody’s planning a heist of one of Anniston’s museums.
The real issue in Anniston is violent crime, which ranks as the seventh highest worst in Alabama. That includes the third highest rate of rape cases and 12th highest murder rate. Overall, residents faced a 1 in 118 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in 2026.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
1,362 violent crimes /100k · 3,593 property crimes /100k · #2 most violent in Alabama
Located in
Escambia County, Alabama
Atmore, a city in Escambia County, Alabama, ranks as the fourth most dangerous place to live in the state. The crime statistics in Atmore are concerning, with a high number of violent crimes and property crimes. There were 113 incidents of violent crime reported. The property crime rate was also alarming, with 298 reported incidents, including 38 burglaries.
The city is currently working on economic development projects, such as the new Rivercane development along the I-65 corridor, which may help improve its residents’ overall safety and well-being.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
721 violent crimes /100k · 5,143 property crimes /100k · #14 most violent in Alabama
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
1,024 violent crimes /100k · 3,588 property crimes /100k · #4 most violent in Alabama
Alexander City, located in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, has unfortunately earned the reputation of being one of the most dangerous places to live in the state. The city’s crime statistics paint a concerning picture, with a total of 4,612/100k reported crimes per capita. This includes 1,024/100k violent crimes and 3,588/100k property crimes per capita.
Alexander City has experienced a notable number of murders, with 4 homicides reported. Additionally, the city has seen 147 cases of violent crimes, including rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
776 violent crimes /100k · 3,881 property crimes /100k · #11 most violent in Alabama
Located in
Randolph County, Alabama
Roanoke is a city in Randolph County, which is in the Piedmont region of eastern Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 6,074, down from 6,563 in 2000.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
668 violent crimes /100k · 3,666 property crimes /100k · #15 most violent in Alabama
Located in
Covington County, Alabama
Andalusia is the eighth most dangerous place to call home in Alabama for 2026. On average, Andalusia experienced one larceny case each day over 2024. Overall, Andalusia had the tenth highest property crime rate statewide.
So keep an eye on the fish you catch at Open Pond Recreation Area, or your day’s haul might get snatched.
On the bright side, Andalusia is the least violent place listed here.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
778 violent crimes /100k · 3,471 property crimes /100k · #10 most violent in Alabama
Phenix City, located in Lee County, Alabama, ranks as the ninth most dangerous place to live in the state. With a population of 38,323, this city faces significant crime challenges, with a total of 298 violent crimes reported. Property crime remains a pressing issue, with 1,330 incidents reported, including 195 burglaries.
Phenix City’s location plays a role in its safety challenges. Situated across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia, Phenix City’s economic ties to its neighboring city impact its safety dynamics.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
792 violent crimes /100k · 3,079 property crimes /100k · #9 most violent in Alabama
Located in
Chambers County, Alabama
Located in east-central Alabama, Lanett has experienced a population nosedive in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why. The small city averaged just under one larceny case a day, so keep a close eye on your catch after a day fishing at West Point Lake.
Lanett also averaged about one rape case per month over 2024, giving it the fourth highest rate of rape cases in Alabama. Lanett is only slightly redeemed by being one of the few places listed here without a single murder.
If you do have to move to Lanett, steer clear of the city’s east side, where most of the crime goes down.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Alabama’s statewide median.
On the map
Where crime hits hardest in Alabama
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the most dangerous cities in Alabama for 2026?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Alabama. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Alabama, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2024 data, specifically the 2024 Crime In The United States Report for Alabama.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Alabama cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 97 cities in Alabama.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 97 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Alabama — Bessemer. Any ties went to the smaller city.
This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our eleventh time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Alabama and is updated for 2026.
The full plate
Crime By City In Alabama
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Dangerous Index | Population | Total Crimes Per 100K | Violent Crimes Per 100K | Property Crimes Per 100K | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bessemer | 1.00 | 24,720 | 8,867 | 1,744 | 7,124 | 11 |
| 2 | Birmingham | 4.00 | 195,418 | 5,278 | 1,247 | 4,031 | 115 |
| 3 | Anniston | 5.00 | 21,052 | 5,211 | 846 | 4,365 | 4 |
| 4 | Atmore | 7.00 | 8,294 | 4,955 | 1,362 | 3,593 | 4 |
| 5 | Semmes | 8.00 | 6,105 | 5,864 | 721 | 5,143 | 1 |
| 6 | Alexander City | 8.50 | 14,353 | 4,612 | 1,024 | 3,588 | 4 |
| 7 | Roanoke | 9.00 | 5,411 | 4,657 | 776 | 3,881 | 0 |
| 8 | Andalusia | 12.50 | 8,838 | 4,334 | 668 | 3,666 | 0 |
| 9 | Phenix City | 13.50 | 38,323 | 4,248 | 778 | 3,471 | 3 |
| 10 | Lanett | 15.50 | 6,691 | 3,871 | 792 | 3,079 | 1 |
| 11 | Dothan | 15.50 | 71,318 | 3,678 | 913 | 2,765 | 5 |
| 12 | Greenville | 16.00 | 6,923 | 4,420 | 578 | 3,842 | 0 |
| 13 | Demopolis | 16.50 | 6,733 | 3,683 | 965 | 2,718 | 1 |
| 14 | Brewton | 17.00 | 5,139 | 4,573 | 545 | 4,028 | 0 |
| 15 | Sylacauga | 20.50 | 12,109 | 4,038 | 562 | 3,477 | 1 |
| 16 | Jasper | 20.50 | 14,418 | 4,751 | 395 | 4,356 | 0 |
| 17 | Talladega | 23.50 | 14,590 | 3,982 | 541 | 3,441 | 2 |
| 18 | Troy | 23.50 | 17,894 | 3,996 | 486 | 3,510 | 2 |
| 19 | Valley | 24.00 | 10,241 | 4,218 | 381 | 3,838 | 0 |
| 20 | Eufaula | 24.50 | 12,314 | 3,297 | 723 | 2,574 | 7 |
| 21 | Attalla | 26.50 | 5,813 | 3,957 | 344 | 3,613 | 0 |
| 22 | Tuscaloosa | 26.50 | 113,834 | 3,285 | 553 | 2,731 | 18 |
| 23 | Selma | 28.00 | 16,299 | 3,092 | 620 | 2,473 | 2 |
| 24 | Ozark | 28.50 | 14,350 | 3,449 | 439 | 3,010 | 2 |
| 25 | Gadsden | 29.00 | 33,015 | 3,159 | 582 | 2,578 | 4 |
| 26 | Opelika | 29.00 | 34,448 | 3,185 | 560 | 2,624 | 3 |
| 27 | Enterprise | 29.50 | 30,766 | 3,003 | 624 | 2,379 | 1 |
| 28 | Arab | 32.00 | 8,960 | 3,806 | 257 | 3,549 | 0 |
| 29 | Clanton | 32.00 | 9,250 | 3,622 | 314 | 3,308 | 0 |
| 30 | Prichard | 32.00 | 18,672 | 2,774 | 632 | 2,142 | 11 |
| 31 | Decatur | 32.00 | 58,514 | 2,916 | 607 | 2,309 | 5 |
| 32 | Hueytown | 32.50 | 16,013 | 3,091 | 512 | 2,579 | 4 |
| 33 | Tuskegee | 33.00 | 8,582 | 2,645 | 827 | 1,818 | 4 |
| 34 | Montgomery | 33.50 | 193,728 | 2,830 | 595 | 2,235 | 35 |
| 35 | Florence | 34.00 | 43,076 | 2,646 | 629 | 2,017 | 0 |
| 36 | Millbrook | 35.00 | 17,633 | 3,681 | 244 | 3,437 | 0 |
| 37 | Huntsville | 36.50 | 228,697 | 2,871 | 483 | 2,388 | 19 |
| 38 | Mobile | 38.00 | 237,092 | 2,426 | 752 | 1,674 | 39 |
| 39 | Fultondale | 38.50 | 9,533 | 3,011 | 294 | 2,717 | 0 |
| 40 | Leeds | 39.50 | 12,445 | 2,909 | 297 | 2,611 | 2 |
| 41 | Loxley | 41.00 | 5,007 | 2,736 | 379 | 2,357 | 1 |
| 42 | Chickasaw | 41.00 | 6,226 | 2,586 | 434 | 2,152 | 1 |
| 43 | Lincoln | 41.00 | 7,725 | 2,667 | 388 | 2,278 | 0 |
| 44 | Guntersville | 41.50 | 9,184 | 2,777 | 305 | 2,472 | 0 |
| 45 | Sheffield | 42.50 | 9,280 | 2,414 | 517 | 1,897 | 3 |
| 46 | Jacksonville | 42.50 | 14,812 | 2,268 | 608 | 1,661 | 0 |
| 47 | Oneonta | 43.00 | 7,013 | 3,465 | 185 | 3,280 | 0 |
| 48 | Hartselle | 43.00 | 16,011 | 2,910 | 225 | 2,686 | 0 |
| 49 | Muscle Shoals | 45.50 | 17,501 | 3,166 | 183 | 2,983 | 0 |
| 50 | Pell City | 46.50 | 14,250 | 2,498 | 295 | 2,204 | 0 |
| 51 | Robertsdale | 47.50 | 7,658 | 2,912 | 183 | 2,729 | 0 |
| 52 | Cullman | 48.50 | 20,433 | 2,682 | 215 | 2,467 | 3 |
| 53 | Orange Beach | 49.00 | 8,673 | 2,202 | 357 | 1,845 | 0 |
| 54 | Athens | 50.50 | 32,862 | 2,313 | 243 | 2,069 | 2 |
| 55 | Bay Minette | 51.00 | 8,456 | 2,046 | 414 | 1,632 | 2 |
| 56 | Opp | 53.50 | 6,760 | 2,263 | 222 | 2,041 | 0 |
| 57 | Gulf Shores | 54.00 | 17,413 | 2,079 | 287 | 1,792 | 0 |
| 58 | Oxford | 54.50 | 22,074 | 2,804 | 145 | 2,659 | 0 |
| 59 | Prattville | 55.50 | 39,818 | 2,117 | 226 | 1,891 | 0 |
| 60 | Albertville | 57.00 | 23,242 | 1,996 | 237 | 1,760 | 1 |
| 61 | Scottsboro | 60.50 | 15,960 | 1,974 | 201 | 1,773 | 0 |
| 62 | Hamilton | 63.00 | 6,963 | 1,924 | 187 | 1,738 | 1 |
| 63 | Calera | 64.00 | 18,747 | 1,563 | 235 | 1,328 | 0 |
| 64 | Odenville | 65.50 | 5,495 | 1,001 | 328 | 673 | 0 |
| 65 | Gardendale | 65.50 | 16,131 | 1,785 | 192 | 1,593 | 0 |
| 66 | Foley | 65.50 | 26,424 | 1,722 | 193 | 1,529 | 1 |
| 67 | Homewood | 65.50 | 27,884 | 2,105 | 151 | 1,955 | 0 |
| 68 | Russellville | 66.50 | 10,679 | 2,107 | 112 | 1,995 | 1 |
| 69 | Trussville | 66.50 | 26,964 | 2,110 | 137 | 1,973 | 0 |
| 70 | Madison | 67.50 | 62,087 | 1,538 | 211 | 1,327 | 2 |
| 71 | Headland | 69.50 | 5,456 | 1,521 | 183 | 1,338 | 0 |
| 72 | Irondale | 70.00 | 13,538 | 1,581 | 177 | 1,403 | 0 |
| 73 | Fort Payne | 71.00 | 14,984 | 1,775 | 160 | 1,615 | 0 |
| 74 | Springville | 73.50 | 5,381 | 1,487 | 167 | 1,319 | 1 |
| 75 | Wetumpka | 74.50 | 7,249 | 1,476 | 166 | 1,311 | 0 |
| 76 | Monroeville | 75.00 | 5,668 | 829 | 212 | 618 | 0 |
| 77 | Saraland | 75.50 | 16,505 | 1,787 | 85 | 1,703 | 0 |
| 78 | Moody | 77.50 | 13,720 | 1,013 | 175 | 838 | 1 |
| 79 | Alabaster | 77.50 | 34,349 | 1,610 | 99 | 1,511 | 0 |
| 80 | Pleasant Grove | 78.50 | 9,341 | 1,017 | 161 | 856 | 0 |
| 81 | Spanish Fort | 79.00 | 11,199 | 1,455 | 89 | 1,366 | 1 |
| 82 | Montevallo | 79.50 | 7,877 | 1,130 | 140 | 990 | 1 |
| 83 | Pelham | 80.00 | 25,419 | 893 | 165 | 728 | 0 |
| 84 | Fairhope | 80.50 | 25,782 | 1,261 | 109 | 1,152 | 0 |
| 85 | Auburn | 82.00 | 83,756 | 1,086 | 107 | 979 | 0 |
| 86 | Satsuma | 82.50 | 6,880 | 828 | 160 | 669 | 0 |
| 87 | Hoover | 84.00 | 92,352 | 1,335 | 78 | 1,257 | 3 |
| 88 | Rainbow City | 84.50 | 10,362 | 1,013 | 87 | 926 | 0 |
| 89 | Mountain Brook | 89.50 | 21,486 | 838 | 65 | 773 | 0 |
| 90 | Daphne | 89.50 | 31,256 | 899 | 54 | 845 | 0 |
| 91 | Vestavia Hills | 89.50 | 37,658 | 728 | 82 | 645 | 0 |
| 92 | Southside | 90.00 | 9,638 | 425 | 104 | 322 | 0 |
| 93 | Tuscumbia | 92.00 | 9,208 | 510 | 65 | 445 | 0 |
| 94 | Helena | 92.00 | 22,470 | 507 | 71 | 436 | 0 |
| 95 | Triana | 94.50 | 5,085 | 433 | 59 | 374 | 0 |
| 96 | Rainsville | 95.00 | 5,849 | 445 | 17 | 427 | 0 |
| 97 | Margaret | 97.00 | 6,641 | 105 | 0 | 105 | 0 |
Source: FBI UCR 2024. 97 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Locking It All Up In Alabama
So what is the most dangerous city in Alabama? After analyzing 97 cities in Alabama, Bessemer takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Alabama based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2024.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Bessemer ranks as the most dangerous city in Alabama for 2026.
The most dangerous cities in Alabama are Bessemer, Birmingham, Anniston, Atmore, Semmes, Alexander City, Roanoke, Andalusia, Phenix City, and Lanett.
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Bessemer and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up. Not sold on Alabama? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Alabama FAQs
Is Alabama a dangerous state?
Yes, Alabama is a dangerous state as it ranks as the #12 most dangerous state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Alabama ranks 14th most dangerous in the United States — 22.65% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Heart of Dixie ranks 19th most dangerous in the United States — 9.33% worse than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
Is Huntsville, AL a dangerous city?
No, Huntsville is not a dangerous city. Huntsville ranks as the #55 safest out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Huntsville might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Huntsville ranks 239th highest in America — 46.02% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 275th highest in the United States — 44.8% better than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
