Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Bessemer, AL has a Safety Score of 1/100 — higher crime than 100% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 8,867.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,960 of 2,971 US cities and #61 of 61 in Alabama.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Bessemer, Alabama Safe?
Bessemer, a city in Jefferson County, was founded by the Bessemer Land and Improvement Company. It lies southwest of Birmingham and was historically known as "The Marvel City" for its rapid growth and industrial output, primarily steel.
Bessemer has a safety score of 1/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 8,867.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Bessemer ranks #61 out of 61 cities in Alabama and #2960 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 0th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 100% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Bessemer is murder, at 44.5 per 100K — 7.2x the national average.
Year over year, Bessemer's total crime rate decreased by 13.9%, with violent crime declining 26.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Bessemer Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 431 | 1,743.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 11 | 44.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 15 | 60.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 40 | 161.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 365 | 1,476.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,761 | 7,123.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 284 | 1,148.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,252 | 5,064.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 225 | 910.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bessemer vs Alabama Average
How does Bessemer's crime rate compare to the Alabama state average?
| Metric | Bessemer | Alabama Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,743.5 | 510.3 | +241.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 7,123.8 | 2,259.4 | +215.3% |
| Murder Rate | 44.5 | 13.1 | +240.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 8,867.3 | 2,769.7 | +220.2% |
Bessemer Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Bessemer, Alabama.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24,720 | 8,867.3 | 1,743.5 | 7,123.8 |
| 2023 | 24,915 | 10,299.0 | 2,368.1 | 7,931.0 |
| 2022 | 25,265 | 9,372.7 | 1,844.5 | 7,528.2 |
| 2021 | 25,911 | 1,732.9 | 420.7 | 1,312.2 |
| 2020 | 26,347 | 6,015.9 | 1,696.6 | 4,319.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bessemer, Alabama safe?
Bessemer has a safety score of 1/100, meaning it has less crime than about 1% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 8,867.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Bessemer is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Bessemer, Alabama?
According to FBI data for 2024, Bessemer has a violent crime rate of 1,743.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 7,123.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Bessemer compare to the national average?
Bessemer's total crime rate of 8,867.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 24,720 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Bessemer?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Bessemer include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Bessemer safe to visit?
Like any city, Bessemer has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 1/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.