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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Decatur, AL has a Safety Score of 21/100 — higher crime than 79% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,915.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,354 of 2,971 US cities and #40 of 61 in Alabama.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Decatur, Alabama Safe?
Decatur, "The River City," sits on the Tennessee River in Morgan County. This North Alabama city, historically a railroad hub, is now home to a diverse population of over 55,000 residents.
Decatur has a safety score of 21/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,915.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Decatur ranks #40 out of 61 cities in Alabama and #2354 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 21st percentile for safety — with higher crime than 79% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Decatur is aggravated assault, at 499.0 per 100K — 1.5x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.5x the national rate.
Year over year, Decatur's total crime rate increased by 0.4%, with violent crime rising 23.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Decatur Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 355 | 606.7 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 5 | 8.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 32 | 54.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 26 | 44.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 292 | 499.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,351 | 2,308.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 113 | 193.1 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,073 | 1,833.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 165 | 282.0 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Decatur vs Alabama Average
How does Decatur's crime rate compare to the Alabama state average?
| Metric | Decatur | Alabama Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 606.7 | 510.3 | +18.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,308.9 | 2,259.4 | +2.2% |
| Murder Rate | 8.5 | 13.1 | -34.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,915.5 | 2,769.7 | +5.3% |
Decatur Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Decatur, Alabama.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 58,514 | 2,915.5 | 606.7 | 2,308.9 |
| 2023 | 58,005 | 2,903.2 | 489.6 | 2,413.6 |
| 2022 | 57,831 | 3,053.7 | 430.6 | 2,623.2 |
| 2021 | 54,240 | 1,178.1 | 94.0 | 1,084.1 |
| 2020 | 54,295 | 1,534.2 | 163.9 | 1,370.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Decatur, Alabama safe?
Decatur has a safety score of 21/100, meaning it has less crime than about 21% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,915.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Decatur is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Decatur, Alabama?
According to FBI data for 2024, Decatur has a violent crime rate of 606.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,308.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Decatur compare to the national average?
Decatur's total crime rate of 2,915.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 58,514 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Decatur?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Decatur include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Decatur safe to visit?
Like any city, Decatur has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 21/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.