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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Gadsden, AL has a Safety Score of 17/100 — higher crime than 83% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,159.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,451 of 2,957 US cities and #43 of 60 in Alabama.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Gadsden, AL?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Gadsden, Alabama Safe?
Gadsden, a city in northeast Alabama's Appalachian foothills, sits on the Coosa River. It was a major industrial hub, home to Republic Steel, and is the county seat of Etowah County.
Gadsden has a safety score of 17/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,159.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Gadsden ranks #43 out of 60 cities in Alabama and #2451 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 17th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 83% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Gadsden is murder, at 12.1 per 100K — 1.9x the national average. Conversely, rape is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Gadsden's total crime rate decreased by 30%, with violent crime declining 7.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Gadsden Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 192 | 581.6 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 4 | 12.1 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 4 | 12.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 16 | 48.5 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 168 | 508.9 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 851 | 2,577.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 97 | 293.8 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 682 | 2,065.7 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 72 | 218.1 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Gadsden vs Alabama Average
How does Gadsden's crime rate compare to the Alabama state average?
| Metric | Gadsden | Alabama Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 581.6 | 512.5 | +13.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,577.6 | 2,269.3 | +13.6% |
| Murder Rate | 12.1 | 13.1 | -7.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,159.2 | 2,781.8 | +13.6% |
Gadsden Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Gadsden, Alabama.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 33,015 | 3,159.2 | 581.6 | 2,577.6 |
| 2023 | 33,067 | 4,515.1 | 629.0 | 3,886.1 |
| 2022 | 33,521 | 4,612.0 | 593.7 | 4,018.4 |
| 2021 | 34,613 | 4,706.3 | 754.1 | 3,952.3 |
| 2020 | 34,791 | 2,003.4 | 339.2 | 1,664.2 |
Gadsden Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Gadsden and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Alabama crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gadsden, Alabama safe?
Gadsden has a safety score of 17/100, meaning it has less crime than about 17% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,159.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Gadsden is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Gadsden, Alabama?
According to FBI data for 2024, Gadsden has a violent crime rate of 581.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,577.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Gadsden compare to the national average?
Gadsden's total crime rate of 3,159.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 33,015 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Gadsden?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Gadsden are larceny-theft (682 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (168 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.4x in the city.
Is Gadsden safe to visit?
Like any city, Gadsden has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 17/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.