Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Selma, AL has a Safety Score of 18/100 — higher crime than 82% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,092.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,441 of 2,971 US cities and #43 of 61 in Alabama.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Selma, Alabama Safe?
Selma, Alabama, a city on the Alabama River, is famous for its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. This historic city in Dallas County has a predominantly African American population.
Selma has a safety score of 18/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,092.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Selma ranks #43 out of 61 cities in Alabama and #2441 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 18th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 82% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Selma is murder, at 12.3 per 100K — 2.0x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Selma's total crime rate increased by 12.1%, with violent crime declining 24.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Selma Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 101 | 619.7 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 12.3 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 3 | 18.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 5 | 30.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 91 | 558.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 403 | 2,472.5 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 90 | 552.2 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 286 | 1,754.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 27 | 165.7 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Selma vs Alabama Average
How does Selma's crime rate compare to the Alabama state average?
| Metric | Selma | Alabama Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 619.7 | 510.3 | +21.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,472.5 | 2,259.4 | +9.4% |
| Murder Rate | 12.3 | 13.1 | -6.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,092.2 | 2,769.7 | +11.6% |
Selma Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Selma, Alabama.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16,299 | 3,092.2 | 619.7 | 2,472.5 |
| 2023 | 16,639 | 2,758.6 | 823.4 | 1,935.2 |
| 2022 | 17,296 | 2,451.4 | 780.5 | 1,670.9 |
| 2021 | 16,309 | 1,882.4 | 625.4 | 1,257.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Selma, Alabama safe?
Selma has a safety score of 18/100, meaning it has less crime than about 18% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,092.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Selma is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Selma, Alabama?
According to FBI data for 2024, Selma has a violent crime rate of 619.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,472.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Selma compare to the national average?
Selma's total crime rate of 3,092.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 16,299 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Selma?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Selma include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Selma safe to visit?
Like any city, Selma has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 18/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.