Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Athens, TN has a Safety Score of 7/100 — higher crime than 93% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,287.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,774 of 2,971 US cities and #54 of 59 in Tennessee.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Athens, Tennessee Safe?
Athens, nestled in McMinn County, is home to Tennessee Wesleyan University, founded in 1857. This small city in East Tennessee sits amidst the Appalachian foothills, reflecting a blend of academic heritage and rural charm.
Athens has a safety score of 7/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,287.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Athens ranks #54 out of 59 cities in Tennessee and #2774 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 7th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 93% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Athens is larceny-theft, at 2,930.0 per 100K — 1.8x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.5x the national rate.
Year over year, Athens's total crime rate increased by 1.7%, with violent crime rising 55.6%.
Athens Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 93 | 622.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 6.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 5 | 33.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 7 | 46.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 80 | 535.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 548 | 3,665.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 65 | 434.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 438 | 2,930.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 45 | 301.0 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Athens vs Tennessee Average
How does Athens's crime rate compare to the Tennessee state average?
| Metric | Athens | Tennessee Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 622.1 | 916.8 | -32.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,665.8 | 3,281.7 | +11.7% |
| Murder Rate | 6.7 | 13.0 | -48.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,287.9 | 4,198.5 | +2.1% |
Athens Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Athens, Tennessee.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14,949 | 4,287.9 | 622.1 | 3,665.8 |
| 2023 | 14,509 | 4,218.1 | 399.8 | 3,818.3 |
| 2022 | 14,409 | 6,489.0 | 832.8 | 5,656.2 |
| 2021 | 14,166 | 6,325.0 | 621.2 | 5,703.8 |
| 2020 | 14,059 | 6,636.3 | 931.8 | 5,704.5 |
| 2019 | 13,879 | 7,183.5 | 835.8 | 6,347.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Athens, Tennessee safe?
Athens has a safety score of 7/100, meaning it has less crime than about 7% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,287.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Athens is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Athens, Tennessee?
According to FBI data for 2024, Athens has a violent crime rate of 622.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,665.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Athens compare to the national average?
Athens's total crime rate of 4,287.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 14,949 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Athens?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Athens include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Athens safe to visit?
Like any city, Athens has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 7/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.