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Birmingham, AL vs Gulf Shores, AL Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Birmingham crime rate · Gulf Shores crime rate

Moving from Birmingham, AL to Gulf Shores, AL?

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Is Birmingham, AL or Gulf Shores, AL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Gulf Shores, AL is safer than Birmingham, AL (Safety Score 38/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 2,079 per 100,000 versus 5,279 for Birmingham, AL — 61% lower. Birmingham has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Gulf Shores has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Birmingham is 11.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Birmingham, AL?

Birmingham — 4-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Gulf Shores — 4-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, AL
Safety Score 3/100
Coverage 195,418
Total Crime Rate 5,278.9
Category Wins 0/7

Gulf Shores, AL

Gulf Shores, AL
Safety Score 38/100
Coverage 17,413
Total Crime Rate 2,078.9
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Birmingham Gulf Shores Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,278.9 2,078.9 +3,200.0
Violent Crime Rate 1,247.6 287.1 +960.4
Murder Rate 58.9 0.0 +58.9
Rape Rate 14.8 28.7 -13.9
Robbery Rate 201.1 11.5 +189.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 971.8 246.9 +724.8
Property Crime Rate 4,031.4 1,791.8 +2,239.6
Burglary Rate 729.7 114.9 +614.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,493.6 1,625.2 +868.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 808.0 51.7 +756.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Birmingham, AL to Gulf Shores, AL?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Birmingham or Gulf Shores safer?

Gulf Shores, AL is safer with a total crime rate of 2,079 per 100K vs 5,279 for Birmingham, AL — a 61% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Birmingham has a violent crime rate of 1,247.6 per 100K while Gulf Shores has 287.1. Gulf Shores has lower violent crime.

About Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, Alabama, a city forged in the steel industry, sits at the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. It's the most populous city in Alabama's Jefferson County. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 195,418, Birmingham has a total crime rate of 5,278.9 per 100,000 residents.

About Gulf Shores, AL

Gulf Shores, Alabama, a popular spring break destination, sits on the Gulf of Mexico. Once a small fishing village, its year-round population is around 15,000, swelling significantly with tourists enjoying its white-sand beaches. With a safety score of 38/100 and a population coverage of 17,413, Gulf Shores has a total crime rate of 2,078.9 per 100,000 residents.

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