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Birmingham, AL vs Helena, AL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Birmingham crime rate · Helena crime rate

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Is Birmingham, AL or Helena, AL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Helena, AL is safer than Birmingham, AL (Safety Score 92/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 507 per 100,000 versus 5,279 for Birmingham, AL — 90% lower. Birmingham has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Birmingham is 8.7x 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 SAFER than Birmingham, AL?

Birmingham — 4-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Helena — 4-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Birmingham, AL

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

Helena, AL

Helena, AL
Safety Score 92/100
Coverage 22,470
Total Crime Rate 507.3
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Birmingham Helena Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,278.9 507.3 +4,771.6
Violent Crime Rate 1,247.6 71.2 +1,176.4
Murder Rate 58.9 0.0 +58.9
Rape Rate 14.8 8.9 +5.9
Robbery Rate 201.1 0.0 +201.1
Aggravated Assault Rate 971.8 62.3 +909.5
Property Crime Rate 4,031.4 436.1 +3,595.2
Burglary Rate 729.7 53.4 +676.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,493.6 329.3 +2,164.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 808.0 53.4 +754.6

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

Moving from Birmingham, AL to Helena, 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 Helena safer?

Helena, AL is safer with a total crime rate of 507 per 100K vs 5,279 for Birmingham, AL — a 90% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Birmingham has a violent crime rate of 1,247.6 per 100K while Helena has 71.2. Helena 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 Helena, AL

Helena, once a bustling railroad town, sits along the Cahaba River in Shelby County. This picturesque community, part of the Birmingham metropolitan area, has experienced significant population growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 92/100 and a population coverage of 22,470, Helena has a total crime rate of 507.3 per 100,000 residents.

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