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Birmingham, AL vs Opelika, AL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Birmingham crime rate · Opelika crime rate

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Is Birmingham, AL or Opelika, AL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Opelika, AL is safer than Birmingham, AL (Safety Score 16/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 3,185 per 100,000 versus 5,279 for Birmingham, AL — 40% lower. Birmingham has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Opelika has a 85% lower rate.

Note: Birmingham is 5.7x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Birmingham, AL?

Birmingham — 4-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Opelika — 4-Year Trend

Increasing 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

Opelika, AL

Opelika, AL
Safety Score 16/100
Coverage 34,448
Total Crime Rate 3,184.5
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Birmingham Opelika Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,278.9 3,184.5 +2,094.4
Violent Crime Rate 1,247.6 560.3 +687.3
Murder Rate 58.9 8.7 +50.1
Rape Rate 14.8 49.4 -34.5
Robbery Rate 201.1 55.2 +146.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 971.8 447.1 +524.7
Property Crime Rate 4,031.4 2,624.3 +1,407.1
Burglary Rate 729.7 206.1 +523.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,493.6 2,217.8 +275.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 808.0 200.3 +607.7

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

Moving from Birmingham, AL to Opelika, 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 Opelika safer?

Opelika, AL is safer with a total crime rate of 3,185 per 100K vs 5,279 for Birmingham, AL — a 40% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Birmingham has a violent crime rate of 1,247.6 per 100K while Opelika has 560.3. Opelika 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 Opelika, AL

Opelika, a historic railroad town in Lee County, sits near the fall line of the Appalachian foothills. It's home to the Museum of East Alabama, reflecting its deep Southern heritage. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 34,448, Opelika has a total crime rate of 3,184.5 per 100,000 residents.

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