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Birmingham, AL vs Phoenix, AZ Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Birmingham crime rate · Phoenix crime rate

Moving from Birmingham, AL to Phoenix, AZ?

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Is Birmingham, AL or Phoenix, AZ Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Phoenix, AZ is safer than Birmingham, AL (Safety Score 17/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100,000 versus 5,279 for Birmingham, AL — 41% lower. Birmingham has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Phoenix has a 86% lower rate.

Note: Phoenix is 8.5x 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

Phoenix — 5-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

Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, AZ
Safety Score 17/100
Coverage 1,662,809
Total Crime Rate 3,125.4
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Birmingham Phoenix Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,278.9 3,125.4 +2,153.6
Violent Crime Rate 1,247.6 800.0 +447.6
Murder Rate 58.9 8.4 +50.5
Rape Rate 14.8 64.3 -49.5
Robbery Rate 201.1 181.6 +19.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 971.8 545.3 +426.4
Property Crime Rate 4,031.4 2,325.3 +1,706.0
Burglary Rate 729.7 317.2 +412.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,493.6 1,582.1 +911.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 808.0 426.0 +382.0

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

Moving from Birmingham, AL to Phoenix, AZ?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Birmingham or Phoenix safer?

Phoenix, AZ is safer with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100K vs 5,279 for Birmingham, AL — a 41% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Birmingham has a violent crime rate of 1,247.6 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. Phoenix 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 Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, Arizona, the "Valley of the Sun," is a sprawling desert metropolis with a rich Native American heritage, including the Hohokam people. It's the fifth-largest city in the United States by population, experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 1,662,809, Phoenix has a total crime rate of 3,125.4 per 100,000 residents.

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