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Birmingham, AL vs Selma, AL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Birmingham crime rate · Selma crime rate

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Is Birmingham, AL or Selma, AL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Selma, AL is safer than Birmingham, AL (Safety Score 18/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 3,092 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 robbery, where Selma has a 85% lower rate.

Note: Birmingham is 12.0x 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

Selma — 3-Year Trend

Flat 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

Selma, AL

Selma, AL
Safety Score 18/100
Coverage 16,299
Total Crime Rate 3,092.2
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Birmingham Selma Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,278.9 3,092.2 +2,186.7
Violent Crime Rate 1,247.6 619.7 +627.9
Murder Rate 58.9 12.3 +46.6
Rape Rate 14.8 18.4 -3.6
Robbery Rate 201.1 30.7 +170.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 971.8 558.3 +413.4
Property Crime Rate 4,031.4 2,472.5 +1,558.8
Burglary Rate 729.7 552.2 +177.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,493.6 1,754.7 +738.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 808.0 165.7 +642.4

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

Moving from Birmingham, AL to Selma, 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 Selma safer?

Selma, AL is safer with a total crime rate of 3,092 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 Selma has 619.7. Selma 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 Selma, AL

Selma, Alabama, a city on the Alabama River, is famous for its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. This historic city in Dallas County has a predominantly African American population. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 16,299, Selma has a total crime rate of 3,092.2 per 100,000 residents.

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