Is Birmingham or Spokane Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Birmingham is safer than Spokane (Safety Score 3/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 5,279 per 100,000 versus 5,518 for Spokane — 4% lower. Birmingham has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Spokane has a 88% lower rate.
Birmingham — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Spokane — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Birmingham, AL
Spokane, WA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Birmingham | Spokane | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,278.9 | 5,518.3 | -239.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,247.6 | 677.5 | +570.1 |
| Murder Rate | 58.9 | 7.0 | +51.9 |
| Rape Rate | 14.8 | 76.7 | -61.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 201.1 | 145.1 | +56.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 971.8 | 446.1 | +525.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,031.4 | 4,840.8 | -809.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 729.7 | 646.5 | +83.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,493.6 | 3,668.8 | -1,175.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 808.0 | 525.4 | +282.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Birmingham or Spokane safer?
Birmingham is safer with a total crime rate of 5,279 per 100K vs 5,518 for Spokane — a 4% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Birmingham has a violent crime rate of 1,247.6 per 100K while Spokane has 677.5. Spokane 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 Spokane, WA
Spokane, the "Lilac City," sits on the Spokane River in Eastern Washington, near the Idaho border. Home to Fairchild Air Force Base, its population is around 229,000. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 229,529, Spokane has a total crime rate of 5,518.3 per 100,000 residents.