Is Birmingham or Springfield Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Birmingham is safer than Springfield (Safety Score 3/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 5,279 per 100,000 versus 5,364 for Springfield — 2% lower. Birmingham has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Springfield has a 90% lower rate.
Birmingham — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Springfield — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Birmingham, AL
Springfield, MO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Birmingham | Springfield | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,278.9 | 5,364.0 | -85.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,247.6 | 1,179.3 | +68.3 |
| Murder Rate | 58.9 | 5.9 | +53.0 |
| Rape Rate | 14.8 | 104.4 | -89.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 201.1 | 123.7 | +77.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 971.8 | 944.1 | +27.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,031.4 | 4,184.7 | -153.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 729.7 | 726.6 | +3.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,493.6 | 3,001.3 | -507.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 808.0 | 456.8 | +351.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Birmingham or Springfield safer?
Birmingham is safer with a total crime rate of 5,279 per 100K vs 5,364 for Springfield — a 2% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Birmingham has a violent crime rate of 1,247.6 per 100K while Springfield has 1,179.3. Springfield 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 Springfield, MO
Springfield, MO, "Queen City of the Ozarks," is a regional hub in southwest Missouri. Home to Bass Pro Shops' first store, it's a growing metropolitan area with a population of over 169,000. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 170,527, Springfield has a total crime rate of 5,364.0 per 100,000 residents.