Is Fort Payne or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Fort Payne is safer than Houston (Safety Score 47/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 1,775 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 67% lower. Fort Payne has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Fort Payne has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 154.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Fort Payne — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Fort Payne, AL
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Fort Payne | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,775.2 | 5,441.7 | -3,666.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 160.2 | 1,148.3 | -988.1 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 13.8 | -13.8 |
| Rape Rate | 20.0 | 73.0 | -53.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 0.0 | 274.0 | -274.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 140.2 | 787.4 | -647.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,615.1 | 4,293.5 | -2,678.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 287.0 | 644.8 | -357.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,194.6 | 2,945.7 | -1,751.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 133.5 | 703.0 | -569.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fort Payne or Houston safer?
Fort Payne is safer with a total crime rate of 1,775 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 67% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Fort Payne has a violent crime rate of 160.2 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Fort Payne has lower violent crime.
About Fort Payne, AL
Nestled in the Appalachian foothills, Fort Payne is a small city known as the "Sock Capital of the World." It was once home to the country music band Alabama and has a population of around 13,000. With a safety score of 47/100 and a population coverage of 14,984, Fort Payne has a total crime rate of 1,775.2 per 100,000 residents.
About Houston, TX
Houston, the "Space City," is a sprawling metropolis in Southeast Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Its diverse population makes it one of the most multicultural cities in the U.S., with significant Hispanic and Asian communities. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 2,319,160, Houston has a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents.