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Hattiesburg, MS vs Laurel, MS Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Hattiesburg crime rate · Laurel crime rate

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Is Hattiesburg, MS or Laurel, MS Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Hattiesburg, MS is safer than Laurel, MS (Safety Score 11/100 vs 4/100), with a total crime rate of 3,687 per 100,000 versus 4,840 for Laurel, MS — 24% lower. Hattiesburg has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Hattiesburg has a 79% lower rate.

Note: Hattiesburg is 2.9x 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 Hattiesburg, MS?

Hattiesburg — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Laurel — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Flat Total

Hattiesburg, MS

Hattiesburg, MS
Safety Score 11/100
Coverage 48,307
Total Crime Rate 3,686.8
Category Wins 6/7

Laurel, MS

Laurel, MS
Safety Score 4/100
Coverage 16,922
Total Crime Rate 4,839.9
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Hattiesburg Laurel Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,686.8 4,839.9 -1,153.0
Violent Crime Rate 221.5 1,051.9 -830.4
Murder Rate 12.4 23.6 -11.2
Rape Rate 39.3 100.5 -61.1
Robbery Rate 33.1 94.6 -61.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 136.6 833.2 -696.6
Property Crime Rate 3,465.3 3,788.0 -322.6
Burglary Rate 370.6 715.1 -344.5
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,873.3 2,700.6 +172.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 221.5 372.3 -150.8

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

Moving from Hattiesburg, MS to Laurel, MS?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hattiesburg or Laurel safer?

Hattiesburg, MS is safer with a total crime rate of 3,687 per 100K vs 4,840 for Laurel, MS — a 24% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Hattiesburg has a violent crime rate of 221.5 per 100K while Laurel has 1,051.9. Hattiesburg has lower violent crime.

About Hattiesburg, MS

Hattiesburg, "The Hub City," is a South Mississippi city founded in 1882 by William H. Hardy. It is home to the University of Southern Mississippi and lies at the intersection of several major highways, serving as a regional center. With a safety score of 11/100 and a population coverage of 48,307, Hattiesburg has a total crime rate of 3,686.8 per 100,000 residents.

About Laurel, MS

Laurel, Mississippi, a city in Jones County, is known for its historic downtown, featured in a popular home renovation show. Situated in the Pine Belt region, it has a population of around 18,000 residents. With a safety score of 4/100 and a population coverage of 16,922, Laurel has a total crime rate of 4,839.9 per 100,000 residents.

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