Is Huntsville or Muscle Shoals Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Huntsville is safer than Muscle Shoals (Safety Score 22/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 2,872 per 100,000 versus 3,171 for Muscle Shoals — 9% lower. Huntsville has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Muscle Shoals has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Huntsville is 13.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Huntsville — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Muscle Shoals — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Huntsville, AL
Muscle Shoals, AL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Huntsville | Muscle Shoals | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,871.9 | 3,171.3 | -299.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 483.6 | 188.6 | +295.1 |
| Murder Rate | 8.3 | 0.0 | +8.3 |
| Rape Rate | 48.5 | 40.0 | +8.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 53.8 | 17.1 | +36.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 372.6 | 125.7 | +246.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,388.3 | 2,982.7 | -594.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 321.4 | 114.3 | +207.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,808.9 | 2,685.6 | -876.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 258.0 | 182.9 | +75.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Huntsville or Muscle Shoals safer?
Huntsville is safer with a total crime rate of 2,872 per 100K vs 3,171 for Muscle Shoals — a 9% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Huntsville has a violent crime rate of 483.6 per 100K while Muscle Shoals has 188.6. Muscle Shoals has lower violent crime.
About Huntsville, AL
Huntsville, Alabama, a city rooted in aerospace since the Space Race, sits in the Appalachian foothills. It's a growing tech hub with a significant population of highly educated professionals. With a safety score of 22/100 and a population coverage of 228,697, Huntsville has a total crime rate of 2,871.9 per 100,000 residents.
About Muscle Shoals, AL
Muscle Shoals, Alabama, a small city nestled by the Tennessee River, is renowned for its legendary recording studios, where countless music icons created hits. This Lauderdale County city has a population of around 16,000. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 17,501, Muscle Shoals has a total crime rate of 3,171.3 per 100,000 residents.