Is Huntsville or Vestavia Hills Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Vestavia Hills is safer than Huntsville (Safety Score 84/100 vs 22/100), with a total crime rate of 728 per 100,000 versus 2,872 for Huntsville — 75% lower. Huntsville has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Vestavia Hills has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Huntsville is 6.1x 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
Vestavia Hills — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Huntsville, AL
Vestavia Hills, AL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Huntsville | Vestavia Hills | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,871.9 | 727.6 | +2,144.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 483.6 | 82.3 | +401.3 |
| Murder Rate | 8.3 | 0.0 | +8.3 |
| Rape Rate | 48.5 | 15.9 | +32.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 53.8 | 0.0 | +53.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 372.6 | 66.4 | +306.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,388.3 | 645.3 | +1,743.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 321.4 | 63.7 | +257.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,808.9 | 533.8 | +1,275.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 258.0 | 47.8 | +210.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Huntsville or Vestavia Hills safer?
Vestavia Hills is safer with a total crime rate of 728 per 100K vs 2,872 for Huntsville — a 75% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Huntsville has a violent crime rate of 483.6 per 100K while Vestavia Hills has 82.3. Vestavia Hills 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 Vestavia Hills, AL
Vestavia Hills, an affluent Birmingham suburb, grew significantly after WWII. It's known for its Vestavia Temple replica and sits atop Shades Mountain, primarily home to well-educated professionals. With a safety score of 84/100 and a population coverage of 37,658, Vestavia Hills has a total crime rate of 727.6 per 100,000 residents.