Is Muscle Shoals or Phoenix Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Phoenix is safer than Muscle Shoals (Safety Score 17/100 vs 17/100), with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100,000 versus 3,171 for Muscle Shoals — 1% lower. Muscle Shoals has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Muscle Shoals has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Phoenix is 95.0x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Muscle Shoals — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Phoenix — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Muscle Shoals, AL
Phoenix, AZ
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Muscle Shoals | Phoenix | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,171.3 | 3,125.4 | +45.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 188.6 | 800.0 | -611.5 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 8.4 | -8.4 |
| Rape Rate | 40.0 | 64.3 | -24.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 17.1 | 181.6 | -164.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 125.7 | 545.3 | -419.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,982.7 | 2,325.3 | +657.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 114.3 | 317.2 | -202.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,685.6 | 1,582.1 | +1,103.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 182.9 | 426.0 | -243.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Muscle Shoals or Phoenix safer?
Phoenix is safer with a total crime rate of 3,125 per 100K vs 3,171 for Muscle Shoals — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Muscle Shoals has a violent crime rate of 188.6 per 100K while Phoenix has 800.0. Muscle Shoals has lower violent crime.
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.
About Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, Arizona, the "Valley of the Sun," is a sprawling desert metropolis with a rich Native American heritage, including the Hohokam people. It's the fifth-largest city in the United States by population, experiencing rapid growth in recent decades. With a safety score of 17/100 and a population coverage of 1,662,809, Phoenix has a total crime rate of 3,125.4 per 100,000 residents.