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Philadelphia, PA vs Selma, AL Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Philadelphia crime rate · Selma crime rate

Moving from Philadelphia, PA to Selma, AL?

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Is Philadelphia, PA or Selma, AL Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Selma, AL is safer than Philadelphia, PA (Safety Score 18/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 3,092 per 100,000 versus 5,458 for Philadelphia, PA — 43% lower. Philadelphia has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Selma has a 89% lower rate.

Note: Philadelphia is 95.1x 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 SAFER than Philadelphia, PA?

Philadelphia — 4-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Selma — 3-Year Trend

Flat Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, PA
Safety Score 3/100
Coverage 1,549,259
Total Crime Rate 5,458.5
Category Wins 1/7

Selma, AL

Selma, AL
Safety Score 18/100
Coverage 16,299
Total Crime Rate 3,092.2
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Philadelphia Selma Difference
Total Crime Rate 5,458.5 3,092.2 +2,366.3
Violent Crime Rate 910.3 619.7 +290.6
Murder Rate 16.9 12.3 +4.6
Rape Rate 46.1 18.4 +27.7
Robbery Rate 273.2 30.7 +242.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 572.5 558.3 +14.2
Property Crime Rate 4,548.2 2,472.5 +2,075.6
Burglary Rate 319.0 552.2 -233.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 3,223.6 1,754.7 +1,468.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 1,005.6 165.7 +839.9

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

Moving from Philadelphia, PA to Selma, AL?

An out-of-state move adds new driver's license, plates, voter registration and deadlines that differ by state. The Moving Checklist Planner dates every task from your move-in day — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Philadelphia or Selma safer?

Selma, AL is safer with a total crime rate of 3,092 per 100K vs 5,458 for Philadelphia, PA — a 43% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Philadelphia has a violent crime rate of 910.3 per 100K while Selma has 619.7. Selma has lower violent crime.

About Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, the birthplace of American independence, is Pennsylvania's largest city. Situated along the Delaware River, its diverse population contributes to a rich urban tapestry. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 1,549,259, Philadelphia has a total crime rate of 5,458.5 per 100,000 residents.

About Selma, AL

Selma, Alabama, a city on the Alabama River, is famous for its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. This historic city in Dallas County has a predominantly African American population. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 16,299, Selma has a total crime rate of 3,092.2 per 100,000 residents.

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