Georgia is home to beautiful coastal beaches, historic and charming towns, and of course, the belle of Georgia peach trees. Like many places in the US, though, Georgia is also home to some unsafe cities where property crimes and violence can occur more often than others.
Whether you're a first-time home buyer or a business owner looking to set up shop in a new neighborhood, you might be wondering about the safety in your area.
In this blog we've compiled a list of the 10 most dangerous cities in Georgia:
- College Park
- Americus
- Albany
- Forest Park
- Warner Robins
- Douglasville
- Morrow
- Bainbridge
- Waynesboro
- Clarkston
If you see your town or a familiar city on this list, don't worry. As a leading home security provider, Ackerman offers state-of-the-art security systems to help keep you and your family safe. For a free instant security quote, call us at 800.552.1111 or schedule online today.
Note: We've compiled this list by pulling statistics from various sources, including official FBI crime data and information from RoadSnacks.
College Park
Located right next to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, College Park is ranked the #1 most dangerous city in Georgia.
Although it has a suburban feel, given the number of visitors traveling through the Atlanta airport (one of the nation's largest and busiest airports), there are greater reports of property crimes and car thefts. Unfortunately, there's also a higher level of violent crime. The US average is 1 in 293, but in College Park, residents face a 1 in 83 chance of being the victim of a violent crime.
Here are some College Park crime stats at a glance:
- Population: 15,278
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,158 (#1 most dangerous in all of Georgia)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 6,794 (second most dangerous in Georgia)
To protect yourself and your family, lock your doors, windows, and vehicles, and always be mindful of your surroundings.
Americus
Located in Sumter County in southeastern Georgia, Americus is a charming town that many visitors frequently visit. Although it has a quiet and relaxing feel, Americus ranks #2 on the list of Georgia's most dangerous cities.
The number of property crimes and personal belonging thefts in Americus has gone up in recent years (previously it ranked #4), with residents reporting 677 counts of larceny in 2020 alone. For a town with less than 20,000 people, that's high.
Here are some Americus crime stats at a glance:
- Population: 15,110
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 840 (third most dangerous in Georgia)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,526 (fourth most dangerous in Georgia)
To protect yourself and your family, always lock your doors, windows, and vehicles. Additionally, consider participating in a neighborhood watch program. The more people looking out for each other's property and safety, the better.
Albany
Located in southwest Georgia, Albany is home to many ecological attractions, including zoos, parks, the Flint RiverQuarium (a family-friendly aquarium), the Wetherbee Planetarium and other science and history museums.
Most notably, Albany is home to the Ray Charles museum, as the late singer was born there.
Unfortunately, Albany isn't a terribly safe place to live, as the murder rate is three times the national average.
Here are some Albany crime stats at a glance:
- Population: 74,989
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,053 (second most dangerous in Georgia)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,603 (sixth most dangerous in Georgia)
To protect yourself and your family, be aware of your surroundings, especially when outdoors alone. You may even consider taking self-defense classes at the local community center or purchasing some pepper spray. Be especially careful getting in and out of your vehicle in darkened areas or when entering your home.
Forest Park
Part of the Atlanta metropolitan area, Forest Park has seen an increase in crime, as it wasn't previously on the list of most dangerous cities in Georgia.
Although it has a dense suburban feel, Forest Park ranks in the top ten violent crime rates statewide for both rape and murder. There's also been a considerable number of property and larceny crimes as of late.
Here are some Forest Park crime stats at a glance:
- Population: 20,273
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 720 (fourth most dangerous in Georgia)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,454 (seventh most in Georgia)
If you live in or near a dangerous neighborhood, there are actions you can take. Don't just sit still and become a victim. It may seem obvious enough, but check that your windows and doors are always locked. You might also consider investing in a home security system.
Warner Robins
Located in central Georgia, Warner Robins is home to the Robins Air Force Base, the Museum of Aviation, the Southeast Regional Little League Headquarters and other family-friendly tourist destinations.
Having increased in population over the years, more and more people are choosing to lay down roots in Warner Robins. Unfortunately, in tandem with the new growth, the city has seen an uptick in burglary, property crimes, larceny and more.
Here are some Warner Robins crime stats at a glance:
- Population: 76,623
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 548 (seventh most dangerous in Georgia)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,710 (Fifth most dangerous in Georgia)
To protect your home, get a security system installed. Newer systems come with automated smart locks for convenience and peace of mind.
Douglasville
Located in the western part of the Atlanta Metropolitan area, Douglasville has a friendly, small-town feel.
While there is a sense of strong community with many family-friendly events, the city has seen an unfortunate increase in larceny and property crime rates.
Here are some Douglasville crime stats at a glance:
- Population: 34,609
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 525 (tenth most dangerous in Georgia)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 5,816 (third most dangerous in Georgia)
To keep you and your family safe, install a security system with automated exterior lighting around your home. Also, make sure to trim back bushes. Darkness is the friend of a burglar, as are hiding places. Eliminate them!
Morrow
Morrow is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area and is a relatively small suburb. It's new to the list of most dangerous cities in Georgia due to the recent increase in larceny reports.
In 2021, Morrow outranks the national crime rate by almost 300%. However, because of its smaller population, the crime stats are high. This could change, depending on how the city responds to its recent wave of crime.
Here are some Morrow crime stats at a glance:
- Population: 7,636
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 419 (fourteenth most dangerous in Georgia)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 9,062 (most dangerous in Georgia)
To protect yourself and your family, consider installing an alarm system for your garage. Car theft is very common in these high-crime areas, and it's well worth the investment to protect your ability to get to work and school.
Bainbridge
Located in Decatur County, Bainbridge is a charming town in southern Georgia. One of the first European settlements, the town has many tree-lined streets and old Victorian homes and buildings.
Despite its charm, Bainbridge has seen an alarming increase in crime— almost 85% higher than the national average— most notably aggravated assault, larceny and property crimes.
Here are some Bainbridge crime stats at a glance:
- Population: 11,986
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 675 (fifth most dangerous in Georgia)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,912 (tenth most dangerous in Georgia)
Security systems are more affordable than ever. Many offer lost-cost monitoring services for burglary, and some even allow you to watch and control your home's security from your phone or tablet, no matter where you are.
Waynesboro
Waynesboro is located on the eastern side of Georgia, about 30 miles south of Augusta, and has a welcoming, hometown feel.
Unfortunately, Waynesboro also has one of the highest murder rates in Georgia. For this reason, in addition to its recent increase in larceny reports, it ranks #9 on the list of Georgia's most dangerous cities.
Here are some Waynesboro crime stats at a glance:
- Population: 5,387
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 426 (Thirteenth most dangerous in Georgia)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,916 (ninth most dangerous in Georgia)
Keep your family, home, and/or business safe with a security system. You might even consider installing video surveillance, so you can monitor activity 24/7.
Clarkston
Located outside of Atlanta on the northeastern side, Clarkston is a historic town with a fast-growing population size.
Coming in at #10 on the list of Georgia's most dangerous cities, Clarkston continues to experience an alarming number of larceny reports, burglaries, and even murders.
Here are some Clarkston crime stats at a glance:
- Population: 12,840
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 568 (Sixth most dangerous in Georgia)
- Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,936 (16th most dangerous in Georgia)
Remember: you don't have to become a victim of crime statistics. To protect yourself, your family, and your home from robbery, property damage, and violent crime, have security installed today.
Are you moving to or living in one of these 10 Georgia cities? Let Ackerman secure your home!
For more than 50 years, Ackerman Security has helped Georgia homeowners and businesses stay safe and secure. When you install a home security system, you'll gain peace of mind that you're protected from theft, home invasions, and more.
To learn more about the types of security systems we offer, give us a call at 800.552.1111 or schedule a free instant security quote online.