Crime Rate in Atlanta, GA: Is it Increasing?
No, violent crime in Atlanta has been on a downward trend. After a peak between 2018 and 2021, the city experienced a significant decline in violent crime for three consecutive years. By 2024, the violent crime rate reached a historic low of 50.3 incidents per 10,000 residents, marking a 31% decrease since 2021 and a 60% decrease since 2009.
In 2023, specific categories saw notable reductions:
- Homicides: Decreased by 21% compared to 2022, with 135 cases reported.
- Aggravated Assault: Fell by 16%.
However, property crimes saw a slight uptick. In 2023, property crimes increased by 7%, with auto thefts being the most significant contributor.
Where Does Georgia Rank in Crime Rate?
As of the latest data, Georgia's violent crime rate stands at 367.0 incidents per 100,000 residents, placing it around the middle compared to other U.S. states.
Bibb County, which includes Macon and is located south of Atlanta, has one of the highest crime rates in the state, with 52.65 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Is Atlanta, GA Safe?
Atlanta has some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the country. Depending on the category, the crime rate in Atlanta, GA city overall has crime rates that can be higher than urban Chicago or Washington D.C.
Fortunately, these are averages and don't apply to every nook and cranny of the larger metro area. The safest neighborhoods in Atlanta are places with some of the lowest crime rates you can find in a major urban zone.
These five neighborhoods, in particular, stand out as safe areas in Atlanta, with extra attention given to places that are affordable and easy to reach from the shopping and work opportunities of the city center.
5 Safest Neighborhoods in Atlanta:
- Brookhaven
- Peachtree Heights East
- Chastain Park
- Argonne Forest
- North Buckhead
Keep Your Atlanta Home Safe and Secure
If your neighborhood isn't on this short list, don't worry or start planning your move just yet. Instead, read on to see what makes these places so safe, and plan to improve your own home security by calling (800) 552-1111 or getting an instant security quote online today.
Note: This list uses information and statistics from various studies and sources, including official FBI crime data and information from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Brookhaven
Brookhaven is a family-friendly community located entirely within DeKalb County on the north side of Atlanta. Home to both the Peachtree Creek Greenway and the Brookhaven Historical District, the area got its start after the Civil War as an out-of-town getaway for Atlanta's wealthier families. Today, the median home value here is $525,000, and the average rent is $1,444.
Unlike a lot of low-crime neighborhoods on this list, Brookhaven actually has a smaller-than-average population of seniors, who make up just 10% of the total population. Instead, the area is popular with families for its relative isolation in the suburban sprawl, yet with easy freeway access to downtown Atlanta.
- Population: 55,366
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 98.7
- Property Crimes per 100k: 836.8
Peachtree Heights East
Fulton County has an overall population of more than 1 million people, but the tiny enclave of Peachtree Heights East only houses 1/10 of 1% of them, with just over 1,000 people in roughly 400 households. The crime rate in this area is basically zero. Across multiple years of crime stats, no cases of murder, robbery, assault or other violent personal crimes have been reported, and even among property crimes the only entries are the occasional theft. Burglaries in this neighborhood are nearly unheard of, and evidence of vandalism is hard to find.
Unlike many low-crime areas, Peachtree Heights East is not a hideaway for the rich. The neighborhood's median home value is just $182,000, with no figures for average rental cost because there are no rental units in the area. This is a place for working and middle-class families, retired seniors, and people who like to live far away from the dangers of urban Atlanta.
- Population: 1,058
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 0 (It has been many years since a violent incident has been reported in Peachtree Heights East)
- Property Crimes per 100k: 291.6 (With 0 burglaries in the dataset)
Chastain Park
Chastain Park is a mixed residential/commercial zone in Fulton County, home to the Chastain Arts Center and the Chastain Park Playground. The median home value here is over $1 million, though rents are affordable by local standards, at an average of $1,489 a month. Chastain Park is an almost perfect balance of every population trend in America. It is politically moderate, ethnically and racially balanced in a way that reflects national averages, and its residents run the gamut from white-collar workers and office temps to urban professionals and a higher-than-average number of people with post-secondary education.
Chastain Park is one of the safest neighborhoods in America, not just Atlanta. Between 2010 and 2020, the area reported 0 violent crimes and very few property offenses. The property crimes that get reported here break down into nonviolent thefts, motor vehicle offenses, and occasional break-ins.
- Population: 2,853
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 0 (None reported)
- Property Crimes per 100k: 303.7
Argonne Forest
Argonne Forest is the wealthiest enclave in the Atlanta region. Home to several families employed in the local defense tech sector, this small neighborhood has a sparse urban feel with very few businesses and close to a 100% homeownership rate. The median home price in Argonne Forest is nearly $1.8 million, almost 8 times the national average for a new single-family home.
- Population: 596
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 18.8 (Robbery only; no other categories of violent crime have been reported for many years)
- Property Crimes per 100k: 112.8
North Buckhead
North Buckhead is a popular place for urban professionals and young families who need to be close enough to work in Atlanta and want to stay somewhere with lively nightlife. The mixed residential/commercial neighborhood has an extremely low rate of violent crime and a low- to moderate property crime rate. It's also home to numerous parks and green spaces, including Mountain Way Common and access to the North Fork Peachtree Creek Trail.
Despite being one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the Buckhead district, North Buckhead maintains a strong sense of community safety, thanks to active neighborhood associations and local patrols. Its combination of location, livability, and relatively low crime makes it one of the most desirable places to live in the city.
- Population: 9,146
- Violent Crimes Per 100k: 43.1
- Property Crimes per 100k: 524.7
Invest in Your Safety, No Matter Where You Live
Even in Atlanta's safest neighborhoods, crime is never zero. What makes these areas stand out is a combination of community awareness, strong infrastructure, and proactive security—often starting at home.
Whether you live in Buckhead, Bankhead, or anywhere in between, your peace of mind is priceless. Ackerman Security offers customized solutions to protect your home and loved ones, backed by decades of experience in the Atlanta area.
Don't wait for crime to come to your doorstep—secure your home with a name Atlanta trusts.
Trust Ackerman for True Peace of Mind.
No matter what Atlanta neighborhood you've settled in, you can rely on Ackerman Security to help keep you safe with top-level home security and automation systems. Since 1967, local residents have known they can trust us for the best in home security systems. Call us today at (800) 552-1111 for a free quote, and be sure to ask about our No-theft 200% guarantee.
