10 Most Dangerous Cities in Georgia
- College Park
- East Point
- Cordele
- Jesup
- Douglasville
- Griffin
- Brunswick
- Moultrie
- Macon
- Atlanta
1. College Park
The most dangerous city in Georgia is College Park, which has a population of 35,000 and a violent crime rate of 7,909 per 100,000 people. This makes College Park 228% more dangerous than the Georgia average. In 2022, crime rates were so high that residents had a 1 in 7 chance of being victims of any type of crime. Property crimes made up the majority of incidents, while violent crimes numbered a few dozen. Although College Park is the most dangerous place to live in Georgia in 2023, it is undergoing several renovation projects that are intended to bring new life into the city and make it safer.
2. East Point
East Point is one of Georgia’s most dangerous cities, having a crime rate that is 465% higher than the national average. In this city of just over 35,000 people, the chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 68. In 2022, there were 545 reported violent crimes and 3,741 property crimes in East Point. Property crime is much higher than violent crime, with the chance of becoming a victim being 1 in 10.
3. Cordele
Another one of the most dangerous cities in Georgia is Cordele. Located in Crisp County, Cordele has a population of 11,147 and a crime rate that is 133% higher than the Georgia average. In 2012, Cordele had the 4th highest murder rate in Georgia and the 4th highest rate of property crimes. Even in recent years, the crime rate has not improved much. Residents have an overall 1 in 11 chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime.
4. Jesup
With a population of 9,800, Jesup has a crime rate of 5,774 per 100k people, making the city’s crime rate 140% higher than the Georgia average. In 2021, there were 46 violent crimes and 406 reported property crimes. Many of the crime in Jesup stems from poverty and lack of opportunity.
5. Douglasville
Douglasville is located in Douglas County and has a population of 34,650. The crime rate in Douglasville is 5,775 per 100,000 people making the city 140% more dangerous than the state average. In 2021, Douglasville had 195 violent crimes and 1,792 property crimes. The overall chance of becoming the victim of a crime is 1 in 18. The violent crime rate is extremely high in proportion to the city’s population and stems from gang activity.
6. Griffin
Griffin has a population of 23,478 and a crime rate of 5,919 per 100,000 people. Griffin is 146% more dangerous than other cities in Georgia, and residents have a 1 in 17 chance of becoming a victim of any type of crime. In 2021 Griffin had seven murders, fifteen burglaries, and 213 assaults. This makes Griffin one of the most violent cities in Georgia. The chance of becoming a victim of any type of property crime is 1 in 21.
7. Brunswick
Brunswick is also one of the most dangerous places to live in Georgia. Brunswick is located near the Georgia coast, in Glynn county, and has a population of 15,210. The crime rate in Brunswick is 42% higher than the national average. The overall chance of becoming the victim of a crime is 1 in 24. In 2022, Brunswick had 202 violent crimes reported, and 637 property crimes reported. Despite this, Brunswick remains a powerful economic hub due to its proximity to coastal ports.
8. Moultrie
Moultrie has a population of 14,000 and a crime rate of 4,331. Total crime in Moultrie is 80% higher than the Georgia average, and residents have an overall 1 in 24 chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime. Most of the violent crime in Moultrie involves robberies and assaults, with no more than two murders recorded in 2021. However, this is still high compared to the city’s population. In the same year, the Moultrie was in the top ten places in Georgia with the highest property crime rate.
9. Macon
Macon has a population of 157,346 and a crime rate of 3,900 per 100,000. The crime rate in Macon is 62% higher than the state average, and residents have a 1 in 26 chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime. In 2021, over 1,459 violent crimes and 5,233 property crimes were reported in Macon. Macon also leads the country in homicides, and gun violence is rampant in the city. Much of the crime in Macon stems from gang activity and the drug trade. The chance of becoming the victim of any type of violent crime is 1 in 109.
10. Atlanta
One of Georgia’s largest cultural and economic hubs, Atlanta has a crime rate of 1,773 per 100,000 people. Crime in Atlanta is heavily dependent on location; crime is the worst in the South and Southwest parts of the city. In 2021, there were 3,724 violent incidents in Atlanta and 18,635 incidents of property crime. The chance of becoming the victim of a property crime is 1 in 27, while the chance of being the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 134.
Most Dangerous Cities in Georgia Bottom line
Despite many great things about Georgia, there are some cities you may want to avoid. To determine the most dangerous cities in Georgia, we took into consideration violent crime and property crime to determine where each city falls on this list. We used data from 2021 and 2022 from local and state sources as well as the FBI’s violent crime report.
These cities were chosen due to the amount of crime in relation to their population. However, cities like Macon and Atlanta are large enough to have entirely safe neighborhoods. Many people flock to cities like Atlanta due to job growth. Unfortunately, many of these towns are plagued by a lack of opportunity and gang violence and should likely be avoided if you are considering relocating.