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Georgia is home to major metro areas, historic small towns, college communities, military cities, and some of the busiest travel corridors in the South. But crime risk is not evenly distributed across the state. Some cities report much higher violent-crime rates than others, especially when crime is measured per 100,000 residents.
This ranking looks specifically at reported violent crime, not overall safety, property crime, or neighborhood-level risk. Based on FBI Crime in the U.S. Table 8 data for Georgia in 2019, the Georgia cities with the highest violent-crime rates included College Park, Albany, Americus, Forest Park, and Bainbridge.
Methodology
This list ranks Georgia cities by reported violent-crime rate using the FBI’s 2019 Crime in the U.S. Table 8, which reports offenses known to law enforcement by state and city.
To keep the comparison more meaningful, only cities with a population of at least 10,000 were included. Cities were then ranked by violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
Formula used: violent-crime rate = reported violent crimes ÷ population × 100,000.
In this FBI table, violent crime includes murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Property crimes such as burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft are not included in the ranking score.
Important limitation: this is a 2019 reported-crime snapshot. It should not be read as a current 2026 crime ranking or as a judgment about every neighborhood in each city. Reported crime also excludes incidents that were not reported to law enforcement. For current statewide context, check the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime statistics page.
Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Georgia by Violent-Crime Rate
| Rank | City | Population | Violent crimes | Violent-crime rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College Park | 15,278 | 177 | 1,158.5 |
| 2 | Albany | 74,989 | 790 | 1,053.5 |
| 3 | Americus | 15,110 | 127 | 840.5 |
| 4 | Forest Park | 20,273 | 146 | 720.2 |
| 5 | Bainbridge | 11,986 | 81 | 675.8 |
| 6 | Clarkston | 12,840 | 73 | 568.5 |
| 7 | Warner Robins | 76,623 | 420 | 548.1 |
| 8 | Newnan | 40,720 | 222 | 545.2 |
| 9 | Monroe | 13,662 | 72 | 527.0 |
| 10 | Douglasville | 34,609 | 182 | 525.9 |
1. College Park
Violent-crime rate: 1,158.5 per 100,000 residents
Population: 15,278
Reported violent crimes: 177
Distance from Atlanta: about 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Atlanta
College Park ranks first on this list, with the highest reported violent-crime rate among Georgia cities with at least 10,000 residents in the 2019 FBI dataset.
The city sits directly beside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and parts of the airport complex are within College Park city limits. The city’s location gives it heavy movement from commuters, airport workers, travelers, hotels, rental-car traffic, and nearby commercial corridors. That does not explain away the crime rate, but it does help explain why citywide numbers may not reflect the experience of every resident or visitor.
For readers comparing places to live, College Park should be evaluated block by block, not only by the citywide violent-crime rate. The FBI figure is useful as a warning sign, but it should be paired with current local police data, neighborhood research, and recent trend information.
2. Albany
Violent-crime rate: 1,053.5 per 100,000 residents
Population: 74,989
Reported violent crimes: 790
Distance from Atlanta: about 182 miles (293 km) south of downtown Atlanta
Albany ranks second, and it stands out because of both its violent-crime rate and its total number of reported violent crimes. Unlike some smaller cities where a modest number of incidents can create a high per-capita rate, Albany reported 790 violent crimes in the 2019 FBI table.
Albany is one of the major cities in southwest Georgia and serves as a regional hub for government, health care, education, and commerce. It is also home to attractions such as the Flint RiverQuarium. But the 2019 data shows that violent crime was a serious issue relative to population size.
Anyone researching Albany should look beyond the citywide rate and compare specific areas, recent police reports, housing conditions, commute routes, and local crime trends. A citywide number can identify elevated risk, but it cannot tell you whether a particular street, apartment complex, or neighborhood is safe.
3. Americus
Violent-crime rate: 840.5 per 100,000 residents
Population: 15,110
Reported violent crimes: 127
Distance from Atlanta: about 135 miles (217 km) south of downtown Atlanta
Americus ranks third. With a population just over 15,000 in the FBI dataset, its 127 reported violent crimes produced a rate of 840.5 per 100,000 residents.
Americus is the county seat of Sumter County and is known for its historic downtown, nearby connections to Plains, and regional institutions. However, this ranking is based only on violent-crime rate, and Americus placed high because the number of reported violent crimes was large relative to the city’s population.
Small and mid-sized cities can produce sharp per-capita rates because each incident has a larger effect on the final number. That does not make the rate meaningless, but it does mean readers should compare multiple years of data before treating one year as a long-term pattern.
4. Forest Park
Violent-crime rate: 720.2 per 100,000 residents
Population: 20,273
Reported violent crimes: 146
Distance from Atlanta: about 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Atlanta
Forest Park ranks fourth. Located in Clayton County, it is part of the south metro Atlanta area and sits near major highways, airport-related traffic, commercial zones, and dense suburban development.
The city reported 146 violent crimes in the 2019 FBI table. With a population of 20,273, that produced a violent-crime rate of 720.2 per 100,000 residents.
Because Forest Park is close to Atlanta and major transportation routes, residents and visitors should interpret the citywide rate carefully. The number is a useful comparison point, but it does not separate residential crime, commercial-area incidents, traffic corridor crime, or neighborhood-level differences.
5. Bainbridge
Violent-crime rate: 675.8 per 100,000 residents
Population: 11,986
Reported violent crimes: 81
Distance from Atlanta: about 252 miles (406 km) south of downtown Atlanta
Bainbridge ranks fifth. It is located in southwest Georgia, near the Florida border, and had the smallest population among the top five cities in this ranking.
The city reported 81 violent crimes in 2019. Because Bainbridge had a population of 11,986 in the FBI table, that number translated into a violent-crime rate of 675.8 per 100,000 residents.
Bainbridge is a good example of why population thresholds matter in crime rankings. A city does not need a large total number of violent crimes to rank high if its population is relatively small. Readers should compare Bainbridge’s 2019 figure with later years before drawing conclusions about current risk.
6. Clarkston
Violent-crime rate: 568.5 per 100,000 residents
Population: 12,840
Reported violent crimes: 73
Distance from Atlanta: about 10 miles (16 km) east of downtown Atlanta
Clarkston ranks sixth. The city is located in DeKalb County, close to Atlanta, and is known for its diverse population and dense residential development.
In the 2019 FBI table, Clarkston reported 73 violent crimes. With a population of 12,840, that created a violent-crime rate of 568.5 per 100,000 residents.
Clarkston’s ranking shows why crime-rate articles should avoid broad language. A small, dense city near a major metro area can show a high per-capita rate, but citywide data still cannot describe the safety of every apartment community, street, school zone, or business district.
7. Warner Robins
Violent-crime rate: 548.1 per 100,000 residents
Population: 76,623
Reported violent crimes: 420
Distance from Atlanta: about 100 miles (161 km) south of downtown Atlanta
Warner Robins ranks seventh. Unlike several smaller cities on this list, Warner Robins had a much larger population in the FBI dataset and reported 420 violent crimes.
The city is a major community in Middle Georgia and is closely associated with Robins Air Force Base and the broader Macon-Warner Robins region. Its violent-crime rate of 548.1 per 100,000 residents placed it in the top ten under this methodology.
Because Warner Robins is larger than most cities on this list, neighborhood variation matters even more. The citywide figure should be treated as a broad indicator, not as a precise measure of risk for every part of the city.
8. Newnan
Violent-crime rate: 545.2 per 100,000 residents
Population: 40,720
Reported violent crimes: 222
Distance from Atlanta: about 39 miles (63 km) southwest of downtown Atlanta
Newnan ranks eighth. Located southwest of Atlanta, Newnan is one of the cities that should appear in a violent-crime-rate ranking but is often missed in less transparent “most dangerous” lists.
In the 2019 FBI table, Newnan reported 222 violent crimes and had a population of 40,720. That produced a violent-crime rate of 545.2 per 100,000 residents.
Newnan’s inclusion is important because it shows why a clear methodology changes the final list. If a ranking is based on violent-crime rate, Newnan belongs in the top ten. If a ranking is based on property crime, total crime, or recent trends, the list could look different.
9. Monroe
Violent-crime rate: 527.0 per 100,000 residents
Population: 13,662
Reported violent crimes: 72
Distance from Atlanta: about 46 miles (74 km) east of downtown Atlanta
Monroe ranks ninth. Located east of Atlanta in Walton County, Monroe reported 72 violent crimes in the 2019 FBI table.
Because the city’s listed population was 13,662, those 72 reported violent crimes produced a violent-crime rate of 527.0 per 100,000 residents.
Monroe is another example of why smaller cities require careful interpretation. A relatively small number of incidents can create a high rate, so readers should review current local data, recent changes, and neighborhood-level conditions before making relocation or travel decisions.
10. Douglasville
Violent-crime rate: 525.9 per 100,000 residents
Population: 34,609
Reported violent crimes: 182
Distance from Atlanta: about 22 miles (35 km) west of downtown Atlanta
Douglasville ranks tenth. Located west of Atlanta, it is part of the broader metro area and sits along key commuter and commercial routes.
Douglasville reported 182 violent crimes in the 2019 FBI table. With a population of 34,609, that created a violent-crime rate of 525.9 per 100,000 residents.
Because Douglasville is connected to the Atlanta metro economy and transportation network, the citywide rate should be read alongside more specific local information. For homebuyers and renters, the more useful question is not just whether Douglasville appears on a statewide list, but which areas have higher or lower reported incidents now.
Why Some Cities Are Not on This List
Some Georgia cities may have high property-crime rates, high total crime counts, or reputations for crime, but they do not appear here because this ranking uses one specific measure: reported violent-crime rate per 100,000 residents.
That distinction matters. A city with many thefts, burglaries, or vehicle break-ins might rank high for property crime but lower for violent crime. Another city may have a large number of total crimes simply because it has a larger population. This list controls for population size by using a rate per 100,000 residents.
It also explains why a large city such as Atlanta is not automatically number one in every crime ranking. Bigger cities often have more total incidents, but per-capita rankings can place smaller cities higher if their reported violent-crime count is large relative to their population.
How to Use This Ranking Responsibly
This list is useful for comparing reported violent-crime rates, but it should not be the only source used to judge whether a place is safe. Before moving to, visiting, or investing in any city, check current police data, neighborhood-level information, local news, school-zone context, and recent year-over-year trends.
Crime rates can also change. A city that ranked high in 2019 may improve in later years, while another city may worsen. Reporting practices, law-enforcement staffing, population changes, and local economic conditions can all affect crime data.
The safest way to read this list is as a starting point. It identifies Georgia cities that had elevated reported violent-crime rates in the 2019 FBI dataset, but it does not replace current local research.
Final Thoughts
Based on FBI UCR Table 8 data for Georgia in 2019, College Park had the highest reported violent-crime rate among Georgia cities with populations of at least 10,000, followed by Albany, Americus, Forest Park, and Bainbridge.
The biggest takeaway is not simply that these cities are “dangerous.” The more accurate conclusion is that these cities reported the highest violent-crime rates under a specific FBI dataset and methodology. For readers comparing Georgia communities, the most useful next step is to look at current local crime reports, neighborhood-level patterns, and multi-year trends before making any decision.