The Best Home Security Systems in Decatur, AL
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Decatur, AL? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Decatur, AL home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Decatur every 3 hours 43 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Decatur experiences 34.73 property crimes per 1000 people and 25.76 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Decatur, AL
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Decatur. The combination of a high amount of renters (33%) and education level (24% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Best Reputation
ADT
Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Decatur, AL?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Decatur, AL. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular city rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Decatur, AL and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Decatur, AL
Our analysis gives Decatur a property crime grade of: D+. Decatur is in the 75th percentile of safety, meaning 75% of cities in Alabama are safer and 25% are more dangerous. Please visit our Decatur crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the southern part of Decatur, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 17. Compare this to the southeastern part of the city, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 60.
D
C+ |
|
D+ |
|
Other Crime Grade |
F |
A crime occurs every 1 hour 50 minutes (on average) in Decatur, AL.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Decatur safe? Compared to all of Alabama, Decatur is rated as safe as the average Alabama city, which has a property crime rate of 26.84 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Decatur, with its burglary rate of 8.863 per 1000, is as safe as the average Alabama city.
In addition, Decatur is higher than other cities with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Decatur, AL.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Decatur, AL |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
24.80 |
1,677 |
32.3 |
Vehicle Theft |
0.6756 |
46 |
0.9 |
Burglary |
8.863 |
599 |
11.5 |
Arson |
0.3838 |
26 |
0.5 |
Weather and Climate in Decatur, AL
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Decatur, AL
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Decatur, AL is 60.00 degrees, reaching 98.34 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has held steady compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 98.02 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Decatur was built in 1980, which is about average compared to the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Alabama build in 1987.
Between hotter seasonal temperatures and average home ages in Decatur, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Decatur, AL
Decatur, AL gets an average rainfall of 1.7" per year. This is similar to the average of 1.7" for Alabama.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Decatur, AL
Decatur, AL reaches an average of 49.44 degrees in its cold months of January & December. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 57.02 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Decatur is 43 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average Alabama home that's 36 years old and about the same amount of time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Decatur home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Decatur, AL
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Decatur home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 33.24% (21,054) of people in Decatur, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 66.76% or 42,291 of Decatur residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 93% of people who commute an average of 25 minutes to work in or around Decatur, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 5% of Decatur residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Decatur tend to have a lower median household income than nearby cities, earning $58,544 annually. In addition, 24.0% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Decatur is $152,556. Compared to the median home value in Alabama of $185,232, your home value will probably be lower. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Decatur, AL
There are 15 police stations within the boundaries of Decatur, and 0 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Decatur center, there are 108 police stations. Compared to other cities, police response times in Decatur may be about average. When response times are fairly typical, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| Alabama State Troopers 202 Highway 31 South Decatur, AL 35601 (256) 353-0631 dps.alabama.gov |
Decatur Police Department Flint Annex Decatur, AL 35601 (256) 301-3063 |
Decatur Police Department 402 Lee St Ne Decatur, AL 35601 (256) 341-4600 decaturalabamausa.com |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Near Decatur, AL
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Decatur, AL? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priceville, AL | A- | A+ | more safe |
| Trinity, AL | C | C | more safe |
| Mooresville, AL | C+ | B- | more safe |
| Oak Ridge, AL | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Belle Mina, AL | C+ | B- | more safe |
| Hartselle, AL | A | A | more safe |
| Fish Pond, AL | B- | B- | more safe |
| Flower Hill, AL | B+ | B+ | more safe |
| Hillsboro, AL | B+ | B+ | more safe |
| Danville, AL | A- | A | more safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Similar to Decatur, AL
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Decatur, AL? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs, AR | D+ | C- | about as safe |
| Orland Park, IL | A- | A | more safe |
| Little Elm, TX | B+ | A | more safe |
| Lebanon, PA | D+ | C- | about as safe |
| San Clemente, CA | A- | B | more safe |
| Eden Prairie, MN | B+ | A- | more safe |
| Coon Rapids, MN | D+ | C- | about as safe |
| Belleville, IL | C- | C- | more safe |
| Bay City, MI | D | D | less safe |
| Towson, MD | D | D | about as safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Decatur, AL
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Decatur, AL can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the city to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Decatur residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Simplisafe, Ring, and ADT have emerged as the top choices for Decatur residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Decatur's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 3 hours 43 minutes in Decatur.
- The city experiences 34.73 property crimes and 25.76 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Decatur's property crime grade stands at an 'D+', comparably as safe as other Alabama {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Decatur. The combination of a high amount of renters (33%) and education level (24% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
- ADT: Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 98.34 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & December temperatures averaging 49.44 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 1.7" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 43 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 33.24% of Decatur residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 93% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Decatur's lower household median income of $58,544 and 24.0% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Decatur hosts 15 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.