The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Decatur, GA: Crime Maps and Statistics

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	D
Property Crime Grade	D
Other Crime Grade	D

Which crimes are included?

$76.5 million

Cost of Crime™ for Decatur, GA

In 2025, crime will cost $1,966 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Decatur in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Decatur, GA Safe?

The D grade indicates that the rate of crime is higher than that of the average US city. Decatur ranks in the 20th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 20% of cities but less safe than 80%. This analysis applies only to Decatur's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Decatur is 38.17 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Decatur Residents generally consider the northeast part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Decatur varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 21 in the east neighborhoods to 1 in 36 in the northeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southeast parts of Decatur, GA see the most incidents - about 1,157 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 11 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Decatur, GA

The total projected cost of crime in Decatur for 2025 is $76,499,917. This translates to approximately $715 per resident and $1,966 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.5% of the median household income in Decatur. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 50.7%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 37.5%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.8%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Decatur Compared to Other Cities?

Decatur, GA:	$715
Hapeville, GA:	$1576
Kathleen, GA:	$174
Georgia:	$450
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Decatur is $715 per year, which is $250 more than the national average and $265 more than Georgia's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Decatur:

In Hapeville, GA, crime costs $1,576 per person, which is $862 more than in Decatur.
In Kathleen, GA, crime costs $174 per person, which is $540 less than in Decatur

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Decatur for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to Decatur	Cost per Decatur Resident
Murder	$28.4 million	$265
Rape/Sexual Assault	$4.49 million	$42
Robbery	$2.22 million	$21
Assault	$10.2 million	$95
Kidnapping	$3.94 million	$37
Vehicle Theft	$7.76 million	$73
Burglary	$2.66 million	$25
Theft	$7.51 million	$70
Arson	$254,462	$2
Vandalism	$4.23 million	$39
Animal Cruelty	$111,699	$1
Drug Crimes	$4.58 million	$43
Identity Theft	$197,874	$2
Total Cost of Crime	$76,499,917	$715

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Decatur, GA

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Decatur totals $212,940,770 ($1,989 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $289,440,687 ($2,704 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Decatur crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the southeast part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Decatur has 19, have the same problem. Of Decatur’s 107,053 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Decatur, GA at ISP Reports.

Decatur Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Decatur residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	3.307
Robbery	0.6579
Rape	0.6923
Murder	0.1410
Total Violent Crime	4.798 (D)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	13.55
Vehicle Theft	4.682
Burglary	2.740
Arson	0.0984
Total Property Crime	21.07 (D)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.6067
Drug Crimes	5.789
Vandalism	5.527
Identity Theft	0.2388
Animal Cruelty	0.1411
Total "Other" Rate	12.30 (D)

Individual Decatur Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in Decatur is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Decatur.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Belvedere Park, GA	D-	D-	D-
Candler-McAfee, GA	D-	F	D-
Avondale Estates, GA	C-	C-	D+
Panthersville, GA	F	F	F
Scottdale, GA	D	D	D
Pine Lake, GA	D+	D-	D+
Clarkston, GA	C-	D+	C-
North Decatur, GA	D+	C+	D+
Redan, GA	D	D	D
Druid Hills, GA	C+	A-	B-

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Decatur is higher versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.

Similar City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Trenton, NJ	B-	C+	C+
Tyler, TX	D	D+	D+
Tustin, CA	D+	C-	C-
Sumter, SC	D-	D-	D-
Surprise, AZ	A-	B+	B+
Suffolk, VA	C-	C	C
Stockton, CA	D	F	F
Suwanee, GA	B+	A-	A-
Tempe, AZ	F	D-	D-
Stone Mountain, GA	C-	D+	D+

Considering only the crime rate, Decatur is less safe than the Georgia state average and less safe than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Decatur, GA average SchoolGrade of D, with 25% actual proficiency versus 30% projected; overall, schools underperform expectations. See Decatur schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.