Study: Three Alabama cities ranked among nation’s most dangerous

Three Alabama cities are among America’s most dangerous, according a new study released by NeighborhoodScout.com, a site the provides comprehensive data information about communities all over the the nation.

“Our research reveals the 100 most dangerous cities in America with 25,000 or more people, based on the number of violent crimes per 1,000 residents,” NeighborhoodScout explains on their website. “Violent crimes include murder, forcible rape, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. Data used for this research are 1) the number of violent crimes reported to the FBI to have occurred in each city, and 2) the population of each city.”

Bessemer (#7), Birmingham (#20) and Gadsden (#87) find themselves on the undesirable list this year.

Here’s what NeighborhoodScout.com has to say about the three Alabama cities.

Bessemer

For Bessemer, we found that the violent crime rate is one of the highest in the nation, across communities of all sizes (both large and small). Violent offenses tracked included forcible rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, including assault with a deadly weapon.

• Residents have a 1 in 47 chance of being a victim of a violent crime
• Residents have a 1 in 8 chance of being a victim of a property crime
• Residents have a 1 in 116 chance of have their car stolen
• Bessemer’s safest neighborhoods include Pleasant Hill/Genery, Concord/Rock Creek and Hopewell

Birmingham

With a crime rate of 85 per one thousand residents, Birmingham has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities.

• Residents have a 1 in 66 chance of being a victim of a violent crime
• Residents have a 1 in 14 chance of being a victim of a property crime
• Residents have a 1 in 205 chance of have their car stolen
• Birmingham’s safest neighborhoods include English Village, Forest Part/Redmont and Brook Highland

Gadsden

Regardless of whether Gadsden does well or poorly compared to all other cities and towns in the US of all sizes, compared to places with a similar population, it fares badly. Few other communities of this size have a crime rate as high as Gadsden.

• Residents have a 1 in 99 chance of being a victim of a violent crime
• Residents have a 1 in 12 chance of being a victim of a property crime
• Residents have a 1 in 189 chance of have their car stolen
• Gadsden’s safest neighborhoods include Clubview Heights, Turkeytown/Anderson and Bellevue/Tuckahoe Heights

Statewide

Alabama residents as a whole have a slightly greater chance of being a victim of a violent crime or property crime than the national average. Alabamians have a 1 in 222 chance of being a victim of a violent crime and a 1 in 29 chance of being a victim of a property crime.

• Alabama’s top ten safest communities are Pine Apple, Peterman, Five Points, Ethelsville, Emelle, Union Grove, Coffee Springs, Eldridge, Fruitdale and Haleburg

For more data on Alabama and all of the state’s communities, check out NeighborhoodScout’s interactive map.

(h/t AL.com)

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