Decatur, GA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Decatur, GA Crime & Safety (2026)

Is Decatur, GA safe?

Yes — Decatur earns a city-wide safety rating of A (Very Safe) based on analysis of 22 neighborhoods. An impressive 91% of neighborhoods received an A or B grade, meaning the vast majority of the city presents low crime risk. Only one neighborhood (4.5%) received a D grade, and none received an F. In the most recent 90-day reporting window, the entire city recorded just 34 total crime incidents — a figure that underscores how quiet Decatur is relative to its population of nearly 25,000 residents. The overall city crime grade is B-, reflecting a safe urban environment with isolated areas of elevated activity.

What is the crime rate in Decatur, GA?

Decatur's recent 90-day crime data totals 34 reported incidents across all categories. The breakdown by type is: Assault accounts for 50% (17 incidents), making it the most common offense; Theft follows at 24% (8 incidents); Drug Offenses make up 21% (7 incidents); and Motor Vehicle Theft represents 6% (2 incidents). Notably, property-related crimes (theft plus motor vehicle theft) together account for only 30% of incidents, while assault — often concentrated in a small number of higher-activity zones like Downtown Decatur — drives the plurality. With 81.8% of neighborhoods graded A and only one neighborhood below a C, Decatur's crime rate is well below national urban averages.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Decatur, GA?

Of the 22 neighborhoods analyzed, 18 (81.8%) earned an A grade and three earned an A+ specifically. The top-rated neighborhoods are:

• Columbia Theological Seminary — A+ (median income: $140,875; population: 353)
• West Decatur — A+ (median income: $163,720; population: 527) — the highest-income neighborhood in the dataset
• Winnona Park — A+ (median income: $126,588; population: 1,029)
• Chelsea Heights — A (median income: $145,999)
• Westchester Hills — A (median income: $152,407)
• Decatur Heights, West Clairemont, Parkwood, South Candler Street / Agnes Scott, and College Heights — all graded A

These neighborhoods combine high median household incomes (ranging from $82,686 in College Heights to $163,720 in West Decatur) with consistently low incident counts, making them among the safest communities in the greater Atlanta metro area.

Which areas of Decatur have higher crime?

While Decatur is overwhelmingly safe, a small number of neighborhoods show elevated activity relative to the city average. Downtown Decatur carries the lowest grade at C, and is the most likely epicenter for the assault and drug offense incidents that dominate the city's 90-day crime log (50% and 21% of all incidents, respectively). Clairmont Heights is graded B+, representing mild elevation above the city norm. Adair Park, Great Lake, and Oakhurst each earned an A-, meaning they are still very safe but trail the top-rated neighborhoods slightly. Importantly, no neighborhood in Decatur received an F grade, and only one received a D — meaning even the higher-crime areas here would rank favorably compared to many other cities.

Is Decatur, GA a good place to live?

By nearly every measurable indicator, Decatur is an excellent place to live. The median household income of $114,615 is well above the national median, and the median home value of $547,390 reflects strong demand and neighborhood stability. The poverty rate is just 8.3% and the unemployment rate sits at 5.5%. From a safety perspective, 91% of neighborhoods are graded A or B, and the city's 34 total crime incidents over 90 days is a remarkably low figure for a city of 24,814 people. Neighborhoods like West Decatur, Winnona Park, and Westchester Hills consistently rank among the safest and most affluent in the region, while even the most active area — Downtown Decatur — shows only moderate crime levels. For families, professionals, and retirees, Decatur offers a rare combination of urban amenities and genuine community safety.

What types of crime are most common in Decatur?

Based on the most recent 90-day incident data, assault is the dominant crime type at 50% of all reported incidents (17 out of 34). This is followed by theft at 24% (8 incidents) and drug offenses at 21% (7 incidents). Motor vehicle theft is the least common at just 6% (2 incidents). The relative scarcity of motor vehicle theft and property crime compared to assault suggests that Decatur's crime activity is concentrated in specific social contexts — such as downtown entertainment areas — rather than being a diffuse, city-wide property crime problem. Residents in top-graded neighborhoods like Parkwood, College Heights, and South Candler Street / Agnes Scott are unlikely to encounter any of these incident types with regularity.