If you are thinking about visiting Mobile and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.
We are going to deep dive into the statistics, look at some maps, graphs and talk to the residents of the city to give you a better understanding of how safe Mobile really is.
Is Mobile, Alabama Safe To Visit?
Statistically speaking, Mobile is a slightly unsafe place to visit. In 2020, Mobile had a violent crime rate of 859.70 per 100,000 people. It’s violent crime rate is on par with cities like Newark, Tucson and Oklahoma City.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Mobile’s violent crime rate.
Mobile, Alabama Crime Stats
Here’s a breakdown of all the crimes in the city for 2020 compared to 2019:
|
2019 |
2020 |
% + OR – |
Homicide |
40 |
46 |
15.0% |
Rape |
142 |
145 |
2.1% |
Robbery |
255 |
187 |
-26.7% |
Aggravated Assault |
1,151 |
1,230 |
6.9% |
Burglary |
2,094 |
1,513 |
-27.7% |
Larceny |
7,537 |
6,385 |
-15.3% |
Motor Vehicle Theft |
749 |
998 |
33.2% |
TOTAL |
11,968 |
10,504 |
-12.2% |
**All data is from the Mobile Police Department**
Mobile’s Violent Crime Stats
In 2020 Mobile reported 1,608 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 859.70 per 100,000 people.
- The national average for violent crime is 398.5 per 100,000 residents. Mobile’s violent crime rate is 2.2x greater than the national average.
- Mobile’s violent crime rate is 1.9x greater than the state average.
- Year over year violent crime has increased by 1%.
Here’s a map showing you how violent crimes have trended in Mobile over a 10 year period.
- Violent crime has remained relatively consistent over the last 10 years.
*Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults and the violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Mobile’s Property Crime Stats
In 2020 Mobile reported 8,896 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 4,756.18 per 100,000 people.
- The national average for property crime is 1958.2 per 100,000 residents. Mobile’s property crime rate is roughly 2.4x greater than the national average.
- Mobile’s property crime rate is roughly 2.2x greater than the state average.
- Year over year property crime in Mobile has decreased by 17%.
- Mobile has a similar property crime rate to Cleveland, San Antonio and Atlanta.
Here’s a map showing you how property crimes have trended in Mobile over a 10 year period.
- Property crime has been steadily declining over the past 10 years.
*Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson and property crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Mobile’s Murder Stats
In 2021, Mobile reported 51 homicides and had a homicide rate of 27.27 per 100,000 people. 51 homicides is tied with 2017 for the deadliest year in Mobile in 20 years.
- Mobile’s murder rate is 4.2x greater than the national average.
- Mobile’s murder rate is 2.8x greater than the state average.
- Mobile has a similar homicide rate to Chicago, Cincinnati and Washington D.C.
Here’s a map showing you how homicides have trended in Mobile over a 11 year period.
Charleston, South Carolina vs The Most Dangerous Cities in the United States
Here’s a list of the top 18 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Charleston’s violent crime rate is 2.8x less than Memphis, the most dangerous city on the list.
City |
Number of violent crimes in 2020 |
Violent Crime Rate |
15,310 |
2,418.24 |
|
14,370 |
2,248.44 |
|
6,017 |
1,995.17 |
|
3,657 |
1,805.11 |
|
South Bend |
1,765 |
1,706.09 |
6,294 |
1,689.10 |
|
9,407 |
1,629.70 |
|
3,166 |
1,577.22 |
|
7,919 |
1,558.58 |
|
Lansing |
1,699 |
1,508.29 |
Springfield |
2,545 |
1,504.35 |
8,552 |
1,404.20 |
|
3,033 |
1,365.59 |
|
5,215 |
1,358.08 |
|
7,552 |
1,337.68 |
|
5,653 |
1,282.89 |
|
4,023 |
1,254.04 |
Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Mobile, Alabama
- Prichard
- Crichton
- Maysville
- Arlington
- Toulminville
- Neely
- Happy Hill
- Plateau
- 8 Mile
- Maryvale
- ‘The Bottoms’ (Fisher)
- Campground Historic District
- Trinity Gardens
Safest Neighborhoods in Mobile, Alabama
- West Mobile
- Springhill (College Park)
- Midtown
- Downtown
- Saraland
Is Downtown Mobile, Alabama Safe?
Downtown Mobile is generally a safe area to visit during the day time. Most of the crime is concentrated in areas immediately north of downtown in the Prichard & Chickasaw areas.
At night the situation can change in certain parts of downtown and we recommend that you stay in the well populated areas and don’t stray off the beaten path.
Is Mobile, Alabama safe from hurricanes?
Mobile is not safe from hurricanes and is susceptible to them, due to its location near the Gulf of Mexico. Mobile averages a direct hurricane hit every 8.76 years and Mobile averages a major hurricane hit every 29.8 years. Since 1893, Mobile has been directly affected by 17 hurricanes.
When is hurricane season in Mobile?
Hurricane season in Mobile is from June 1st through November 30th and the peak of hurricane season is mid-August to mid-October.
Is it safe to visit Mobile during hurricane season?
It is safe to visit Mobile during hurricane season, as long as you don’t visit when a hurricane is about to hit! Fortunately there is usually adequate warning when a hurricane is brewing in the area.
Check out https://www.nhc.noaa.gov before you visit. This is your best resource for tracking and monitoring storms. Another great website to check out is https://spaghettimodels.com.
Is Mobile safe from tornadoes?
Mobile is not safe from tornadoes and is susceptible to them. Tornadoes in Alabama most often occur from March to May. Mobile is in the path of a tornado alley called ‘Dixie Alley‘.
Dixie Alley stretches from eastern Texas and Arkansas across Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and far western Kentucky to upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina.
Is the public transportation in Mobile safe?
The public transportation system in Mobile is handled by The Wave. and it offers 12 fixed bus routes.
It is generally safe to use during commuting hours (8am – 6pm), however we do not recommend that you take the bus at night. You should opt for a taxi or ride sharing service instead.
What do residents of Mobile say about it’s safety?
- "I wouldn’t avoid going anywhere south of I-10."
- "Mobile is not dangerous. There are parts of town you have to be careful in, just like any city."
- "The areas around University of South Alabama tends to be somewhat unsafe, especially after dark."
- "West Mobile is ok. Avoid Prichard. Midtown and downtown have good and bad areas."
- "If you want to be truly safe I would suggest West Mobile or midtown."
Is Mobile safe for women?
While there are no guarantees, Mobile is generally safe for female solo travelers as long as you learn the layout of the city, avoid problem areas, stay in well lit/well populated areas and avoid walking by yourself at night.
Is Mobile safe at night?
Mobile is safe at night as long as you stay away from the sketchy neighborhoods mentioned above. You should be able to mitigate your chances of being a victim if you study the layout of the city and avoid areas where crime is high.
Streets and squares that are perfectly safe in the day can be questionable at night. Stay where the tourists go during the day and avoid any places that are outside normal pedestrian areas at night.
Is Mobile’s tap water safe to drink?
The tap water in Mobile, Alabama is safe to drink. While the tap water in Mobile meets the EPA health guidelines, it can still contain contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run.
The biggest concern with tap water is immediately after a hurricane or tornado, which can disrupt the flow of clean water.
If you have any concerns about the tap water in Mobile, we suggest that you use bottle water for your drinking needs.
Tips to stay safe while visiting Mobile, Alabama
- Check the weather forecast a few days before you arrive. Make sure you are not arriving when there is a major storm system is about to touch down on the city.
- Learn the layout of the city and learn which areas you should avoid. Book your accommodations accordingly.
- Save the sight seeing for the daytime. At night the situation can drastically change in certain neighborhoods.
- Always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t bury your face in your phone or get lost in your headphones.
- Stick to well-trafficked and brightly lit areas at night. Don’t walk through alleys or desolate areas.
- Don’t walk far distances by yourself at night. Take a taxi or use a rider sharing service to get to your locations.
- Don’t leave valuables in your car or in plain sight in your car. If you have to leave anything in your car, leave it in the trunk.
A Few Things You Should Do While Visiting Mobile According To Locals
- USS Alabama/Battleship Park – Explore a battleship, a submarine, and the plane hangar
- Noja – Awesome fine dining place in downtown
- The Park at OWA – Fun amusement park with rides, restaurants and shops
- Bellingrath Gardens – A serene 65-acre garden
- Fort Condé – Very nicely restored historic fort in downtown Mobile.
- Mobile Carnival Mueseum – Awesome display of the history of Mardi Gras.
- Oakleigh Mansion – Take a step back in time and tour one of the oldest plantation homes.
- Yak Katmandu Kitchen – Hands down, the best Nepalese/Indian food you will ever eat.
- Judy’s Place or Mama’s on Dauphin – Great spots for southern home cooking.
- The Mediterranean Sandwich Company – Get the Spartan Hero
Quick Facts About Mobile
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 |
187,041 |
331,449,281 |
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 |
195,111 |
308,745,538 |
Black or African American alone, percent |
51.5% |
13.4% |
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent |
0.2% |
1.3% |
Asian alone, percent |
1.9% |
5.9% |
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent |
0.0% |
0.2% |
Two or More Races, percent |
2.1% |
2.8% |
Hispanic or Latino, percent |
2.5% |
18.5% |
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent |
41.8% |
60.1% |
Foreign born persons, percent, 2015-2019 |
3.4% |
13.6% |
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019 |
$123,600.00 |
$217,500.00 |
Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2015-2019 |
$1,160.00 |
$1,595.00 |
Median gross rent, 2015-2019 |
$857.00 |
$1,062.00 |
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2015-2019 |
88.9% |
88.0% |
Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2015-2019 |
29.4% |
32.1% |
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent |
13.4% |
10.2% |
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2015-2019 |
57.2% |
63.0% |
Median household income (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019 |
$42,321.00 |
$62,843.00 |
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019 |
$27,218.00 |
$34,103.00 |
Persons in poverty, percent |
20.7% |
11.4% |