Is Savannah, Georgia Safe? (Crime Rates And Crime Stats) - Van Life Wanderer (2024)

If you are thinking about visiting Savannah 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 Savannah really is.

Is Savannah, Georgia Safe To Visit?

Statistically speaking, Savannah is a slightly unsafe place to visit. In 2020, Savannah had a violent crime rate of 845.18 per 100,000 people. It’s violent crime rate is more than 2x greater than the national average and is on par with cities like Newark, Tuscon and Dallas.

As a tourist, and assuming you will be going to touristy areas and doing normal touristy things, you should have absolutely no problem while visiting.

Savannah, Georgia Crime Stats

Here’s a breakdown of all the crimes in the city for 2020 compared to 2019:

**All data is from the Savannah Police Department**

Savannah’s Violent Crime Stats

In 2020 Savannah reported 1,249 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 845.18 per 100,000 people.

• The national average for violent crime is 398.5 per 100,000 residents. Savannah’s violent crime rate is 2.12x greater than the national average.
• Savannah’s violent crime rate is 2.1x greater than the state average.
• Year over year violent crime has remained the same.

*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.

Savannah’s Property Crime Stats

In 2020 Savannah reported 4,426 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 2,994.99 per 100,000 people.

• The national average for property crime is 1958.2 per 100,000 residents. Savannah’s property crime rate is roughly 1.53x greater than the national average.
• Savannah’s property crime rate is roughly 1.5x greater than the state average.
• Year over year property crime in Savannah has decreased by 32%.
• Savannah has a similar property crime rate to Las Vegas, Sacramento and Long Beach.

*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.

Savannah’s Murder Stats

In 2020, Savannah reported 31 homicide and had a homicide rate of 20.98 per 100,000 people.

• Year over year murder has increased by 29%.
• Savannah’s murder rate is 3.2x greater than the national average.
• Savannah’s murder rate is 2.4x greater than the state average.
• Savannah has a similar homicide rate to cities like
• In 2021 Savannah reported 33 homicides.

Here’s a map showing you all the locations of all the homicides in Savannah in 2021

Savannah, Georgia 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. Savannah’s violent crime rate is 2.86x less than Memphis, the most dangerous city on the list.

The Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Savannah, Georgia

• Garden City
• Cuyler Brownville
• Woodville
• West Savannah
• Liberty City
• TatemVille
• Tremont
• Cloverdale
• Yamacraw Village
• Cann Park
• Waters Ave

Is Downtown Savannah, Georgia Safe?

Downtown Savannah or The Historic District is generally a safe area to visit during the day time. At night the situation is a bit different and we recommend that you stay in the well populated areas and don’t stray off the beaten path.

Downtown is surrounded by sketchy neighborhoods and we recommend that you do not venture west of Martin Luther King Blvd, east of Broad St. and south of Gwinnett St.

Here’s a map showing you the area of downtown Savannah that you should stay within.

Is Savannah, Georgia safe from hurricanes?

Savannah rarely gets hit by hurricanes and this is due to the shape of the coastline. Savannah is located in inflection point on the coastline, so unless very unusual atmospheric conditions exist, a hurricane traveling up the coast from Florida will leave around Jacksonville and re-enter in the Carolinas.

And when hurricanes do hit, Savannah fares well. The last close call was Hurricane Mathew in 2016, which brushed by Savannah and battered Florida. In 1979 when Hurricane David made its final landfall, it was downgraded to a minimal hurricane when it reached Savannah.

Is Savannah in Tornado Alley?

Savannah is not in tornado alley. The states of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska are consider part of tornado alley. A study of tornadoes that occurred between 1921–1995 concluded almost 1/4 of all significant tornadoes occur in this area.

Is the public transportation in Savannah safe?

The public transportation system in Savannah is the CAT (Chatam Area Transit) and it offers 16 fixed bus routes. It is generally safe during commuting hours (8am – 6pm), however we do not recommend that you take the bus at night.

If you are closer to downtown, they have a free trolley (DOT) that loops around the historic downtown district and it is generally safe to take during commuting hours as well.

What do residents of Savannah say about it’s safety?

1. "The west side of Savannah is not safe."
2. "I lived in Savannah in the Historic District for 5 years and Previously I lived in NYC for 12 years, a year in San Juan Puerto Rico and Buffalo NY for 3 years. I have experienced far more crime in Savannah than any of these other places. I was carjacked at gun point, had my car stolen twice and I had at least 3 friends that were beaten badly."
3. In Savannah you are never more than a few blocks from the hood. With that being said, I live in the eastside and I’ve never really felt unsafe."
4. "Stay out of the east side streets with state names."
5. "Stay the hell outta Yamacraw Village, that place a war zone. The neighborhoods around Pennsylvania Ave and Wheaton St are probably the worst in town."
6. "Most of the crime is located in certain areas of downtown and the west side Savannah."
7. "Stay away from number streets and streets named after states."
8. "Don’t walk on Jefferson near the west side at night. You WILL GET ROBBED."
9. "The east side has more good spots than the west."

Is Savannah safe for women?

While there are no guarantees, Savannah 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 Savannah safe at night?

Savannah 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 Savannah’s tap water safe to drink?

The tap water in Savannah, Georgia is safe to drink. While the tap water in Savannah meets the EPA health guidelines, it can still contain contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run.

Some residents complain that the water in Savannah tastes ‘funky’ and call it ‘fart water ‘.

If you have any concerns about the tap water in Savannah, we suggest that you use bottle water for your drinking needs.

Tips to stay safe while visiting Savannah, Georgia

• Do you research before you visit the city. Learn which parts of the city you should avoid and book your accommodations in accordance with that knowledge.
• Don’t walk by yourself at night, especially if you are a woman.
• Avoid venturing into desolate and unlit areas at night.
• Don’t leave your car unlocked. Don’t leave valuables visible in your car.
• Look both ways before crossing one way streets. The one way roads get people going the wrong way all the time.
• Don’t splash in any puddles, they’re horse piss.
• Don’t touch the moss.
• Watch out for tour horses, buggies, and trolleys. They get precedence.

A Few Things You Should Do While Visiting Savannah According To Locals

• Oatland Island Wildlife Center – A 2-mile loop of walking trails through the forest and along the marsh with animal exhibits. Don’t forget the bug spray
• Graveface Museum – Super unique place with tons of cool stuff to look at.
• The Plant Riverside District – A former power plant turned into a sprawling center for shopping, restaurants, bars and entertainment.
• Cotton & Rye – Southern fried chicken and corn bread, nuff said.
• Moon River Brewing – Awesome local brewery with a great selection of beer and food.
• Husk – Great food all around by renowned chef Sean Brock.
• Green Truck Pub – The best burgers in Savannah
• Vinnie Van Gogo’s – The best pizza in town
• Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room – Best southern food in town.
• Back in the Day Bakery – Get breakfast here
• Leopold’s Ice Cream – Best ice cream shop in town.
• The Alley Cat Lounge – Great co*cktails served here.
• Bonaventure Cemetery – Everyone should visit Bonaventure at least once.
• Ghost Tour Inside The Sorrel Weed Mansion – Go inside one of the most actively haunted locations in the country
• Owens-Thomas House – Tour a historic home that will take you back to a regrettable point of our history.

Quick Facts About Savannah

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