Is Alpharetta Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

What Georgia city made five “best places” lists in 2022? Alpharetta.

It’s upscale, unparalleled, and understandably going to get a lot of tourist attention, sitting less than an hour from Downtown Atlanta on the northwestern outskirts of the metro area.

For shopping and dining, it’s a mix of old favorites and new twists.

You’ve got an outdoor luxury shopping center or a traditional mall with mainstream stores.

The city caters to indoor and outdoor lovers, with special treats for art lovers along the way.

The city center is a blend of parks, history, and high-end living with some of the most unique restaurants in the Atlanta area.

The tech industry is booming here, bringing new cultures and ethnicities to town, making this a diverse haven where everyone is welcome and there’s something to do, no matter where you come from or how old you are.

Safety is another reason this is one of the best places to live in Georgia, with crime numbers that other cities its size would love to have.

Warnings & Dangers in Alpharetta

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here. Crime numbers are low and there's a lot to do without having to watch your back at every turn. It's also close to the big city of Atlanta with endless options.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

The Marta bus system finally has a stop here, but there is not a bus system just within the city. You can easily get a taxi or rideshare. All options have low risk and you can feel safe sitting at a bus stop here.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

No pickpockets were reported in the 568 thefts that happened in 2020. There are a bunch of festivals and gatherings that happen here, so be sure to keep your personal items secured when you're in crowds just to be safe.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Georgia gets a lot of wicked weather, from thunderstorms to tornadoes to ice/snow storms (less common, but very disruptive). Because of all of this, there's medium risk.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Of the 10 robberies in 2020, not one was in a public place. There's a low risk here. 54% of the violent crime happened in homes, not in public or in local businesses.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

This might be outside of the OTP (outside the perimeter of Atlanta city limits), but it's still part of the metro area that has a medium risk. Large population centers will always be a terrorist target.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

This is a wealthy area, so the scammers are going after the local population and not taking a risk on a tourist. There's a low risk here.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women are going to love it here. Shopping and sipping fine wine while people-watching and getting pedicures are just normal weekday activities for some women here. The sexual assault rate is 1/3 the national average. There's a low risk of being a victim of a crime, but that risk stays low by using basic safety practices, no matter what crime statistics say from previous years.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

Every required element to be tested in alignment with EPA standards passed with flying colors in the 2021 Annual Water Quality Report. There's a low risk.

Safest Places to Visit in Alpharetta

Alpharetta is a city that is constantly growing, so there are a lot of new attractions that might open after this article is posted.

The Alpharetta City Center is a great place to start your visit here.

Grab a coffee and sit on the green grass while plotting your course.

Parking is free here, too!

If you want a unique shopping experience, take a stroll around the stores.

They are all locally owned and operated.

There’s an amazing Farmer’s Market here every Saturday morning.

Avalon is the shopping experience for those who like the finer things in life.

You can also visit one of many spas in this open-air mall.

From Chanel to Sunglasses Hut, there’s a store for everything you can imagine here.

Afterward, grab a locally brewed beer from the rooftop patio at Barleygarden, or one of the many other restaurants here.

Fun fact: Avalon allows open containers, so you can literally sip and shop.

The Alpha Loop is a work in progress to give bicyclists and walkers a place to enjoy the city without being near the city streets.

When it’s finished, it will loop all the way around the city.

For now, it takes you between the two locations I just told you about.

Alpharetta isn’t one of those towns that roll up the carpets at dusk.

There’s a great nightlife to be had here and live music is part of the unique charm.

While most shows are outdoors, there’s a really cool one “under the pines” at Matilda’s, which is a traditional front porch turned into a stage as people set up lawn chairs and blankets in the surrounding yard.

Places to Avoid in Alpharetta

The area just west of the Turner-McDonald Parkway has the highest crime numbers when you look at the map of incidents reported.

This is also one of the more popular places for people to visit, so naturally, there will be more crime there.

You really don’t have to avoid any place in Alpharetta.

You might find yourself avoiding leaving the city because there’s so much cool stuff to do.

This is a bit more of an upper-class town, and it’s a tradition in the South to remove a hat before going indoors, especially for men.

Women get a little bit more leeway if the hat is part of an outfit.

If it’s a ballcap, then ladies should remove the hat as well.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Alpharetta

So... How Safe Is Alpharetta Really?

Alpharetta gets an “A” for safety.

The violent crime rate is almost half the national average, as are property crime rates.

Both rates are below the Georgia average as well.

The reason this place is so popular is because of its safety.

The violent crime rate has been trending up since 2018, but that still leaves just 151 violent crimes, 82 of which happened in a home.

The robbery rate per 100,000 people is 15 in Alpharetta.

Nationally, it’s 79.

There’s a one in 115 chance of being a theft victim, and almost 40% of thefts were from car break-ins.

It’s a lot safer than some other neighborhoods in the Atlanta area.

It is a suburban metropolis, however, and people who live in Atlanta are a lot like people who live in San Francisco – they can’t imagine living outside the city.

They’ll complain about driving “all the way” to Alpharetta.

That said, for tourists, this is a safe place to rest your head at night and explore all the other neighborhoods during the day.

How Does Alpharetta Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

Your Visa will get reviewed and approved at the airport and that's all the processing you'll need. Feel free to travel throughout the Atlanta area without needing it again.

Currency

The U.S. Dollar is the only currency allowed here. You can place all purchases on one credit card, and be sure to let your bank know you're traveling. There are a lot of ways to spend money here and you don't want a fraud alert to slow you down.

Weather

Humid, muggy, sweating, etc. Whatever you call it, you're going to sweat a lot here from the spring through fall. Even being in the shade doesn't help. Sometimes it's so humid you feel like you're walking in an actual cloud. Winters are generally mild, but an occasional snowstorm does happen. One inch of snow can stop the entire city in its tracks. People in the South just weren't built for snow.

Airports

The Atlanta airport is at the exact opposite end of town. It's 36 miles through some of the worst traffic known to man. I once drove from Huntsville to Macon, and it took me more time to get through Atlanta traffic than it did to get from Huntsville to Atlanta. Never again will I drive directly through Atlanta on a road trip. Give yourself twice as long as you think you'll need.

Travel Insurance

It's a smart idea to get travel insurance so you can have a worry-free vacation in case of delays or accidents along the way.

Alpharetta Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Georgia - Safety by City