Is Brookhaven Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

A decade ago I couldn’t have told you a thing about Brookhaven, because it didn’t exist.

The city was incorporated in 2012 and now is one of the best places to live in the Atlanta metro area.

Located inside the northeast corner of the I-285 loop known as the Perimeter, it’s sandwiched by I-85 at the southern edge.

That means great highway access but not too much highway noise inside the city.

This is a community where you could just (safely) drive around all day and look at the beautiful Southern homes.

There are distinct neighborhoods here to experience a slice of charm at every turn:

• Murphy Candler – For outdoor enthusiasts
• Blackburn Park – For fitness enthusiasts
• Dresden – For relaxing with retail or cocktail therapy
• Buford Highway – For foodies
• Town Brookhaven – For artsy types & families

This city is not to be confused with Historic Brookhaven, which is a neighborhood association that is half in Brookhaven and half in the city of Atlanta.

To make it even more confusing, some locations in Brookhaven have an Atlanta address while others have Brookhaven addresses.

The great thing about Brookhaven is the charm at every corner, from the idyllic outdoor spaces to the quintessential Southern hospitality.

It’s also one of the safest cities you can visit inside the Perimeter.

To be clear, this Brookehaven has nothing to do with the popular city in the game, Roblox.

However, if it’s going to make your children more excited to visit – you can stretch the truth a little bit.

Warnings & Dangers in Brookhaven

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low overall risk. There are some hot topics to discuss when it comes to crime here, but overall, you can have a safe visit by following some simple safety steps. Remember as we go through this - Brookhaven is part of the city of Atlanta, so the numbers are going to be higher than suburbs outside the perimeter.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Brookhaven is on the MARTA bus gold line, so it's easy to travel throughout the metro area. You can get a taxi or rideshare in town, but having a car (or a bicycle) will be a nice way to see the city on your own terms. There's a low risk for the most part, but 36% of the violent crimes that happened in 2020 were in a parking lot or garage. Just use extra caution there.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk. Two pickpockets were reported in 2020. No purse snatchings were reported.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

A medium-risk exists in Brookhaven and throughout the Atlanta area because of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. While these can happen throughout the year, the prime season is spring. If you don't live in a place that gets tornadoes, check out the emergency management section of the Brookhaven website.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Less than 20% of the robberies happened in public spaces, so there's a low risk of getting mugged. Those violent crime numbers in the parking lots and garages do concern me, so don't fight back if you are getting mugged. It's not worth risking your life or serious injury.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium risk in all of Atlanta because of the sheer population size and the impact an attack would have on travel and communications. Homeland Security pushes the "See Something. Say Something." message hard here.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk of tourists getting scammed. The scammers are going after the residents who live in half-million-dollar homes nearby.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women should feel safe traveling here, but at MARTA stations or after dark they should use extra caution. This is a more upscale part of town, which means there are nicer places to visit, but there might also be more persistent thieves waiting for someone to let their guard down.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The DeKalb County Annual Water Quality Report gives the thumbs up to good quality tap water in Brookhaven. There's a low risk and the water meets all requirements at a state and federal level.

Safest Places to Visit in Brookhaven

Brookhaven is the kind of place where there is a supermarket just for dogs and cats.

That should give you a glimpse of the unique shopping options you’ll only find here.

Town Brookehaven and Dresden are the best neighborhoods to do some local boutique shopping and grab that morning cup of coffee.

Plan your meals by exploring Burford Highway ahead of time.

Driving through one street in one Atlanta neighborhood, you can take an international tour of food.

From croissants to chateaubriand, you can find all price points and energy levels at the restaurants here.

Murphy Candler Park is a huge park inside the city with a pond for fishing and miles of trails around the park limits.

There are playgrounds, tennis courts, and a pool for those hot summer days and tourists are welcome.

Dog lovers will adore Brookhaven Dog Park.

Even if you’re on vacation and missing your doggo, this is a great place to meet people and get information about the community.

If you’re bringing your dog on vacation with you, this is a great place for them to burn energy.

Blackburn Park is where many of the festivals are held after the winter season.

Check local listings to see what events are happening during your stay.

There is a farmer’s market every Saturday morning.

Town Brookhaven is a great place to get a mix of everything mentioned above.

This is the city’s premiere eat/play/work location with shopping, green spaces, dining, and even outdoor yoga.

Places to Avoid in Brookhaven

There’s an increase in crime between Buford Highway & I-85 in Brookhaven.

That is not surprising, as most cities do have more crime along highway roadways and the nearest amenities.

This is also the area that is more retail and commercial oriented, so there are more people.

Don’t try to get into the country club golf course in the Historic Brookhaven neighborhood.

Not only are visitors not allowed, but there are also some would-be members sitting on a two-year waiting list hoping to be recommended by enough people so they can spend $100,000 a year to be a member.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Brookhaven

So... How Safe Is Brookhaven Really?

Brookhaven looks like it should be safer than it really is, but it’s still a very safe place considering it’s inside the Perimeter and close to downtown Atlanta.

There is a one in 248 chance of being a victim of a violent crime here.

The highest number of violent crimes happened in parking garages or lots, and the second-highest came from violent crimes in the home.

Only 18% of the crimes were against strangers.

There is a one in 681 chance of being a victim of a robbery. 18% of robberies were in public places.

It’s worth noting that if a crime starts as a robbery and escalates into an assault, that’s how the crime will be recorded in the public database.

However, there’s no way to track which violent crimes might have started as robberies by looking at the available data.

There’s a one in 50 chance of being a victim of a theft, but you can cut that down to one in 112 if you aren’t driving a car while you’re there.

55% of thefts involved car break-ins.

Brookhaven is a really charming city with the type of crime you’d expect in a nicer area of a large city like Atlanta.

If you’re from a big city, the crime won’t surprise or concern you.

If you’re from a smaller city, hopefully, you are now a little more prepared for the visit.

How Does Brookhaven Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

There aren't any Visa requirements in Brookhaven. You will have addressed that when you enter the United States. You will need your passport to check in at the hotel or get alcoholic beverages.

Currency

You can only use the U.S. Dollar here and if you are flying into ATL you can get your currency exchanged there. You won't need to carry around cash in Brookhaven. The parks are free and the restaurants and shops take credit cards.

Weather

For the winter months, bring layers of clothing as the temperatures fluctuate throughout the day. You will rarely need a thick winter coat here. Summer is going to be incredibly muggy, especially if you aren't used to humidity. Bring light loose cotton and linen blends to stay cool. There are a lot of outdoor activities in the area, so if you have room, add in some hiking boots.

Airports

The Atlanta airport is 22 miles away but plan for about an hour to get there if you're traveling around rush hour. The route to the airport is straight through downtown traffic.

Travel Insurance

It's a great idea to have travel insurance for potential flight delays to hotel overbookings to accidents along the way.

Brookhaven Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Georgia - Safety by City