Georgia : Safety by City
- Acworth
- Alpharetta
- Athens
- Atlanta
- Augusta
- Brookhaven
- Brunswick
- Cartersville
- Chamblee
- Dalton
- Dunwoody
- East Columbus
- East Point
- Johns Creek
- Kennesaw
- Lawrenceville
- Mableton
- Macon
- Marietta
- McDonough
- Milton
- Newnan
- Peachtree City
- Peachtree Corners
- Perry
- Pooler
- Roswell
- Sandy Springs
- Savannah
- Smyrna
- Snellville
- South Fulton
- Statesboro
- Stockbridge
- Stonecrest
- Suwanee
- Tucker
- Tybee Island
- Valdosta
- Warner Robins
- Woodstock
Lawrenceville, Georgia is suburban life on steroids.
It is well outside the perimeter of Atlanta but still considered part of the Atlanta metro area and is the second-oldest city in the region.
Once among the fastest-growing cities in America, Lawrenceville didn’t lose pride in its historic roots or in preserving the architecture of the Civil War era.
It also is not so stuck in the past that it can’t adapt to modern times.
You really get a blending of the Old South and New South here.
Lawrenceville was the location where Hustler publisher Larry Flynt and his attorney were shot during an obscenity trial.
Lawrenceville is the county seat, so the trial was held at the Gwinett County Courthouse.
That shooting left Flynt in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
This is a city where you can see an off-broadway show and shop the day away at the outlet mall looking for the perfect outfit.
You can stroll through a historic district and then have lunch at the famous Pimento Hamburger.
Lawrenceville is a great location if you want to be not too close but not too far from the city life and if you’re looking for a spot that’s not too dangerous.
Warnings & Dangers in Lawrenceville
OVERALL RISK: LOW
There's a low risk here, especially when it comes to violent crime. The numbers are lower than the state and national average. It is a suburb, so you won't have urban appeal, but it's not a sleepy suburb by any means.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Gwinett County Transit has local and commuter buses around the region. You can easily call a taxi or ping rideshare. There's low risk with any option.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
There's a low risk of getting pickpocketed here. There are some places, like the outlet mall, where you should be a little more attentive to your belongings.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
You're going to face the risk of thunderstorms and those storms can bring tornadoes. All severe weather here comes with a good amount of warning and the medium-risk assessment will come from how much you prepare for the inclement weather. Don't ignore watches or warnings.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
There's a low risk. Only seven robberies were reported in the city of more than 30,000 people at the last data dump from the Lawrenceville Police, which was in 2019. Yes, it's a bit dated, but at least it doesn't have the "pandemic year" question marks above the categories.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
You're on the low end of a medium risk here. Atlanta is always going to be considered a hard target, but Lawrenceville is a good 32 miles from downtown.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
The scams reported here are the typical "We'll turn off your power if you don't pay us" utility scams and such. There are no scams that should worry a tourist, but watch out for those peddlers inside the mall. They can be relentless.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
There's a low risk for women traveling here and there's a lot of appeal for those who do. From great food to entertaining shows to a plethora of shopping options.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
The Gwinett County Water Quality Report shows there is a low risk in the water and it meets or exceeds all standards.
Safest Places to Visit in Lawrenceville
One of the most popular things to do here is seeing a show at the Aurora Theatre, a performing arts center built into a historic church.
You’ll need to book tickets well before your trip, so make this your first stop when planning things to do.
The minor league team for the Atlanta Braves plays here and there are plenty of lawn seats if you want to bring a picnic while watching the game or you can get baseline tickets too.
Sugarloaf Mills is an outlet mall that brings people from all around the region to get great deals.
There are name-brand stores at rock bottom prices.
If the thought of shopping bores you, there’s a Dave & Busters on-site to keep you busy playing games.
You’ll be impressed with the Gwineet Veterans Memorial Museum at first glance and it’s right in the downtown area.
There are 4,000 artifacts from the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror.
Be sure to explore all the tributes outside the museum, which is located inside the historic courthouse.
The Lawrenceville Lawn is a great gathering spot for community events or if you just want to enjoy the sunshine with lunch on the lawn.
A brand new amphitheater is available for private events and popular holiday shows.
Places to Avoid in Lawrenceville
There aren’t bad areas of Lawrenceville to avoid, but there are areas that are meant for visitors and places that are just dense neighborhoods.
The average cost of a home here is around $150,000, so this isn’t a community where driving around is going to show you regal, historic homes.
If you want to see some of the nicest homes in the Atlanta area, drive around Historic Brookehaven.
It’s safe and stunning.
The highest amount of crime happens along Highway 6 through the center of Lawrenceville, but that’s to be expected.
Where there are more people, there is going to be more crime.
If you are attending an event on the Lawrenceville Lawn, avoid trying to bring alcohol.
You can buy alcohol on site from the downtown district businesses, but you can’t bring your own.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Lawrenceville
- Lawrenceville is a town that is rapidly growing and building new amenities for locals and tourists. This could mean your GPS might get a little confused when driving around. The city updates all of its road closures at the top of its website. The good news is, Lawrenceville isn’t a city that is easy to get lost in. Most roads easily connect around any construction.
- The city emergency management works with an app called CodeRED and you can download this to get emergency weather and traffic information while you’re visiting.
- Public parking is free in downtown Lawrenceville and at the mall. The Lawn has a different parking area, so make sure you use that or the nearby garage when attending related events.
- If you’re like me, you’ll pet any nearby animal you see, even on vacation. Recently, two people were bitten by a rabid cat in public, including a police officer. I would advise you to avoid petting the strays in this area and if you see a potential feral animal, call animal control.
- You can’t text and drive in Georgia. The only acceptable use of a mobile device while driving is if you are interacting with a GPS and then you are just allowed to touch it. You can’t watch videos or check your email while waiting in traffic.
- For those wanting to take part in the active fishing and hunting events in Georgia, you’ll need to get licensed through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. There are a lot of rules and some licenses are given by lottery. Be sure to research this before you go and you can even buy a license online.
- The police department has a crime map where you can search by date, location, and type of crime. This can give you a better sense of the crime happening closer to your visit. What’s also cool is if you see a crime there, and you have information about it, you can submit a tip right from the map!
- If you’re going to be traveling to Atlanta, check out 511ga.org. This is the end-all-be-all website for traffic information across the state and it updates every few minutes. You just need to wrap your head around the fact that you’ll be dealing with intense traffic almost everywhere in the Atlanta metro area and drivers can be quite aggressive.
- Gwinett County has tornado sirens throughout the region. These are long siren sounds that last 3-5 minutes. If you hear these sirens during a storm event, seek shelter immediately. It’s also good to know they test the sirens on the first Wednesday of the month, assuming there isn’t inclement weather in the area. It can be quite jarring to hear if you aren’t used to tornado sirens.
- Gwinett County and Lawrencveill Police and City are very active on social media. I can’t say that for all the communities I’ve researched for you in this area. It’s a good idea to follow these entities to learn about new events happening or community issues during your visit.
So... How Safe Is Lawrenceville Really?
Lawrenceville has one of the lowest violent crime rates I’ve ever seen with a one in 928 chance of being a victim.
That’s great news for those who live there and anyone visiting.
There’s a one in 4375 chance of getting robbed, which is another punctuation of safety here.
The theft rate is at one in 105.
Unfortunately, the police department hasn’t given detailed information about what those thefts were.
In my investigative research over the past couple of decades, generally, 1/4 to 1/2 of thefts are related to car break-ins and about 1/4 are shoplifting.
There have been eight homicides in this area in the past decade.
That’s about average compared to other Atlanta cities outside the I-285 perimeter.
Please know that when you cross the perimeter into Atlanta the crime rates can change dramatically from city to city, so research ahead of time before you travel to those communities.
There are so many amazing things to see in this region, but there are certain risks too.
How Does Lawrenceville Compare?
City | Safety Index |
---|---|
Lawrenceville | 85 |
St. Louis | 58 |
Los Angeles | 56 |
Oakland | 57 |
New Orleans | 57 |
Baltimore | 56 |
Boston | 67 |
Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 60 |
Useful Information
Visas
The Visa is shown upon arrival in the U.S. It's important to know you are not guaranteed access with a Visa. While most people get through just fine if there is any safety concern you could be turned away. The good news is, once you get through customs, you don't need that Visa again until you leave the country. You'll use your passport for proof of ID.
Currency
You'll use the U.S. Dollar here. You can put all purchases on a credit card and there's really little need for cash anywhere.
Weather
Winter is going to be a rollercoaster of weather. The temperatures can range up to 40°(F) from the highs and lows on any given day. Bring layers to dress yourself properly. Summer is just hot and muggy. You'll notice the humidity more than the high temperatures, so bring clothing you'll feel comfortable in even if you are sweating.
Airports
Atlanta's main airport is Hartsfield-Jackson and it's about the best option you can get for the number of flights and accessibility. It's 42 miles away, but plan for that ride to take an hour.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is an important part of the trip. As busy as the ATL airport is, there are also more delays or cancellations. Protect yourself from the unpredictable with reliable travel insurance that covers delays, lost baggage, and injuries.
Lawrenceville Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High °C | 11 | 14 | 18 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 23 | 17 | 13 |
Low °C | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 3 |
High °F | 52 | 57 | 64 | 73 | 81 | 86 | 88 | 88 | 82 | 73 | 63 | 55 |
Low °F | 34 | 37 | 43 | 50 | 59 | 68 | 70 | 70 | 64 | 54 | 43 | 37 |
Georgia - Safety by City
City | Safety Index |
---|---|
Acworth | 86 |
Alpharetta | 86 |
Athens | 58 |
Atlanta | 58 |
Augusta | 86 |
Brookhaven | 71 |
Brunswick | 51 |
Cartersville | 78 |
Chamblee | 71 |
Dalton | 91 |
Dunwoody | 74 |
East Columbus | 87 |
East Point | 54 |
Johns Creek | 91 |
Kennesaw | 84 |
Lawrenceville | 85 |
Mableton | 76 |
Macon | 61 |
Marietta | 78 |
McDonough | 72 |
Milton | 87 |
Newnan | 75 |
Peachtree City | 89 |
Peachtree Corners | 72 |
Perry | 86 |
Pooler | 86 |
Roswell | 73 |
Sandy Springs | 82 |
Savannah | 70 |
Smyrna | 74 |
Snellville | 51 |
South Fulton | 48 |
Statesboro | 88 |
Stockbridge | 78 |
Stonecrest | 53 |
Suwanee | 86 |
Tucker | 74 |
Tybee Island | 82 |
Valdosta | 74 |
Warner Robins | 68 |
Woodstock | 88 |
Low crime rates
I’ve visited Lawrenceville multiple times, and it’s always felt like a safe town. The community and low crime rates make it a great travel place.