Is Perry Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Perry, Georgia is the consummate Southern town at every turn.

That probably explains why the population has grown 33% in the past decade.

There’s the charm of a small town, a historic downtown, the unique boutiques, the outdoor adventures, and the coup de gras being the home of the Georgia State Fair.

Perry is a “blink and you’ll miss it” town when you look at the map, but digging deeper you see a slice of the simple life with a storied history and a future that is looking bright.

This is a place you can “Go Fish” inside or outside (we’ll explain that one in a bit) or just stroll down the historic streets sipping drinks while learning about the Antebellum history that floods certain neighborhoods.

There are several self-guided tours with one just dedicated to the churches of Perry.

You aren’t going to find any fancy shopping malls here with outdoor lights that dangle above you.

The stores here are the only places you can’t find outside of Perry.

The local food scene is mostly locally owned and operated.

It’s easy to escape the quiet country vibe of this town for the big city as Atlanta is just two hours north.

You’ve got the best of both worlds in this central Georgia region.

Warnings & Dangers in Perry

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low overall risk. There's hardly any crime and the bigger crime categories are misdemeanors. The city is growing quickly, so it's hard for neighbors to all know each other anymore, but visitors are welcome and encouraged to explore all they can.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

There isn't a local bus system in Perry, so you're left with what few taxis and rideshares you can find. A car is ideal here.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

No pickpockets were reported in 2020. 40% of all thefts were shoplifting. There's a low risk here, but you still should follow basic safety protocols by keeping valuables at home and an eye on your purse or wallet.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium risk here as tornadoes and severe thunderstorms are more common than anyone would like. Winter storms are very rare, but they cause chaos when they do happen, as people here aren't prepared whatsoever for winter.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

There were just four robberies in 2020 and all of them were in homes. No public robberies happened. That's about as low of a risk as you can get!

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

It's a medium risk, but at the very low end of the medium risk level. It's just because Robins Air Force Base is in nearby Warner Robins, about half an hour away. Military installations are always going to be considered hard targets for terrorists.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here as no scams have been reported that impact tourists. Sure, residents might get some scam calls or door knocks from fraudsters, but you won't see any of that on your trip. If you do spot a potential scammer, report it to the police immediately.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk even if a woman is traveling alone. This is a cute, quaint town. You should never totally let your guard down, but you can breathe easier when visiting a city with crime levels this low.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

Of 78 potential contaminants in water, only eight were detected in Perry's water and none exceeded the legal limits. There's low risk when using water.

Safest Places to Visit in Perry

Stretch your legs and take a walking tour of the historic downtown or the homes nearby.

As mentioned earlier, there is also a church tour.

Dip into the Perry Area Historical Society Museum to learn more about the history through artifacts and volunteers dressed in clothing from different eras and cultures.

The downtown corridor has a Sippin’ Stroll adventure where you can get a drink passport and try drinks from different stores along the way, from a good cup of coffee to an original spirited drink.

The Swanson is one of the popular restaurants in town and was built into an 1800s home, giving it a feeling of a family dinner from an era gone by with modern cuisine.

Itching to catch some fish?

Head south to the Flat Creek Public Fishing Area.

If you catch a fish big enough, you might just win an Angler Award from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

There’s also hunting done on this land, so make sure you know what hunting season it is before you venture onto the trails.

About 15 minutes from Perry, you can visit Lane Southern Orchards.

This is a mix of a grocery store and a farmer’s market, with fresh peach products and pecans for days.

You can take a ride on a farm tour to see where the products come from and maybe even snag a fresh peach off a tree.

I’m looking at a cinnamon pecan loaf of bread that’s making my mouth water and I’m intrigued by the concept of peach bread.

You should also see what’s happening at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter during your visit as it hosts activities throughout the year.

The namesake event happens in the fall.

Places to Avoid in Perry

I’m not sure if in all my travel safety research I’ve ever seen a crime map in a city that doesn’t have a single high crime area.

It’s all listed as safe.

Feel free to travel through every nook and cranny of the community.

A few notes to add to this section, however.

This is the simple south, and things like gluten-free, vegan, and keto don’t really resonate here.

You’re going to find offerings of food that are usually fried and tea so sweet it makes your teeth hurt.

You can ask, but don’t be offended if a mom-and-pop fried chicken joint doesn’t have a soy latte.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Perry

So... How Safe Is Perry Really?

Perry is about as average as average gets when it comes to crime, with a few lower-than-average scores.

The city had three homicides in 2020, but before that, it didn’t have a homicide dating back as far as 2011.

There were 45 violent crimes in 2020, but 33 of those happened in homes.

Only one was against a stranger.

Official 2021 data hasn’t been released, but looking at news reports I see there have been a handful of homicides in the area.

One involved someone playing with a gun in a car.

Thefts are the highest number of crimes in a category, but nearly 40% of those were shoplifting, which isn’t a crime that could impact a tourist.

The only caution I give about that is there isn’t a lot of traditional shopping in Perry, which is why the local Walmart gets hit so much by shoplifters.

Being around a shoplifting situation could cause it to escalate.

You still need to lock doors and windows here.

You still need to keep an eye out for dangerous people, especially after dark.

While there isn’t a high amount of crime here, some of the violent crime suspects can be quite ruthless.

If you’re driving a car, it’s more likely to get broken into than stolen (74 vs 14 incidents).

Severe weather is another safety danger you just need to be aware of when visiting.

These aren’t always run-of-the-mill thunderstorms.

They can be dangerous, tearing down streetlights and spawning tornadoes, not to mention dangerous lightning.

Just stay weather aware to tackle this challenge.

How Does Perry Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

You will get your Visa processed at the point of entry into the United States and won't need additional processing as you travel through different cities. You'll need a legal ID to rent a car or get a hotel room. Buying alcohol will also require an ID.

Currency

You can only use the U.S. Dollar here and throughout the state. Credit cards are widely accepted, even in a small town with mom-and-pop shops and restaurants.

Weather

It's incredibly humid here, so pack things that can easily be washed after a day or afternoon of sweating while wearing them. Winters generally only require a light jacket, but a sudden cold snap isn't ruled out. You'll need to check the weather right before you leave on your trip as conditions change here day by day. As the saying goes "If you don't like the weather in Perry, wait a few hours. It will change."

Airports

The Atlanta airport is one of the biggest in the nation and it's about 90 minutes away. One bonus is that ATL is on the southwest side of the city, so driving there from Perry won't require you to go through the gnarly Atlanta traffic.

Travel Insurance

It's a good idea to get travel insurance for a trip to Perry as cancellations or delays can happen often, and you want to be protected from storm damage to cars.

Perry Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Georgia - Safety by City