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
Snellville, Georgia is a small town on the eastern outskirts of the Atlanta metro area.
It’s a heavily dense residential area that’s growing while still keeping the charm that comes with a city of fewer than 21,000 people.
You aren’t going to find tons of tourist attractions here.
This is more about a community vibe and enjoying local parks and frequenting locally owned and operated businesses.
The city is diverse and in 2020 several racist letters were sent to minority-owned businesses that were incredibly offensive.
Another racist incident happened in 2021 when a little girl’s birthday party was ruined by a racial slur used on the receipt.
Business owners stood up to support one another in the aftermath of these incidents, and there’s no reason to avoid visiting any businesses here.
Half of the businesses here are minority-owned.
There is a strong Hispanic/Latino and African American population here.
The city only has two hotels, backing up the notion that this isn’t a huge tourist stop.
You’ll get all the amenities you need, like restaurants, grocery stores, and pharmacies, but you’re going to need to leave town to get to some of the bigger attractions, like Stone Mountain Park.
Warnings & Dangers in Snellville
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
All of the crime data processed by the traditional way of "crime rates per 100,000" would tell you this city has a medium risk. The violent crime rate is 60% higher than the national average. However, when a city is this small, a handful of crimes can dramatically change the calculation. I've gone through the crimes that would be the biggest risk to tourists and I can tell you there's a low risk based solely on that.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
There isn't a MARTA stop in Snellville, but you can take a bus to get to a transfer station for MARTA. The Xpress bus system provides service to several locations, including Stone Mountain. Taxis and rideshares are available, but might not be as abundant as in other areas. Having a car here would be ideal. There's low risk with any option you choose.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
No pickpockets were reported in 2020 and I dug all the way back to 2017. Not a single pickpocket or purse snatching was reported. There's a low risk of it happening to you.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
You've got to worry about thunderstorms, tornadoes, and the occasional remnant of a hurricane hitting the region. It's a medium risk because all of those elements can cause damage and be dangerous to people. All of the risks come with plenty of warning, so you'll never be caught off guard.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
There's a low risk of being mugged. There were four robberies in 2020 and only one was in public. What's intriguing is that the one public robbery resulted in a loss of $16,800.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
There's a low risk here. Snellville is far enough away from Atlanta, which is considered a hard target, that it wouldn't be greatly impacted. Snellville itself wouldn't be a target as there aren't many places but residential areas here.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
There's a low risk of a tourist getting scammed. Most of the reported scams involve residents. There was a very elaborate scam where someone ordered a credit card in a woman's name and had it expedited shipping to the home when the scammer knew the woman was going to be at work. She charged thousand of dollars before getting caught. This is just a great reminder to check your credit report once a month to make sure no new cards were opened under your name.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
There's a low risk for women here. There are not really a lot of ways to get into troublesome situations, but it's also not a place where you should let your guard down.
TAP WATER RISK: LOW
The water is safe here and there's a low risk of using it for bathing and drinking. Gwinett County provides the drinking water and the annual report shows no violations and that the water meets or exceeds all requirements.
Safest Places to Visit in Snellville
Being that it’s so residential and a small town, there’s not a huge list of things to do.
What I did find is pretty interesting and fun for the whole family.
Creekwater Alpacas is a hands-on experience with various types of animals from alpacas to bunnies to pigs.
The farm is open for public or private tours and you can even get some alpaca fiber socks and shirts.
The owners say alpaca fur is among the most luxurious of all animals once reserved for royalty.
Even just watching the video of this farm is making me smile so much my cheeks hurt!
You can get a great farm-to-table meal at The Kitchen at Summit Chase.
There’s a dinner menu and it’s also a great place for Sunday brunch.
The Grove at Town Center is a multi-use area that is expected to open in the fall of 2022.
Depending on when you visit this might already be open.
We’d love to hear what you think of it when you visit.
The other popular multi-use area in Snellville is the Shoppes at Webb Gin.
You can find some of the most popular retail brands and restaurants surrounding this area.
There’s also an indoor trampoline park nearby.
Just 10 miles away you have Stone Mountain Park which is an amusement park of nature, history, and paleontology.
You can ride to the summit in a gondola, take a scenic railroad tour, play some golf, or walk through a row of historic cottages.
There are 3200 acres to explore here.
Tickets are less than $40, which is a great deal when you compare it to the cost of a day at Disney World.
Places to Avoid in Snellville
Looking at the crime maps, the bulk of the incidents reported are happening along Highway 78 and just south of there.
This is very common to have crime along the main road in town as that’s where most people visit.
The Gwinett County Club is in Snellville, but it’s a members-only resort.
Right now there’s even a waiting list to become a member.
There aren’t any options for tourists to visit the club or play golf unless they are friends with a member and can get a pass.
Avoid trying to talk your way in.
A lot of the golf courses throughout this entire area are private.
The public courses are awesome here so don’t waste your time with a club that doesn’t allow visitors.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Snellville
- Watch your speed in Snellville. There are a lot of complaints from residents about the speed limits and people speed a lot down the major highways and roads in town. In 2021 the Snellville police officers pulled over more than 22,000 cars.
- Georgia really cracks down on distracted driving. You can’t use a mobile device while driving for any purpose other than GPS. With the way people drive in Georgia, you certainly don’t want to be distracted on top of the danger that normally exists.
- If you’re buying groceries, don’t leave your purse or wallet in the car unattended. In late 2021, there were a series of thefts where crooks scoured parking lots trying to find people loading groceries or shopping bags and then ran off with the purse. This is a new trend because from 2017 to 2020, there were no purse snatchings reported.
- The Snellville Police are very transparent on their Twitter and Facebook pages. If you follow them on social media you won’t miss a thing that happens in the city while you’re there.
- Through the city website, you can sign up for CodeRED alerts. This will make sure you get notifications on your phone about weather emergencies or criminal activity.
- If you are prone to allergies, be sure to bring your medication if you’re visiting in the spring. There are plenty of allergens blowing around and you’ll even see a fine layer of yellow pollen on cars. Especially if you plan to visit the alpaca farm, you’ll want to get ahead of the sniffles and sneezes.
- If you want to fish while you’re in Snellville or the area around it, you’ll need a fishing license. The license from your home state or country won’t do. Licenses are available from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
- If you are driving later at night, watch out for drag racing. There has been a big issue of cars drag racing down Highway 78, which is the main road through town.
- There are some cameras in school zones that will catch people speeding and send them a ticket. Be sure to always go the speed limit when you are in a school zone.
- When visiting Stone Mountain Park, it’s going to cost $20 to park. Even if you take rideshare, that driver is going to have to pay $5 to get into the park to drop you off and pick you up. There are some attractions at the park that will require closed-toed shoes.
So... How Safe Is Snellville Really?
Snellville’s safety doesn’t look good on paper at all.
All crime rates are higher than national and state averages. There is a lot of crime here.
Even looking at early 2022 there have been several gun incidents or “accidents”.
In one of the cases, a 7-year-old shot a 9-year-old while the mother was inside a restaurant ordering food.
The Snellville Police Department did a post on Facebook saying the FBI data report of 137 violent crimes was incorrect.
They blamed it on a programming and coding error.
They say the real number is 36 and the FBI portal should be updated with the correct information soon.
There will likely be crime happening around you, but digging into the risks a tourist could face, here’s some reassurance:
- There’s a one in 51 chance of being a theft victim but 44% of theft were shoplifting.
- The city has only had two homicides since at least 2010.
- Of the initially reported 137 violent crimes, 100 of those happened in a private residence.
This is a small town with a little grit to it.
Community events are planned throughout the year to build unity and inclusion, and you should feel safe attending those.
How Does Snellville Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Snellville | 51 |
| Boston | 67 |
| Washington DC | 56 |
| New York City | 67 |
| Detroit | 56 |
| San Diego | 67 |
| Miami | 55 |
| Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 60 |
| Vancouver (Canada) | 82 |
| Cordoba (Argentina) | 61 |
| Toronto (Canada) | 81 |
| Melbourne (Australia) | 80 |
| Montreal (Canada) | 81 |
Useful Information
Visas
You will provide the Visa at your point of entry into the country and once Border Patrol and Homeland Security clear you, you can put the Visa away and use the passport for ID purposes.
Currency
You can only use the U.S. Dollar here. You really don't need to have cash if you have a credit card. There are plenty of places that take credit cards and even mobile payment methods.
Weather
Winter is a bit of a roller coaster with temperatures, so pack layers to keep up with the changing temperatures. It's rarely cold enough here in winter to need a thick coat. Summers are going to be very muggy. Bring clothing that you know you can sweat in and not ruin the fabric.
Airports
Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is 36 miles away and it will take about an hour to get there.
Travel Insurance
Make sure you get travel insurance to protect any lost baggage or delays along the way.
Snellville 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 |
If you lived in Snellville you would know there’s been way more than 2 murders, crimes arent commonly reported here, there are areas where you can hear gunshots throughout the night.
If you went through Snellville news (even though they barely report crimes too) you would see theres been more murders and other crimes, drugs are also extremely common, everyone at least smokes and its not uncommon to find homeless people or drug addicts in the parking lots.
To add onto this, the city is has more minorities then everything and what makes it worse is that every other person is missing one parent or has none, including people like me that live around this and grew up with druggies and dealers at every other house.
Proud to be part of the Kalamazoo community, where safety is a top concern! With its proactive approach to crime prevention and emphasis on building a supportive community, Kalamazoo continues to earn its reputation as one of the safest cities around.