The crime rate in Cedartown, GA, is slightly above the national average, with roughly 24 to 26 total crimes per 1,000 residents in a typical year, according to FBI-based analyses from NeighborhoodScout and CrimeGrade. Most of that figure comes from property crime rather than violent crime. Property offenses such as theft and burglary occur at a rate of about 20 per 1,000 residents, while violent crime occurs at a rate of about 4 per 1,000 residents. Put another way, the average person in Cedartown faces about a 1 in 42 annual chance of becoming a victim of any crime, and only about a 1 in 264 chance of experiencing a violent crime. Those numbers matter to anyone comparing this Polk County city against other Georgia communities before a move, and they deserve honest context rather than a simple safe or unsafe label.

CrimeGrade assigns the city an overall C grade, placing it in the 44th percentile nationally, which means it is safer than nearly half of all American cities. The most recent FBI release covering 2024 shows crime moving in the right direction, with total crime down about 23 percent year over year, violent crime down about 17 percent, and property crime down about 24 percent. Compared with metro Atlanta, the difference is striking. Georgia Bureau of Investigation data showed Polk County recording around 17 crimes per 1,000 people in 2023, while Fulton County, home to Atlanta, recorded around 32 per 1,000. Many families leaving the metro area for Cedartown are, statistically speaking, moving somewhere with roughly half the crime exposure of the county they left. Atlanta Moving Solutions gets this question constantly from clients planning a relocation to Polk County, and after two decades of moving families to Cedartown, we have learned that the honest answer includes both the numbers and the neighborhoods behind them.

Is Cedartown, GA, safe?

Cedartown has a crime rate about 11 to 24 percent above the national average, depending on the data source and year, driven mainly by property crime. Violent crime is near the national norm. Crime dropped sharply in the latest reporting year, residents consider the northeast side safest, and the city is far safer than metro Atlanta on a per capita basis.

Cedartown Crime Statistics at a Glance

Metric Cedartown Figure Comparison
Total crime rate 24 to 26 per 1,000 residents Above US average of about 23 per 1,000
Violent crime rate About 4 per 1,000 (596 per 100,000) Slightly above US average
Property crime rate About 20 per 1,000 (2,280 per 100,000) About 17 percent above US average
Chance of being a crime victim 1 in 42 per year 1 in 264 for violent crime
Year-over-year trend Down 22.9 percent Violent down 17.3 percent, property down 24.3 percent
CrimeGrade safety grade C, 44th percentile Safer than 44 percent of US cities
Polk County vs Fulton County About 17 vs 32 per 1,000 (2023 GBI) Roughly half the metro Atlanta rate

 

Sources: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data as analyzed by NeighborhoodScout, AreaVibes, CrimeGrade, and HomeSnacks, plus Georgia Bureau of Investigation county data.

What Types of Crime Are Most Common in Cedartown?

Property crime is the dominant category in Cedartown. Theft, burglary, and vehicle break-ins make up the large majority of reported incidents, at a rate of roughly 2,280 per 100,000 residents in the latest FBI reporting year. Violent crime is far less common, with 62 reported incidents in the most recent year. Like most small cities, incidents cluster around commercial corridors and high-traffic areas rather than residential streets. Analysts note that retail zones on the north side of the city can inflate crime maps because offenses follow foot traffic, not because residents there are at high risk.

Which Areas of Cedartown Are the Safest?

The northeast part of Cedartown is generally considered the safest area by residents, according to CrimeGrade survey data. The southeast section of the city records the fewest total incidents, roughly 16 per year. Rural communities surrounding the city, including Lake Creek, Collard Valley, and Esom Hill, experience very little crime of any kind. Central Cedartown sees the highest raw incident counts, about 65 per year, which is expected since downtown concentrates businesses, traffic, and nightlife in a small footprint.

 

Practical safety picture by area:

 

  • Northeast Cedartown: Quiet residential streets, widely viewed as the safest choice.
  • Southeast Cedartown: Lowest total incident count in the city.
  • Downtown core: Higher incident counts are driven by commercial activity, still walkable and community-oriented.
  • North commercial corridor: Property crime figures are inflated by retail traffic.
  • Rural Polk County communities: Minimal reported crime.

How Does Cedartown Compare to Other Georgia Cities?

Cedartown ranks 131st safest out of 209 ranked Georgia cities according to HomeSnacks’ analysis of FBI data. Its violent crime rate runs about 13 percent above the Georgia state average, and its property crime rate about 19 percent above. However, the comparison flips when you measure against metro Atlanta. Fulton County’s crime rate has run nearly double Polk County’s in recent GBI reporting. Families relocating from Atlanta, Smyrna, or Mableton typically experience Cedartown as a significant safety upgrade in daily life, which matches what our clients tell us after their first year in Polk County.

Is Crime in Cedartown Getting Better or Worse?

Crime in Cedartown is improving. The latest FBI release shows a 22.9 percent overall decrease year over year, with both violent and property categories falling. One caution deserves mention. In a city of about 10,000 people, a handful of serious incidents can swing per capita rates dramatically in a single year, so trends over several years matter more than any single headline number. The multi-year picture shows violent crime trending down while property crime fluctuates.

How Can New Residents Stay Safe in Cedartown?

New residents can keep their risk low with a few simple habits:

 

  • Lock vehicles and remove valuables, since vehicle break-ins drive much of the property crime total.
  • Get to know neighbors early. Cedartown’s tight community is its best crime deterrent.
  • Review the Cedartown Police Department’s updates and local crime maps before choosing a street.
  • Use exterior lighting and simple door reinforcement in the downtown core.
  • Ask your real estate agent and movers about specific streets. Local professionals know block-level conditions that citywide statistics hide.

 

Moving day itself carries security considerations too. A licensed and insured crew with background-checked movers protects you from the driveway to the front door. Atlanta Moving Solutions has provided exactly that to Cedartown families since 2004, and our movers in Cedartown, GA, can walk you through neighborhood logistics during your free estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cedartown, GA, safe to live in?

Cedartown is moderately safe. Its overall crime rate runs somewhat above the national average, mostly due to property crime, but violent crime is near national norms; crime is trending down, and the city is far safer per capita than metro Atlanta.

What is the violent crime rate in Cedartown?

The violent crime rate in Cedartown is about 596 per 100,000 residents based on the latest FBI reporting, which equals roughly 4 incidents per 1,000 people per year.

What part of Cedartown has the least crime?

Residents consider the northeast side of the city the safest, and the southeast section records the fewest total incidents. Surrounding rural communities report very little crime.

Is Cedartown safer than Atlanta?

Yes, on a county basis. GBI data showed Polk County at about 17 crimes per 1,000 people in 2023 versus about 32 per 1,000 in Fulton County.

Where can I find official Cedartown crime data?

The FBI Crime Data Explorer and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation publish the underlying statistics. The Cedartown Police Department shares local updates and community alerts.