5 Critical Facts About The Hattiesburg, MS Crime Rate In 2024 You Need To Know

The city of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, often referred to as "The Hub City," continues to grapple with crime rates that significantly exceed the national average, making the latest 2024 statistics a crucial topic for residents and prospective movers. As of the current date in December 2025, a deep dive into the most recent FBI-reported data and local police initiatives reveals a complex safety landscape, characterized by a persistent challenge in property crime but notable progress in reducing violent offenses in recent years. Understanding the specifics of the city's crime profile, from the prevalence of burglary and vehicle theft to the concentrated areas of violent crime, is essential for anyone evaluating the quality of life in Forrest and Lamar counties.

The total crime rate in Hattiesburg, MS, is reported to be 107.5% higher than the national average, a statistic that underscores the need for vigilance and informed decision-making regarding neighborhood selection and personal security measures. However, recent trends show that the city's efforts to combat violent crime are making headway, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the challenging overall figures. This article breaks down the five most critical, up-to-date facts about the Hattiesburg crime situation.

Fact 1: The Total Crime Rate is Double the National Average, Driven by Property Offenses

The most immediate and striking fact about Hattiesburg’s safety profile is the comparison to the rest of the United States. The city’s total crime rate stands at approximately 4,823 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is more than double the national average.

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• Property Crime Dominance: While violent crime garners more headlines, the overall high rate is primarily fueled by property offenses. Residents face a chance of 1 in 24 of being a victim of a property crime, such as burglary, larceny-theft, or motor vehicle theft. This high frequency highlights a pervasive issue requiring robust home security and vehicle protection strategies.
• Theft and Burglary: Property crimes in areas of the city are reported to be 85% higher than the national average, indicating that opportunistic theft and residential break-ins are major components of the city's crime challenge.
• Lamar County vs. Forrest County: Hattiesburg spans two counties, Forrest and Lamar. While the city's core in Forrest County often sees the highest concentration of incidents, the surrounding areas and suburbs, such as Oak Grove, are generally considered safer, though residents must still consult specific, localized data.

Fact 2: Violent Crime is Trending Down, But Specific Risks Remain High

Despite the high overall crime rate, the city has reported positive trends in its most serious category: violent crime. Unofficial reports indicated that violent crime was down for a second consecutive year in 2023, suggesting that police and community initiatives are having an effect [cite: 10 from previous step].

However, when looking at the recent FBI UCR data for 2024, the city reported 107 total violent crimes, which includes murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. When broken down per 100,000 residents, specific violent crime categories show concerning statistics compared to the national median:

• Aggravated Assault: The rate for assault is notably high at 182.1 per 100,000 [cite: 4 from previous step].
• Robbery: The robbery rate stands at 35.2 per 100,000 [cite: 4 from previous step].
• Murder Rate: The murder rate is reported at 6.2 per 100,000, which is slightly above the national median [cite: 4 from previous step].

This data confirms that while the overall trend is positive, the risk of serious, violent encounters, particularly in the form of assault and robbery, remains a significant concern in certain city sectors, especially in the Downtown Hattiesburg area.

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Fact 3: Neighborhood Safety Varies Drastically Across the City

Safety in Hattiesburg is not uniform; it is highly dependent on the specific neighborhood or district. The city can be broadly divided into areas with significantly different risk profiles, a pattern common in many urban centers.

Safest Areas and Dangerous Hotspots

Crime mapping services consistently highlight a stark contrast between the safest and most dangerous areas of Hattiesburg.

• High-Crime Zones: The most dangerous areas, often highlighted in red on crime maps, are typically characterized by higher rates of assault, robbery, and homicide. These areas often concentrate around the city center and certain commercial corridors.
• Safest Areas: The areas with the lowest crime rates, often marked in green, generally include the more affluent, suburban-style neighborhoods, particularly those extending into Lamar County and the northern parts of the city. These locations offer a significantly lower risk profile, especially for property crime.
• The University of Southern Mississippi (USM): The presence of USM adds a unique entity to the crime statistics. The USM Police Department (UPD) maintains its own data under the Clery Act, with reports for 2023-2024 detailing crimes on campus, including motor vehicle theft and burglary [cite: 11, 14 from previous step]. While USM reported 95 crimes, this number must be considered separate from the municipal data, as the campus often acts as a self-contained, high-traffic zone [cite: 13 from previous step].

Fact 4: The Hattiesburg Police Department (HPD) is Implementing 2024 Technology and Community Initiatives

In response to the persistent crime challenge, the City of Hattiesburg and the Hattiesburg Police Department (HPD) have committed to several "fresh" initiatives as of 2024, focusing on a multi-pronged approach involving technology, community engagement, and targeted enforcement.

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• Technology Evaluation: The city is actively evaluating the potential use of new technology initiatives to further reduce crime, signaling a shift toward data-driven policing [cite: 10 from previous step].
• Mayor's Town Halls: Throughout the early months of 2024, Mayor Toby Barker hosted town halls to engage directly with the public, allowing residents to voice concerns and participate in the public safety dialogue [cite: 10 from previous step]. This focus on community policing is a key LSI for crime reduction.
• Targeted Enforcement: Specific programs have been launched, such as a crackdown on school zone speeders (April 2024) and participation in the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program, which targets drug-related crime—a known driver of other violent and property offenses [cite: 8 from previous step, 11 from previous step].
• Safe Roads Action Plan: A draft of the Safe Roads Hattiesburg Safety Action Plan was released to improve street safety and reduce severe crashes, which indirectly impacts public safety and law enforcement resource allocation [cite: 12 from previous step].

Fact 5: The Primary Crime Concerns Are Property-Related, Not Just Violent Encounters

For the average resident, the most likely form of victimization in Hattiesburg is a property crime. This is a crucial distinction when assessing personal risk and is a key entity for understanding the city’s criminal landscape. While the violent crime rate is a serious matter, the sheer volume of property offenses dictates the daily safety narrative.

• Vehicle Theft and Larceny: These crimes, along with burglary, make up the bulk of the city's crime reports. The high rate suggests a need for increased surveillance in parking lots, better street lighting, and proactive measures by commercial businesses.
• Economic Impact: The high property crime rate has a tangible impact on local businesses and the economy, leading to increased insurance costs and a potential deterrent for new investment [cite: 14 from previous step]. Community organizations are also involved in initiatives aimed at mitigating this economic and social cost.
• Comparison to Mississippi: While Hattiesburg's rates are high, it is important to note that Mississippi's violent crime rate is generally lower than the U.S. average [cite: 13 from previous step]. This positions Hattiesburg as a city with localized, high-intensity crime issues within a state that, on a whole, is not the most violent in the country.

In summary, the 2024 data for Hattiesburg, MS, presents a city in transition. While the overall crime rate remains a significant hurdle, the downward trend in violent crime is a positive indicator of the effectiveness of the Hattiesburg Police Department and city leadership's recent strategic initiatives. Prospective residents and current community members should remain informed about neighborhood-specific statistics and continue to support local efforts to enhance public safety.