Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Columbus, GA has a Safety Score of 22/100 — higher crime than 78% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,843.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,315 of 2,971 US cities and #45 of 70 in Georgia.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Columbus, Georgia Safe?
Columbus, Georgia, a city on the Chattahoochee River, is home to Fort Moore, a major US Army installation. Its population of over 200,000 residents enjoys a vibrant arts scene and a rich industrial heritage.
Columbus has a safety score of 22/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,843.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Columbus ranks #45 out of 70 cities in Georgia and #2315 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 22nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 78% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Columbus is murder, at 12.9 per 100K — 2.1x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.5x the national rate.
Year over year, Columbus's total crime rate decreased by 4.9%, with violent crime declining 3.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Columbus Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,223 | 608.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 26 | 12.9 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 51 | 25.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 102 | 50.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,035 | 514.8 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 4,495 | 2,235.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 711 | 353.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 3,289 | 1,635.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 495 | 246.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Columbus vs Georgia Average
How does Columbus's crime rate compare to the Georgia state average?
| Metric | Columbus | Georgia Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 608.3 | 345.0 | +76.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,235.6 | 1,941.1 | +15.2% |
| Murder Rate | 12.9 | 7.5 | +73.1% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,843.9 | 2,286.1 | +24.4% |
Columbus Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Columbus, Georgia.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 201,061 | 2,843.9 | 608.3 | 2,235.6 |
| 2022 | 204,986 | 2,989.5 | 631.8 | 2,357.7 |
| 2021 | 196,633 | 837.1 | 183.6 | 653.5 |
| 2020 | 195,998 | 734.2 | 134.7 | 599.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbus, Georgia safe?
Columbus has a safety score of 22/100, meaning it has less crime than about 22% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,843.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Columbus is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Columbus, Georgia?
According to FBI data for 2024, Columbus has a violent crime rate of 608.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,235.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Columbus compare to the national average?
Columbus's total crime rate of 2,843.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 201,061 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Columbus?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Columbus include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Columbus safe to visit?
Like any city, Columbus has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 22/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.