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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Bolivar, MO has a Safety Score of 66/100 — safer than 66% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,197.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,002 of 2,971 US cities and #18 of 70 in Missouri.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Bolivar, Missouri Safe?
Bolivar, the seat of Polk County, is nestled in the Ozarks and home to Southwest Baptist University. This town, named for Venezuelan liberator Simón Bolívar, has a population around 10,000.
Bolivar has a safety score of 66/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,197.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Bolivar ranks #18 out of 70 cities in Missouri and #1002 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 66th percentile for safety — safer than 66% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Bolivar is rape, at 95.5 per 100K — 2.2x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Bolivar's total crime rate decreased by 46.6%, with violent crime declining 21.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Bolivar Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 20 | 173.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 11 | 95.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 8.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 8 | 69.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 118 | 1,024.0 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 13 | 112.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 97 | 841.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 8 | 69.4 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bolivar vs Missouri Average
How does Bolivar's crime rate compare to the Missouri state average?
| Metric | Bolivar | Missouri Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 173.6 | 679.8 | -74.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,024.0 | 2,941.8 | -65.2% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 12.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,197.6 | 3,621.5 | -66.9% |
Bolivar Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Bolivar, Missouri.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11,523 | 1,197.6 | 173.6 | 1,024.0 |
| 2023 | 11,321 | 2,243.6 | 220.8 | 2,022.8 |
| 2022 | 11,129 | 2,740.6 | 125.8 | 2,614.8 |
| 2021 | 11,285 | 2,826.8 | 274.7 | 2,552.1 |
| 2020 | 11,150 | 4,134.5 | 340.8 | 3,793.7 |
| 2019 | 11,129 | 4,007.6 | 269.6 | 3,738.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bolivar, Missouri safe?
Bolivar has a safety score of 66/100, meaning it has less crime than about 66% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,197.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Bolivar is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Bolivar, Missouri?
According to FBI data for 2024, Bolivar has a violent crime rate of 173.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,024.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Bolivar compare to the national average?
Bolivar's total crime rate of 1,197.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 11,523 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Bolivar?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Bolivar include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Bolivar safe to visit?
Like any city, Bolivar has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 66/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.