Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Columbia, MO has a Safety Score of 25/100 — higher crime than 75% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,666.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,230 of 2,971 US cities and #46 of 70 in Missouri.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Columbia, Missouri Safe?
Columbia, home to the University of Missouri, is a vibrant college town in central Missouri's Boone County. Its "District" area features historic buildings and local businesses, reflecting its growth as a regional hub.
Columbia has a safety score of 25/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,666.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Columbia ranks #46 out of 70 cities in Missouri and #2230 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 25th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 75% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Columbia is murder, at 10.0 per 100K — 1.6x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Columbia's total crime rate decreased by 8%, with violent crime declining 9.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Columbia Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 455 | 349.1 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 13 | 10.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 50 | 38.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 52 | 39.9 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 338 | 259.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 3,021 | 2,317.5 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 434 | 332.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,093 | 1,605.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 494 | 379.0 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Columbia vs Missouri Average
How does Columbia's crime rate compare to the Missouri state average?
| Metric | Columbia | Missouri Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 349.1 | 679.8 | -48.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,317.5 | 2,941.8 | -21.2% |
| Murder Rate | 10.0 | 12.9 | -22.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,666.6 | 3,621.5 | -26.4% |
Columbia Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Columbia, Missouri.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 130,354 | 2,666.6 | 349.1 | 2,317.5 |
| 2023 | 129,602 | 2,898.9 | 387.3 | 2,511.5 |
| 2022 | 127,862 | 3,085.4 | 469.3 | 2,616.1 |
| 2021 | 126,418 | 3,012.2 | 510.2 | 2,502.0 |
| 2020 | 124,829 | 3,149.9 | 458.2 | 2,691.7 |
| 2019 | 125,017 | 2,915.6 | 321.6 | 2,594.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbia, Missouri safe?
Columbia has a safety score of 25/100, meaning it has less crime than about 25% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,666.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Columbia is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Columbia, Missouri?
According to FBI data for 2024, Columbia has a violent crime rate of 349.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,317.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Columbia compare to the national average?
Columbia's total crime rate of 2,666.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 130,354 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Columbia?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Columbia include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Columbia safe to visit?
Like any city, Columbia has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 25/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.