Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 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 #2,214 of 2,957 US cities and #45 of 69 in Missouri.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Columbia, MO?
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, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,666.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Columbia ranks #45 out of 69 cities in Missouri and #2214 out of 2957 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
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 455 | 349.1 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 13 | 10.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 50 | 38.4 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 52 | 39.9 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 338 | 259.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 3,021 | 2,317.5 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 434 | 332.9 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,093 | 1,605.6 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 494 | 379.0 | 358.0 |
| 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 | 683.3 | -48.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,317.5 | 2,957.1 | -21.6% |
| Murder Rate | 10.0 | 12.9 | -22.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,666.6 | 3,640.4 | -26.8% |
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 |
Columbia Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Columbia and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Missouri crime map.
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 are larceny-theft (2,093 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (494 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 6.6x in the city.
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.