Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Joplin, MO has a Safety Score of 5/100 — higher crime than 95% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,681.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,835 of 2,971 US cities and #65 of 70 in Missouri.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Joplin, Missouri Safe?
Joplin, a city along historic Route 66, sits in Missouri's southwestern corner. Its economy has historically been tied to lead and zinc mining. The population is around 50,000 residents.
Joplin has a safety score of 5/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,681.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Joplin ranks #65 out of 70 cities in Missouri and #2835 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 5th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 95% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Joplin is rape, at 89.7 per 100K — 2.1x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Joplin's total crime rate decreased by 16%, with violent crime rising 13.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Joplin Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 300 | 560.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 48 | 89.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 28 | 52.3 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 224 | 418.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 2,206 | 4,120.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 223 | 416.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,766 | 3,298.9 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 217 | 405.4 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Joplin vs Missouri Average
How does Joplin's crime rate compare to the Missouri state average?
| Metric | Joplin | Missouri Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 560.4 | 679.8 | -17.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,120.8 | 2,941.8 | +40.1% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 12.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,681.2 | 3,621.5 | +29.3% |
Joplin Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Joplin, Missouri.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 53,533 | 4,681.2 | 560.4 | 4,120.8 |
| 2023 | 52,881 | 5,574.8 | 493.6 | 5,081.2 |
| 2022 | 51,989 | 6,624.5 | 494.3 | 6,130.1 |
| 2021 | 50,970 | 7,408.3 | 541.5 | 6,866.8 |
| 2020 | 50,935 | 7,221.0 | 677.3 | 6,543.6 |
| 2019 | 50,635 | 7,868.1 | 606.3 | 7,261.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joplin, Missouri safe?
Joplin has a safety score of 5/100, meaning it has less crime than about 5% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,681.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Joplin is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Joplin, Missouri?
According to FBI data for 2024, Joplin has a violent crime rate of 560.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,120.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Joplin compare to the national average?
Joplin's total crime rate of 4,681.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 53,533 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Joplin?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Joplin include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Joplin safe to visit?
Like any city, Joplin has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 5/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.