Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Poplar Bluff, MO has a Safety Score of 13/100 — higher crime than 87% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,010.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,475 of 2,860 US cities and #53 of 71 in Missouri.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Poplar Bluff, Missouri Safe?
Nestled in the Ozark Foothills, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, was once a major lumber producer, shipping timber via the Black River. Today, it serves as a regional hub for southeast Missouri, with a population around 17,000.
Poplar Bluff has a safety score of 13/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,010.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 3,120.6 per 100,000.
Poplar Bluff ranks #53 out of 71 cities in Missouri and #2475 out of 2860 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 13th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 87% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Poplar Bluff is rape, at 86.5 per 100K — 1.8x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Poplar Bluff's total crime rate decreased by 41.2%, with violent crime declining 43%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Poplar Bluff Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 117 | 723.1 | 525.7 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 8.6 |
| Rape | 14 | 86.5 | 49.2 |
| Robbery | 15 | 92.7 | 106.7 |
| Aggravated Assault | 88 | 543.9 | 360.5 |
| Property Crime | 532 | 3,287.8 | 2,595.0 |
| Burglary | 92 | 568.6 | 342.2 |
| Larceny-Theft | 368 | 2,274.3 | 1,849.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 72 | 445.0 | 403.1 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Poplar Bluff vs Missouri Average
How does Poplar Bluff's crime rate compare to the Missouri state average?
| Metric | Poplar Bluff | Missouri Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 723.1 | 715.9 | +1.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,287.8 | 3,453.8 | -4.8% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 16.9 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,010.9 | 4,169.7 | -3.8% |
Poplar Bluff Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 16,181 | 4,010.9 | 723.1 | 3,287.8 |
| 2021 | 16,784 | 6,822.0 | 1,269.1 | 5,552.9 |
| 2020 | 16,927 | 7,053.8 | 502.2 | 6,551.7 |
Poplar Bluff Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Poplar Bluff 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 Poplar Bluff, Missouri safe?
Poplar Bluff has a safety score of 13/100, meaning it has less crime than about 13% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,010.9 per 100,000 residents in 2022, Poplar Bluff is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?
According to FBI data for 2022, Poplar Bluff has a violent crime rate of 723.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,287.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Poplar Bluff compare to the national average?
Poplar Bluff's total crime rate of 4,010.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 16,181 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Poplar Bluff?
Based on FBI 2022 data, the most reported crimes in Poplar Bluff are larceny-theft (368 reported incidents) and burglary (92 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.5x in the city.
Is Poplar Bluff safe to visit?
Like any city, Poplar Bluff has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 13/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.