Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Columbus, NE has a Safety Score of 74/100 — safer than 74% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,012.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #781 of 2,971 US cities and #2 of 16 in Nebraska.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Columbus, Nebraska Safe?
Columbus, Nebraska, a city named after Christopher Columbus, sits on the Loup and Platte Rivers. It is the county seat of Platte County and has a population of over 24,000.
Columbus has a safety score of 74/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,012.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Columbus ranks #2 out of 16 cities in Nebraska and #781 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 74th percentile for safety — safer than 74% of US cities.
Year over year, Columbus's total crime rate decreased by 32.4%, with violent crime declining 20.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Columbus Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 21 | 85.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 11 | 44.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 9 | 36.6 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 228 | 927.0 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 23 | 93.5 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 189 | 768.5 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 16 | 65.1 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Columbus vs Nebraska Average
How does Columbus's crime rate compare to the Nebraska state average?
| Metric | Columbus | Nebraska Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 85.4 | 312.5 | -72.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 927.0 | 2,466.0 | -62.4% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.6 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,012.4 | 2,778.5 | -63.6% |
Columbus Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Columbus, Nebraska.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24,595 | 1,012.4 | 85.4 | 927.0 |
| 2023 | 24,256 | 1,496.5 | 107.2 | 1,389.4 |
| 2022 | 24,158 | 1,308.1 | 78.7 | 1,229.4 |
| 2021 | 23,727 | 1,041.0 | 92.7 | 948.3 |
| 2020 | 23,597 | 1,402.7 | 114.4 | 1,288.3 |
| 2019 | 23,406 | 1,653.4 | 119.6 | 1,533.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbus, Nebraska safe?
Columbus has a safety score of 74/100, meaning it has less crime than about 74% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,012.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Columbus is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Columbus, Nebraska?
According to FBI data for 2024, Columbus has a violent crime rate of 85.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 927.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Columbus compare to the national average?
Columbus's total crime rate of 1,012.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 24,595 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Columbus?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Columbus include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Columbus safe to visit?
Like any city, Columbus has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 74/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.