5-Year Trend Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Columbus, OH Crime Rate & Safety

FBI-verified crime statistics for 2024 | Population: 915,447

Safety Score

43/100
Below Avg
Higher Crime Than Average

Violent Crime Rate

435.0
-8% vs avg
per 100K residents (national: 473.3)

Property Crime Rate

2,653.4
+16% vs avg
per 100K residents (national: 2,279.1)
Government-Verified Data Source: FBI UCR 2024 Updated: Q4 2024 Share

Is Columbus, Ohio Safe?

Columbus has a safety score of 43/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,088.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.

Columbus ranks #150 out of 172 cities in Ohio and #2437 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 18th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 82% of US cities.

The most elevated crime category in Columbus is rape, at 124.2 per 100K — 2.9x the national average. Conversely, aggravated assault is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.

Year over year, Columbus's total crime rate decreased by 0%, with violent crime rising 12.9%.

Columbus Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)

Crime Type Incidents Rate per 100K National Avg
Violent Crime 3,982 435.0 473.3
Murder 112 12.2 6.2
Rape 1,137 124.2 43.4
Robbery 803 87.7 93.0
Aggravated Assault 1,929 210.7 330.0
Property Crime 24,290 2,653.4 2,279.1
Burglary 3,703 404.5 287.8
Larceny-Theft 15,618 1,706.1 1,638.9
Motor Vehicle Theft 4,969 542.8 352.4
Arson 0 0.0 0.0

Columbus vs Ohio Average

How does Columbus's crime rate compare to the Ohio state average?

Metric Columbus Ohio Avg Difference
Violent Crime Rate 435.0 437.5 -0.6%
Property Crime Rate 2,653.4 2,133.6 +24.4%
Murder Rate 12.2 7.8 +56.0%
Total Crime Rate 3,088.3 2,571.1 +20.1%

Columbus Crime Rate Trends

Year-over-year crime rate changes for Columbus, Ohio.

Year Population Total Crime Rate Violent Crime Rate Property Crime Rate
2024 915,447 3,088.3 435.0 2,653.4
2023 908,834 3,089.2 385.2 2,704.0
2022 907,196 3,973.5 459.8 3,513.7
2021 916,001 3,871.1 609.2 3,261.9
2020 911,383 3,742.4 575.1 3,167.4
2019 906,120 3,811.3 503.4 3,308.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbus, Ohio safe?

Columbus has a safety score of 43/100. With a total crime rate of 3,088.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Columbus is about average compared to the national average.

What is the crime rate in Columbus, Ohio?

According to FBI data for 2024, Columbus has a violent crime rate of 435.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,653.4 per 100,000 residents.

How does Columbus compare to the national average?

Columbus's total crime rate of 3,088.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The city has a population of 915,447.

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 43/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.

Other Cities in Ohio

Cleveland
Rate: 5,987.4 Safety: 1/100
Cincinnati
Rate: 4,677.8 Safety: 15/100
Toledo
Rate: 3,773.3 Safety: 31/100
Akron
Rate: 3,775.3 Safety: 31/100
Dayton
Rate: 5,673.4 Safety: 1/100

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