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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Columbus, OH has a Safety Score of 18/100 — higher crime than 82% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,088.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,437 of 2,971 US cities and #150 of 172 in Ohio.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Columbus, Ohio Safe?
Columbus, Ohio, the state capital, sits at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. Home to The Ohio State University, it's a diverse city with a growing population of over 900,000 residents. Ohio State University-Main Campus, located in Columbus, is one of the area's top universities.
Columbus has a safety score of 18/100 (High Crime). 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%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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 | Coverage | 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 18/100, meaning it has less crime than about 18% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,088.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Columbus is among the highest-crime US cities.
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 data covers 915,447 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 18/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.