Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Columbia, TN has a Safety Score of 19/100 — higher crime than 81% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,060.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,420 of 2,971 US cities and #45 of 59 in Tennessee.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Columbia, Tennessee Safe?
Columbia, the "Dimple of the Universe," is a historic Southern city known for its Antebellum architecture and as the birthplace of James K. Polk. Situated on the Duck River in Maury County, it's a growing community of over 40,000 residents.
Columbia has a safety score of 19/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,060.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Columbia ranks #45 out of 59 cities in Tennessee and #2420 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 19th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 81% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Columbia is burglary, at 923.6 per 100K — 3.2x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Columbia's total crime rate increased by 8.1%, with violent crime rising 2.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Columbia Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 283 | 573.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 6 | 12.2 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 26 | 52.7 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 16 | 32.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 235 | 476.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,228 | 2,487.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 456 | 923.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 693 | 1,403.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 79 | 160.0 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Columbia vs Tennessee Average
How does Columbia's crime rate compare to the Tennessee state average?
| Metric | Columbia | Tennessee Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 573.2 | 916.8 | -37.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,487.1 | 3,281.7 | -24.2% |
| Murder Rate | 12.2 | 13.0 | -6.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,060.3 | 4,198.5 | -27.1% |
Columbia Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Columbia, Tennessee.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 49,374 | 3,060.3 | 573.2 | 2,487.1 |
| 2023 | 47,770 | 2,830.2 | 558.9 | 2,271.3 |
| 2022 | 44,852 | 2,791.4 | 682.2 | 2,109.2 |
| 2021 | 42,613 | 3,215.0 | 678.2 | 2,536.8 |
| 2020 | 41,013 | 3,962.2 | 772.9 | 3,189.2 |
| 2019 | 40,001 | 3,647.4 | 642.5 | 3,004.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbia, Tennessee safe?
Columbia has a safety score of 19/100, meaning it has less crime than about 19% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,060.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Columbia is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Columbia, Tennessee?
According to FBI data for 2024, Columbia has a violent crime rate of 573.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,487.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Columbia compare to the national average?
Columbia's total crime rate of 3,060.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 49,374 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Columbia?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Columbia include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Columbia safe to visit?
Like any city, Columbia has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 19/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.