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Bolivar, MO vs Columbia, MO Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Bolivar crime rate · Columbia crime rate

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Is Bolivar, MO or Columbia, MO Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Bolivar, MO is safer than Columbia, MO (Safety Score 67/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 1,198 per 100,000 versus 2,667 for Columbia, MO — 55% lower. Bolivar has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Bolivar has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Columbia is 11.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Bolivar, MO?

Bolivar — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Columbia — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Bolivar, MO

Bolivar, MO
Safety Score 67/100
Coverage 11,523
Total Crime Rate 1,197.6
Category Wins 7/7

Columbia, MO

Columbia, MO
Safety Score 25/100
Coverage 130,354
Total Crime Rate 2,666.6
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Bolivar Columbia Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,197.6 2,666.6 -1,469.0
Violent Crime Rate 173.6 349.1 -175.5
Murder Rate 0.0 10.0 -10.0
Rape Rate 95.5 38.4 +57.1
Robbery Rate 8.7 39.9 -31.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 69.4 259.3 -189.9
Property Crime Rate 1,024.0 2,317.5 -1,293.5
Burglary Rate 112.8 332.9 -220.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 841.8 1,605.6 -763.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 69.4 379.0 -309.5

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Bolivar, MO to Columbia, MO?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bolivar or Columbia safer?

Bolivar, MO is safer with a total crime rate of 1,198 per 100K vs 2,667 for Columbia, MO — a 55% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Bolivar has a violent crime rate of 173.6 per 100K while Columbia has 349.1. Bolivar has lower violent crime.

About Bolivar, MO

Bolivar, the seat of Polk County, is nestled in the Ozarks and home to Southwest Baptist University. This town, named for Venezuelan liberator Simón Bolívar, has a population around 10,000. With a safety score of 67/100 and a population coverage of 11,523, Bolivar has a total crime rate of 1,197.6 per 100,000 residents.

About Columbia, MO

Columbia, home to the University of Missouri, is a vibrant college town in central Missouri's Boone County. Its "District" area features historic buildings and local businesses, reflecting its growth as a regional hub. With a safety score of 25/100 and a population coverage of 130,354, Columbia has a total crime rate of 2,666.6 per 100,000 residents.

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