Boston vs Columbus Crime Comparison
Is Boston or Columbus Safer?
Boston is the safer city, with a total crime rate 14% lower than Columbus based on 2024 FBI data. Boston has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Boston has a 70% lower rate.
Boston, MA
Safety Score
51/100
Population
659,049
Total Crime Rate
2,649.7
Category Wins
5/7
Columbus, OH
Safety Score
43/100
Population
915,447
Total Crime Rate
3,088.3
Category Wins
2/7
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Boston | Columbus | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,649.7 | 3,088.3 | -438.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 628.0 | 435.0 | +193.1 |
| Murder Rate | 3.6 | 12.2 | -8.6 |
| Rape Rate | 25.6 | 124.2 | -98.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 126.4 | 87.7 | +38.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 472.2 | 210.7 | +261.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,021.7 | 2,653.4 | -631.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 177.7 | 404.5 | -226.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,687.4 | 1,706.1 | -18.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 156.6 | 542.8 | -386.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boston or Columbus safer?
Boston is safer with a total crime rate of 2,650 per 100K vs 3,088 for Columbus — a 14% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Boston has a violent crime rate of 628.0 per 100K while Columbus has 435.0. Columbus has lower violent crime.