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Cape Girardeau, MO vs Columbia, MO Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Cape Girardeau crime rate · Columbia crime rate

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Is Cape Girardeau, MO or Columbia, MO Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Columbia, MO is safer than Cape Girardeau, MO (Safety Score 25/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 2,667 per 100,000 versus 3,080 for Cape Girardeau, MO — 13% lower. Cape Girardeau has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Columbia has a 44% lower rate.

Note: Columbia is 3.2x 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 Cape Girardeau, MO?

Cape Girardeau — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Columbia — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Cape Girardeau, MO

Cape Girardeau, MO
Safety Score 18/100
Coverage 40,753
Total Crime Rate 3,079.5
Category Wins 4/7

Columbia, MO

Columbia, MO
Safety Score 25/100
Coverage 130,354
Total Crime Rate 2,666.6
Category Wins 3/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Cape Girardeau Columbia Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,079.5 2,666.6 +413.0
Violent Crime Rate 623.3 349.1 +274.2
Murder Rate 7.4 10.0 -2.6
Rape Rate 51.5 38.4 +13.2
Robbery Rate 31.9 39.9 -8.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 532.5 259.3 +273.2
Property Crime Rate 2,456.3 2,317.5 +138.7
Burglary Rate 296.9 332.9 -36.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,931.2 1,605.6 +325.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 228.2 379.0 -150.8

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

Moving from Cape Girardeau, 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 Cape Girardeau or Columbia safer?

Columbia, MO is safer with a total crime rate of 2,667 per 100K vs 3,080 for Cape Girardeau, MO — a 13% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cape Girardeau has a violent crime rate of 623.3 per 100K while Columbia has 349.1. Columbia has lower violent crime.

About Cape Girardeau, MO

Cape Girardeau, Missouri, a city on the Mississippi River, is home to Southeast Missouri State University. Its historic downtown features a vibrant arts scene and overlooks the river, which forms the eastern border of Missouri. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 40,753, Cape Girardeau has a total crime rate of 3,079.5 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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