Is Cape Girardeau or Springfield Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Cape Girardeau is safer than Springfield (Safety Score 18/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 3,080 per 100,000 versus 5,364 for Springfield — 43% lower. Cape Girardeau has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Cape Girardeau has a 74% lower rate.
Note: Springfield is 4.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Cape Girardeau — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Springfield — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Cape Girardeau, MO
Springfield, MO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Cape Girardeau | Springfield | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,079.5 | 5,364.0 | -2,284.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 623.3 | 1,179.3 | -556.0 |
| Murder Rate | 7.4 | 5.9 | +1.5 |
| Rape Rate | 51.5 | 104.4 | -52.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 31.9 | 123.7 | -91.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 532.5 | 944.1 | -411.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,456.3 | 4,184.7 | -1,728.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 296.9 | 726.6 | -429.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,931.2 | 3,001.3 | -1,070.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 228.2 | 456.8 | -228.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cape Girardeau or Springfield safer?
Cape Girardeau is safer with a total crime rate of 3,080 per 100K vs 5,364 for Springfield — a 43% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Cape Girardeau has a violent crime rate of 623.3 per 100K while Springfield has 1,179.3. Cape Girardeau 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 Springfield, MO
Springfield, MO, "Queen City of the Ozarks," is a regional hub in southwest Missouri. Home to Bass Pro Shops' first store, it's a growing metropolitan area with a population of over 169,000. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 170,527, Springfield has a total crime rate of 5,364.0 per 100,000 residents.