Moving from Columbia, MO to Joplin, 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.
Is Columbia, MO or Joplin, MO Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Columbia, MO is safer than Joplin, MO (Safety Score 25/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 2,667 per 100,000 versus 4,681 for Joplin, MO — 43% lower. Columbia has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Joplin has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Columbia is 2.4x 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 Columbia, MO?
Columbia — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Joplin — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Columbia, MO
Joplin, MO
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Columbia | Joplin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,666.6 | 4,681.2 | -2,014.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 349.1 | 560.4 | -211.4 |
| Murder Rate | 10.0 | 0.0 | +10.0 |
| Rape Rate | 38.4 | 89.7 | -51.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 39.9 | 52.3 | -12.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 259.3 | 418.4 | -159.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,317.5 | 4,120.8 | -1,803.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 332.9 | 416.6 | -83.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,605.6 | 3,298.9 | -1,693.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 379.0 | 405.4 | -26.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Columbia, MO to Joplin, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbia or Joplin safer?
Columbia, MO is safer with a total crime rate of 2,667 per 100K vs 4,681 for Joplin, MO — a 43% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Columbia has a violent crime rate of 349.1 per 100K while Joplin has 560.4. Columbia has lower violent crime.
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.
About Joplin, MO
Joplin, a city along historic Route 66, sits in Missouri's southwestern corner. Its economy has historically been tied to lead and zinc mining. The population is around 50,000 residents. With a safety score of 5/100 and a population coverage of 53,533, Joplin has a total crime rate of 4,681.2 per 100,000 residents.